|
TERM |
MEANING |
| Bill of lading (B/L) |
Official legal document representing ownership of cargo, a negotiable document to receive cargo, and the contract for cargo between the shipper and the carrier. |
| Block train |
Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction. |
| Blocking or bracing |
Wood or metal supports to keep shipments in place or on railcars. |
| Bls. |
Bales. A kind of customary packing unit. |
| Bobtail |
Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway. |
| Bona fide |
In good faith. |
| Booking number |
A reference number for bookings registered. It should be unique without duplication for a three-year period. |
| Bow |
The front of a vessel. |
| Box |
Common term for an ocean going freight container. |
| Boxcar |
A closed freight car. |
| BPS |
Business Process and Systems - section within ISD responsible for implementation of IRIS-2 and user support in system and business processes. |
| Break-bulk cargo |
Goods shipped loose in the vessel’s hold and not in a container. |
| Bill of lading (B/L) |
Official legal document representing ownership of cargo, a negotiable document to receive cargo, and the contract for cargo between the shipper and the carrier. |
| British Thermal Unit (BTU) |
The amount of heat required to produce a temperature change of one degree Fahrenheit in one pound of water. |
| Block train |
Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction. |
| Blocking or bracing |
Wood or metal supports to keep shipments in place or on railcars. |
| Bls. |
Bales. A kind of customary packing unit. |
| Bobtail |
Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway. |
| Bona fide |
In good faith. |
| Bulk carriers |
A vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged, bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without marks & number or count. |
| Bull rings |
Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo. |
| Bunker surcharge (BAF, BSC) |
Bunker Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of bunker. |
| Bunkers |
Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessels. |
