An Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status is an internationally recognized quality mark that shows your role in global supply chains is established and secure. As such, it is granted by customs authorities to ensure your custom controls and procedures are efficient and meet EU standards.

The shipping document used for the transportation of air freight, which includes conditions, limitations of liability, shipping instructions, description of commodity, and applicable transportation charges. It is generally similar to a straight non-negotiable bill of lading and is used for similar purposes.

Bulk cargo refers to individually, unpackaged or loosely packaged goods such as oil, grain or coal, that are not enclosed in a shipping container and transported in large quantities.

Breakbulk refers to a method of shipping that applies to goods that exceed standard-sized shipping containers so are individually loaded instead. Break bulk is typically transported in barrels, bags, boxes or drums.

A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company under which freight is to be moved between specified points for a specified charge. Usually prepared by the authorized agent on forms issued by the carrier, it serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods.

Carbon offsetting aims to mitigate climate change through counterbalancing the carbon emissions that have been previously released into the atmosphere. Some examples of this include using renewable energy, consolidating transport routes, implementing sustainable packaging and pallet wrap, or switching to electric vehicles.

A carrier refers to an individual, company or third party responsible for transporting goods from one location to another, typically for a fee. Common carriers include airlines, trucking or railroad companies, and shipping lines.

A customs broker is a professional who assists individuals or businesses navigate customs procedures in relation to the importation and exportation of goods This generally includes facilitating clearances, negotiating the release of goods, documentation, tariff classification, identifying accurate duties and taxes, and ensuring importers/exporters are complying with the relevant international trade legislation. In the U.S, a customs broker needs a license overseen by the Customers Border Protection (CBP).

The chargeable weight is the weight or volume of a shipment used to calculate air, road, or ocean charges.

The state of being carbon neutral refers to when the amount of GHG emissions released from an activity is completely offset by the amount removed via carbon offsetting projects (e.g. peatland restoration, renewable energy investment, carbon capture and storage, etc.), meaning there will be limited effects on climate change.

An economic good such as a product of agriculture, mining, or a customized or mass produced article that is readily exchanged within the market.

The designated person or organization named on the freight contract who has the legal right to claim the goods at the end destination.

Consolidation involves combining multiple smaller shipments or truckloads into one to optimize efficiency.

Customs clearance refers to the official procedure goods must go through before they can be legally imported or exported internationally. Once a shipment has been 'cleared', it means that the necessary documentation, duties, and taxes have been provided, paid and accepted by customs and the goods are ready to be shipped internationally.

CO2 emissions, often referred to as carbon emissions, are the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of man made sources (such as burning fuel to power cars, trucks, or planes). CO2 emissions are just one category of the many harmful GHG emissions contributing to climate change.

Customs refers to the regulatory body responsible for monitoring and controlling the flow of goods across international borders. They play a pivotal role in cross border security, enforcing customs laws, ensuring accurate documentation, administration, duties, and taxes are applied to the appropriate goods and that businesses and individuals are compliant with the current trade laws. In the UK, customs refers to the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and in the US, customs refers to Customs Border and Protection (CBP).

Dangerous goods include subjects, materials, or items that hold hazardous properties (e.g., hazardous or toxicity) so require specific handling, packaging, and further documentation.

Duty drawback is a refund from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for 99% of the duties paid on imported items that are then exported or used in the manufacturing of goods to be exported. This allows US businesses to compete with other nations that have the ability to produce goods for a lower cost, keeping a balance in the global marketplace.

A penalty fee that is imposed on the consignee or importer when they exceed their free time allowed for loading/unloading at a freight terminal (usually a pier).

A charge imposed on the import of goods. Duties are generally based on the value of the goods (ad valorem duties), some other factor, such as weight or quantity (specific duties), or a combination of value and other factors (compound duties).

eCommerce refers to any goods bought and sold online. Logistics and supply chain companies, like Woodland, offer warehousing and fulfillment technology amongst other services to support e-commerce businesses store, manage and transport their orders.

EcoVadis is a globally recognized sustainability rating that assesses companies on four key areas; Sustainability, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. If companies receive high enough, they can gain a Bronze, Silver, or Gold accreditation in recognition of their overall sustainability efforts.

To send or transport goods out of a country.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) refers to a system that helps facilitate a seamless and secure data exchange between retailers, suppliers, vendors, and brands along with any other relevant parties across the supply chain. Information typically shared, includes purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgments, advanced shipment notices, inventory inquiries and invoices.

Fulfillment refers to the entire process involved in managing orders, from the minute your customer clicks "buy" to when it's delivered to their door. Fulfillment can include warehousing, inspecting goods, picking and packing, shipping, client support services and specialized technology to promote a smooth process from the point of sale, to delivery.

Freight refers to the transportation of cargo via ships, aeroplanes, trucks or trains.

Full Container Load (FCL) refers to a shipment that occupies the entire container giving the shipper complete ownership of the container for transit (even if it isn't completely loaded).

A forwarding agent describes a professional individual or company that acts as an agent of a shipper, arranges for the transportation of cargo between an origin and destination point, using one of more transportation carriers to perform needed segments, managing communication with the parties involved, preparing documentation and electronic messages needed to for transportation and, for international shipments, to accomplish export formalities and import formalities. Forwarders may also arrange cargo insurance, provide shipping quotations, and generally assist shippers with a range of supply chain logistics services.

Specially licensed commercial and industrial areas in or near ports of entry where foreign and domestic goods, including raw materials, components, and finished goods, may be brought in without being subject to payment of customs duties. Goods brought into these zones may be stored, sold, exhibited, repacked, assembled, sorted, graded, cleaned, manufactured, or otherwise manipulated prior to re-export or entry into the country's customs territory. Goods entering an FTZ are included in General Imports but not Imports for Consumption. They are considered Imports for Consumption if they leave the FTZ for domestic consumption.

An independent business that dispatches shipments for exporters for a fee. Transportation can include shipping by land, air, or sea, or rail and they typically handle all services connected with moving the goods, whether this includes arranging documents for importing/exporting, storage, shipping, delivery or clearances.

Full Truckload (FTL) refers to utilizing the entire capacity of a truck for a single shipment, whether or not the goods completely fill the space.

Greenhouse Gas emissions refer to the release of gases into the atmosphere produced from man made sources, (such as burning fossil fuels to power cars, ships, trains and planes) which trap heat, and subsequently contribute to global warming.

The Harmonized System (HS) is an international classification system administered by the World Customs Organization. It is used by organizations, importers, exporters and customs to classify goods to ensure accurate duties, taxes, and documentation are applied.

Intermodal Transport leverages multiple modes of transportation (like ships, trains, and trucks) to seamlessly move goods from origin to destination. This integrated approach optimizes efficiency, reduces costs, and minimizes environmental impact by utilizing the strengths of each mode.

All goods physically brought into a country, including goods of foreign origin and goods of domestic origin returned to the original country.

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are a set of internationally recognized rules that define the responsibilities and costs associated with the transportation of goods between buyers and sellers. Understanding Incoterms is crucial for businesses engaged in international trade to ensure smooth transactions, minimize risks, and avoid costly disputes. This section explores the different Incoterms, their implications for logistics and supply chain management, and how to choose the right Incoterms for your specific trade agreements.

Less than Truckload (LTL) refers to shipping products that don't occupy a full truckload. This can mean goods are shipped amongst other clients/customers' goods in the same truck.

LCL is a part container load ('Less than Container Load) and is used by customers who want to ship little and often. Additionally, customers that buy regular FCL (Full Container Load) business also use LCL if they have smaller commodities/volumes that do not fill an FCL on its own.

The Science Based Targets Initiative states that net-zero is the act of reaching a 90%+ reduction in annual carbon emissions (typically by 2050) compared to current levels, with the remaining 5-10% to be made carbon neutral to limit any remaining impacts. This is considered the only route to limit global warming to 1.5°C and prevent rapid climate change.

Indirect GHG emissions that your company has purchased such as electricity, heating, and cooling.

Direct GHG emissions from company owned sources, such as emissions from owned trucks, vans, ships or emissions from equipment or warehousing.

Generally accounts for the biggest percentage of emissions associated with a company and includes all other indirect emissions along with the supply chain. This could be from third party freight forwarding companies used for delivery, emissions from employee commutes or from the production of packaging your products externally.

Supply Chain Management involves coordinating the entire flow of goods; from sourcing raw materials and procurement, to delivering the final product to consumers. Outsourcing supply chain management will involve a team who continuously monitor and improve the supply chain through collaborating with suppliers/partners and understanding the complexities of an end-to-end supply chain to offer effective solutions and efficient processes.

Third Party Logistics (3PL) refers to when a company outsources their fulfillment, or parts of their distribution and warehousing to an external third party. For example, when businesses come to Woodland for their eCommerce fulfillment and distribution, we are their third-party logistics provider.

Transportation & Logistics is the backbone of any successful supply chain. It involves the efficient and effective movement of goods from origin to destination using various modes of transport, such as sea freight, trucking, air freight, and rail. This category explores the complexities of managing transportation operations, including route optimization, carrier selection, and the integration of logistics solutions to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery.