Transport glossary: key terms in direct road transport

In a direct transport, one vehicle is dedicated exclusively to a single consignment, travelling from sender to consignee without transhipment or hub stops. This minimises transit time and the risk of damage, as the goods are not handled again once loaded.

A full load occupies the entire vehicle: up to 33 Euro pallets, 13.6 loading metres and around 24 tonnes of payload in a standard articulated truck. FTL always runs direct – ideal for large consignments with a fixed deadline.

The vehicle operates exclusively for one customer, whether or not the load bed is full. You pay for the vehicle, not the volume – and in return you determine the route, schedule and process.

Many small consignments from different customers are consolidated via transhipment terminals. Cheaper than a dedicated run, but slower and with multiple handling stages – the opposite of direct transport.

One metre of load bed across the full width of the vehicle. An articulated truck offers 13.6 loading metres; a Euro pallet loaded crosswise takes up 0.4. Loading metres are used to calculate how much space a consignment occupies in the vehicle.

Live positioning of the vehicle during transport. You can see where your shipment is at any time and receive realistic arrival times – standard practice on time-critical direct runs.

Domestic transport operations carried out by a haulier registered abroad. Permitted within the EU, but restricted: a maximum of three operations within seven days of a cross-border unloading.

The international consignment note for road freight. It documents sender, consignee, goods and their condition at handover, and governs the carrier's liability at 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram.

Two drivers take turns at the wheel, so the vehicle keeps rolling without rest-period stops. On lanes above roughly 700 kilometres, it is the legal way to run non-stop overnight – Berlin–Milan in one go, for example.

Securing the goods by form fit and force fit using lashing straps, anti-slip mats and edge protectors in line with EN 12195. The loader is responsible for transport-safe loading, the driver for operationally safe loading.

Almost every country charges differently: distance-based truck tolls in Germany and Austria, vignettes in Switzerland, péage stations in France, toll-free trunk roads in the Benelux countries. All toll costs are included in the fixed price.

The internationally standardised terms of delivery. They define who arranges and pays for transport, insurance and customs – from EXW (buyer collects ex works) to DDP (seller delivers duty paid to the door).

For UK transports, the options are the Eurotunnel (Calais–Folkestone, approx. 35 minutes) and ferries (Calais–Dover, approx. 90 minutes). Since Brexit, customs declarations and UK import formalities have been added to the process.

The one-for-one return of exchangeable Euro pallets at delivery. Without an exchange agreement, the pallet counts as one-way packaging – in international traffic, exchange is uncommon and agreed separately.

Compensation for waiting time at the loading or unloading point beyond the agreed free period. In direct transport, 60 minutes are usually free of charge; after that, each commenced hour is billed.

The agreed time window for delivery, for example for dock bookings in retail. Direct transports can hit time slots far more precisely than groupage, because there is no transhipment variance.

Customs transit procedure under which not-yet-cleared goods are moved between two customs offices under customs supervision - important for transports to non-EU countries such as Switzerland or Norway.

EU-wide unique registration number for economic operators. It is required for every customs declaration on import and export and must be available to the carrier.

Proof of the preferential origin of goods. With a valid EUR.1, customs duties can be reduced or avoided entirely on transports to countries covered by trade agreements.

Compensation for waiting times of the vehicle at the loading or unloading point that exceed the agreed free time. Clear time windows help to avoid demurrage.

Advance announcement of a delivery to the consignee, usually with a proposed appointment or time window. It ensures that the goods can be accepted without waiting time.

A fixed period assigned for delivery or collection. Many plants and warehouses use time-slot management to control loading bays and staff.

Removing all references to the original consignor (e.g. in drop-shipment business) so that the consignee cannot identify the source - also known as neutral shipping.

Swapping standardised euro pallets on a one-for-one basis at delivery: the driver takes back as many empty pallets as he delivers loaded ones.

A standardised swap superstructure that can be separated from the chassis using support legs and left standing - flexible for fast loading and unloading.

An artificial currency unit of the International Monetary Fund. In road transport, CMR liability is measured on this basis: as a rule 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight.

Standardised transport document for cross-border road carriage. It evidences the contract of carriage as well as the taking over and delivery of the goods.

Distance-based charge for the use of motorways and trunk roads by trucks. It is regulated differently in each country and is factored into the transport calculation.

A partial load that shares a vehicle with other freight. It is cheaper than a full load but is only suitable for time-flexible shipments.

European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. ADR-regulated transports are handled by our sister brand Gefahrgut Express.

Legally required securing of the load against slipping, tipping over and falling off - e.g. with lashing straps, anti-slip mats and form-fit stowage.