From the moment the goods leave the supplier's warehouse until they arrive at Iranian customs, a handful of specialized shipping terms come up again and again. Knowing them will help you read shipping contracts more clearly and anticipate unexpected costs.
Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
The shipping document that shows ownership and details of the cargo; called a "Bill of Lading (B/L)" for sea freight and an "Airway Bill (AWB)" for air freight.
Cargo Manifest
The official list of all shipments aboard a single means of transport (ship, aircraft, or truck), submitted before arrival at the destination customs office.
FCL and LCL
FCL means a full container dedicated to a single cargo owner; LCL means several small shipments from multiple cargo owners are combined in one shared container.
Freight Forwarder
A company that manages the full coordination of international shipping — booking the ship or aircraft, preparing documents, and arranging insurance — on behalf of the cargo owner.
Demurrage and Detention
Demurrage is the fee for keeping a container at the port beyond the free time allowed; detention is the fee for keeping the container with the consignee after it leaves the port, once unloaded.
Cargo Insurance
Coverage that compensates for possible damage to the goods during international transit — physical damage, theft, or sinking.
Incoterms
International rules that define the exact point at which cost and risk transfer between buyer and seller — see our
complete Incoterms 2020 guide.
Multimodal Transport
Moving a single shipment using more than one mode of transport — for example, sea followed by road — under a single contract and a single transport document.
General Warehouse and Temporary Warehouse
A general warehouse is for long-term storage of cleared goods or goods awaiting distribution; a temporary warehouse is for short-term storage of goods before clearance is complete at a port or border.
Freight
The cost paid for physically moving the goods from origin to destination; depending on the Incoterm chosen, it may fall to the buyer or the seller.
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