ABCs of logistics terminology - part 3

Ever wondered what alls the acronyms used in logistics and warehousing actually mean? Our series of commonly used logistics terms and acronyms explains what each means and where in the logistics and supply chain industry they are most closely associated.

Acronyms in the logistics and supply chain industry can feel like an explosion of letter confetti – letters raining down on you, that you’re not even sure what they mean! Especially as logistics terminology is highly specific and can be a little confusing to keep track of.

This is the final part in our series on acronyms and terminology meaning. Part one, can be found here, and part two here.

M

MAWB - Master Air Waybill – Transportation term

The main airway bill issued for receipt of goods from an airline. The MAWB may cover several HAWBs (House Airway Bills) issued by a freight forwarder.

N

NVOCC - Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier – Transportation term

A shipping company or freight forwarder that has the ability to issue house bills of lading but does not actually own the vessels that transport the goods.

O

OS&D - Over, Short, and Damaged – 3PL and Warehousing term

When goods are received damaged or in quantities smaller or larger than expected, the receiver can file an OS&D report.

R

RFID - Radio Frequency Identification -3PL & Warehousing term

Radio-frequency identification uses electromagnetic fields to track tags placed on objects. The tags contain stored information that can be used to identify what has been tagged.

RL - Reverse Logistics – 3PL and Warehousing term

Reverse logistics is the handling of goods that are moving backwards on the normal supply chain. This can include everything from recycling to customer returns.

S

Supply Chain – General Logistics term

Supply Chain refers to the steps in the life cycle of a products design, manufacture, transport and sale. These might be factories, freight forwarders, customs brokers, fulfillment warehouses or trucking companies

SCAC - Standard Carrier Alpha Code - Transportation term

The SCAC is a code used to identify transportation companies. It was developed by The National Motor Freight Traffic Association in the 1960s to help computerize road transport companies records and data.

T

TEU - Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit – Transportation term

Cargo capacity is often described in terms of 20-foot shipping containers for measuring ships, ports, and trade data. While cargo is often shipped in larger containers, TEU is the standard base measurement for cargo.

TMS - Transportation Management System – Transportation term

A subset of supply chain management that often connects an ERP with legacy transportation management systems. Software offerings range from traditional license purchases to SaaS or cloud-based options, and combinations of the two.

U

UPC - Uniform Product Code - 3PL and Warehousing term

Standardized global identifiers that allow products to be tracked through the supply chain across buyer and seller accounting and distribution systems.

W

WMS - Warehouse Management System – 3PL and Warehousing term

Software applications that allow for the automation and optimization of warehouse, distribution, and fulfillment logistics.