The Master Bill of Lading is the document issued by the shipping company or agent as a transportation contract for a cargo, while the House Bill of Lading is the one issued by a freight agency to its client.

Dangerous cargo refers to goods that, due to their nature, require proper handling and precautions during transportation, as they can pose a risk to human life, facilities, or infrastructure where they are being handled. These goods can trigger illnesses, release toxic gases, poisons, and even cause explosions. Not all airlines accept this type of cargo; some have restrictions, and others outright prohibit their transportation on combi and commercial planes (the latter being those for passenger transport only).

In order for business terminology to be effective, phrases must mean the same thing throughout the industry. Therefore, the International Chamber of Commerce created “INCOTERMS” in 1936. INCOTERMS are established to create a bridge between different industry members, acting as a uniform language they could use. They were primarily created for people working in the field of international/global trade. Each INCOTERM refers to the type of agreement made in the purchase and transportation of goods at the international level.

LCL stands for Less than Container Load, and it refers to loose cargo that is consolidated within a container. In other words, a container is filled with goods from multiple exporters. To accomplish this, the services of a consolidator and deconsolidator are required, so that the deconsolidator at the final destination can distribute each exporter’s cargo accordingly.

FCL, on the other hand, stands for Full Container Load, and it represents an entire container loaded by a single exporter.

Yes. The Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has determined that 100% of all air cargo must undergo physical inspection (at the individual piece level) before being loaded for air transportation. According to TSA regulations, the exporter/supplier must authorize the Freight Forwarder in writing (on official company letterhead) to inspect the cargo.