G-L

HAWB – House Airway Bill of Lading – International AWBs that contain consolidated cargo are called master air waybills (MAWB). MAWBs have additional papers called house air waybills (HAWB). Each HAWB contains information of each individual shipment (consignee, contents, etc.) within the consolidation. International AWBs that are not consolidated (only one shipment in one bill) are called simple AWBs. A house air waybill can also be created by a freight forwarder. When the shipment is booked, the airline issues a MAWB to the forwarder, who in turn issues their own house air waybill to the customer.

Haz Mat – Hazardous Material – materials that are combustible or corrosive or that meet other criteria as hazardous must be shipped only by carriers specially qualified to do so.  Hazardous materials and compliant shipping methods are defined by Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), and by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

HTS Classification – The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every item that exists. The HTS is a reference manual that is the size of an unabridged dictionary. The International HTS contains 97 chapters divided into 21 sections. The first 2 digits is the number of the chapter. The next 2 digits define the chapter heading and the next 2 digits thereafter define the chapter sub-heading. These first 6 digits are standard for all countries. So when we come across 4202.92, for example, we know it is some kind of a bag anywhere in the world.

ISF – Importer Security Filing (aka 10+2) – As of January 26, 2009, all importers in the United States must notify US Customs and Border Protection of any ocean freight coming into the US. This rule was put into practice so that the Department of Homeland Security would have knowledge of all foreign imports shipping out by ocean freight, 24 hours prior to the event. This rule was put into place to protect the US from acts of terrorism. The term 10+2 refers to the fact that the importer must furnish 10 data points, and the carrier must furnish two.

IMC – Intermodal Carrier

Import License – An import license is a document issued by a national government authorizing the importation of certain goods into its territory. Each license specifies the volume of imports allowed, and the total volume allowed should not exceed the quota. Licenses can be sold to importing companies at a competitive price, or simply for a flat fee.

Importer of Record – Customs term for the entity responsible for (1) ensuring the imported goods comply with local laws and regulations, (2) filing a completed duty entry and associated documents and (3) paying the assessed import duties and other taxes on those goods. (also see POA).

In Bond – A term applied to the status of merchandise admitted provisionally to a country without payment of duties — either for storage in a bonded warehouse or for trans-shipment to another point, where duties will eventually by imposed.

IT – Immediate Transport – A request filed with the US Customs and Border Protection agency when imported goods are to arrive at a port in the US but has another US port listed as its final destination. The Immediate Transportation Entry must be filed at the first port of cargo arrival. The importer or carrier must be bonded and assigned with an in-bond number in order to file an IT with Customs.

LCL – less than container load. A shipment that is not large enough to fill a standard cargo container for ocean shipping.

Liftgate – A platform for lifting or lowering goods installed at the rear of trucks and vans to facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo. These are usually powered by a hydraulic system.

LTL – less than truckload.