Intermodal Terms Dictionary
Our intermodal dictionary provides definitions for many important terms and buzz words from the intermodal industry
Accessorial Charges
Charges
for a wide variety of services and privileges that are made available
in connection with the transportation of goods. Includes all charges
other than freight charges.
Availability Time
The time equipment is grounded and available for pick-up by the customer.
Back Haul
Traffic
for the return movement of a car or container towards the point where
the initial load originated or to handle a shipment in the direction of
the light flow of traffic.
Bad Order
A freight car loaded improperly, mechanically defective, or has safety violations.
Beneficial Owner
The
actual owner of the lading that is being shipped. The IMC negotiates
transportation services and rates on behalf of the beneficial owner.
Billing Carrier (
The
carrier performing the first line haul service of the movement. This
carrier is responsible for preparing the waybill document and
transmitting the information to any following carriers.
Bill of Lading
A
shipping form which is both a receipt for property and a contract for
delivery of goods by a carrier. The principal bills of lading are:
Straight A non-negotiable document. Surrender of the original is not
required upon delivery of the freight unless necessary to identify
consignee. Order A negotiable document. Surrender of the original
property endorsed is required by transportation lines upon delivery of
the freight, in accordance with its terms. Clean Either a Straight or
Order Bill of Lading in which the transportation company acknowledges
receipt of the property without noting any exceptions as to shortage or
damage to the property received. Exchange A bill of lading which is
given in exchange for another. Export One given to cover a shipment
consigned to some foreign country. Government A special form of bill of
lading which is used in making shipments for the account of the United
States Government.
Block
A group of railcars destined to the same location.
Blocking or Bracing
Wood or metal or other approved supports to keep shipments in place in or on railcars, containers and trailers.
Bobtail
Motor Carrier slang indicating a non-revenue movement without a trailer or container attached.
Bogie
A frame with wheels on which a container is mounted for street or highway transport. Commonly referred to as a chassis.
Bonded Warehouse
A
warehouse owned by persons approved by the Treasury Department, an
under bond or guarantee for the strict observance of the revenue laws;
utilized for storing goods until duties are paid or goods are otherwise
properly released.
Bridge Move
A railroad movement involving at least three roadhaul carriers at which the IP is neither the first or last carrier.
Broker
An individual who acts as an agent for a customer, who is attempting to route a car to a customer in
Car Location Message (CLM)
That
part of the fleet system which deals with providing the fleet operator
with information on car movement data for all cars in the fleet (see
fleet). This information comes in the form of a periodic (usually
daily, sometimes hourly) message or report which contains the latest
movement data on all cars from the fleets that are on our lines. This
message follows an industry wide standard format that enables shippers
who use railroads across the
Car Scheduling
A
system of assigning a "trip plan" that is based primarily on waybill
data. Cars are scheduled to the first available train that may carry
the specific type of traffic into which they are categorized.
Cartage
Pick
up or delivery of freight within commercial zone of a city by local
carrier acting as agent for a shipper or over-the-rail carrier.
Chassis
A rubber-tired trailer under-frame on which a container is mounted for street or highway transport.
Circus Ramp
Stationary
or portable end loading/unloading ramp which requires a truck tractor
to drive a trailer onto or off of rail flatcars.
Claims
A
demand, supported by evidence, to show that the claimant has sustained
a loss through the negligence of a carrier. The principal kinds are:
Damage Claim due to physical injury to shipment or because shipment was not delivered within a reasonable time.
Loss Claim due to failure to deliver goods.
Overcharge Claims when more than the legally published charges were collected.
Reparation Claims
for a refund of charges which, while in accordance with legally
published tariffs, are unreasonable or unjust and the carrier has since
published the lower reasonable rate.
Clearance
The limiting dimensions of a rail shipment that would allow/prevent its clearing of tunnels and bridges.
COFC (container on flat car)
The movement of a container on a railroad flat car. This movement is made without the container being mounted on a chassis.
Common Carrier
A transportation line engaged in the business of handling persons or goods for compensation and for all persons impartially.
Connecting Carrier
A carrier that has a direct physical connection with another or forming a connecting link between two or more carriers.
Consignee
The individual or organization to which freight is shipped. Freight is shipped by the consignor to the consignee.
Consignor
The individual or organization shipping freight to a consignee.
Container
A
receptacle that resembles a truck trailer without wheel (chassis) that
is lifted onto flat cars. Containers are designed for all modes of
intermodal transport. Most containers are 20, 45, 48 or 53 feet in
length.
Container Yard
A yard used for storage of containers when not in use. Container yards can be railroad or privately owned.
Conventional Car
A
single platform flat car designed to carry a trailer or container.
Containers can only be single stacked on a conventional car.
Conventional cars are equipped with one or two stanctions, depending on
length, for shipment of one or two trailers.
Crane
A
large machine that straddles the railroad track for the purpose of
loading and loading containers and trailers to and from railcars.
Cross-Town
When a drayman or railroad delivers a container or trailer from one railroad to another for continuance of the move.
Customs Broker
A company or individual licensed by the Treasury Department to act on behalf of importers/exporters in handling
Cut-Off Time
The time a container or trailer must be ingated at the terminal to meet a scheduled train loading for departure.
Dead Head
When a drayage firm is required to move empty equipment a long distance to pick up a load.
Dedicated Train
A
train that by design transports a dedicated commodity or type of cars.
In the case of intermodal, intermodal trains only carry trailers and/or
containers.
Detention
A
charge made on trailers/containers held by or for a consignor/consignee
for loading or unloading, forwarding directions, or any other purpose.
Displacement Light
The weight of a vessel without cargo, fuel or stores.
Diversion
A change made in the route of a shipment in transit.
Division
The
amount of revenue apportioned to each rail carrier participating in a
given route, where the customer is invoiced on a through-rate basis.
Door-to-Door
A movement of lading from the customers front door (dock) to the receivers front door (dock).
Door-to-Ramp
A movement of lading from the customers front door (dock) to the destination intermodal ramp closest to the receiver.
Double-Stack
The
movement of containers on articulated rail cars which enable the one
container to be stacked on another container for better ride quality
and car utilization.
Drayage
The
movement of a container or trailer to or from the railroad intermodal
terminal to or from the customer's facility for loading or unloading.
Drayman
A person employed to pick up or drop off a container or trailer at an intermodal terminal.
Driver Assist
When a drayman is required to assist in the loading/unloading of a container or trailer.
Drop & Pull
Drayman
drops loaded or unloaded unit at shipper or receiver and hooks up to
unit which was previously dropped and returns it to the ramp.
Dry Run
When a drayman goes to a ramp to pick up a container and for some reason leaves without one.
Dunnage
The material used to protect or support freight in containers or trailers.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
The process of sending and retrieving information electronically, i.e. bills of lading, freight bills, etc.
Embargo
To
resist or prohibit the acceptance and handling of freight. An embargo
may be caused by acts of God such as tornadoes, floods, inclement
weather, congestion, etc.
EMP
A domestic interline container service offered by Union Pacific and
En Route
In transit to destination.
FAK
Freight of All Kinds
Flat Car
A
freight car having a floor without any housing or body above.
Frequently used to carry containers and/or trailers or
oversized/odd-shaped commodities. The three types of flat cars used in
intermodal are conventional, spine and stack cars.
Flip
When a container is picked up off of the ground and mounted on a chassis for street or highway transport.
Flip Charges
Charges
assessed to a shipper when the railroad is required to provide an
unnecessary or extra flip. An example of this is when a private
container is grounded off of a train and no chassis is available at
that time. A flip charge is assessed because a flip is required at a
time after the train is unloaded.
Foreign Equipment
Any car not belonging to the particular railway on which it is running.
Foreign Carrier
A term used by a carrier in making references to all other carriers collectively.
FRA
Federal
Railroad Administration - The FRA deals specifically with
transportation policy as it affects the nation's railroads and is
responsible for enforcement of rail safety laws.
Free Time
The period allowed the owner to accept delivery before storage or detention charges begin to accrue.
Freight Bill
Statements containing commodity and payment information.
Freight Forwarder
One
who assembles small shipments into one large shipment which is then
tendered to a regulated over the road carrier. Upon reaching
destination, the shipment is separated into small shipments and
delivered.
Gate
A
point at an intermodal terminal where a clerk checks in and out all
containers and trailer. All reservations and paperwork are checked at
the gatehouse.
Gatehouse
A structure at the gate where a clerk inspects and clears the entrance and exit of all containers and trailers.
Gateway
A point through which freight commonly moves from one territory or carrier to another.
Haulage
A
legal agreement between two rail partners. The owner of the agreement
is referred to as the 'Haulage Rights Carrier'. The other partner is
referred to as the 'Haulage Movement Carrier'. With this agreement, the
'rights carrier' requests the 'movement carrier' to move equipment over
an agreed segment of track, but to outside parties it appears as if the
'rights carrier' is doing the work.
Hazardous Material (Haz Mat)
Substance
or combination their of which, because of its quantity, concentration,
physical or chemical characteristics, may cause or significantly pose a
substantial hazard to human health or the environment when improperly
packaged, stored, transported, or otherwise managed.
Headhaul
Rail or truck term used to define the highest revenue generating shipping lane from shipper to receiver.
ICC
Interstate
Commerce Commission, a federal regulatory agency that governed over the
rules and regulations of the railroading industry. The ICC Termination
Act of 1995 ended this regulatory agency. Most responsibilities were
transferred to the Surface Transportation Board.
Inbond
When lading clears customs at the ultimate destination instead of at the border.
Ingate
The
process of checking a container or trailer into the intermodal
facility. The ingate process includes inspection of the unit,
reservation confirmation, the input of data into Union Pacific's
computer system and the filling out of the J-1.
Inland Carrier
A transportation company which hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland points.
Interchange
The exchange of railcars between connecting railroads.
Interchange Agreement
Agreement
between a railroad and a drayage company that allows a specific drayage
company to drop off or pick up railroad or private intermodal equipment
at the said railroad's facilities. Also known as an Equipment
Interchange Agreement.
lnterline Freight
Freight moving from point of origin to destination over two or more transportation lines.
lntermodal
Transport of freight by two or modes of transportation. Examples are: ship-rail, rail-truck.
Intermodal Terminal
A
railroad facility designed for the loading and unloading of containers
and trailers to and from flat cars for movement on the railroad and
subsequent movement on the street or highway.
Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC)
IMCs
purchase rail and truck transportation services, utilize equipment from
multiple sources, and provide other value-added services under a single
freight bill to the ultimate shipper.
Intermodal Association of
An industry trade association representing the combined interests of intermodal freight transportation companies.
IPI (Interior Point Intermodal)
Imported traffic movement from an origin port to an inland point on an ocean bill of lading.
J-1
A
report filled out during the ingate and outgate process. The J-1
details damage to the unit, container information, shipping
information, drayman involved and time of ingate/outgate.
Lading
That which constitutes a load. The freight in or on a railcar, container or trailer.
Landbridge
Containerized marine traffic that is routed via rail across the
Landing Gear
Moveable metal legs on the front of a semi-trailer which support the trailer when not connected to a tractor.
Lift
The process of moving a container or trailer to and or from a rail car.
Live Load
When a drayman stays with a container or trailer while being loaded or unloaded.
Load Shift
The
term when the contents of a container or trailer are shifted inside the
unit sometime after it leaves the actual origin and before it arrives
at the final destination.
Local Move
A
railroad movement in which only one road haul carrier participates. The
one carrier serves both the origin and destination station.
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
A shipment that would not by itself fill the truck to capacity by weight or volume.
Lumper
A person hired to help unload a container or trailer instead of using the driver.
Maintenance of Way
The
process of maintaining roadbed (rail, ties, ballast, bridges etc.)
These materials are hauled in special maintenance of way cars, which
also include cars that are equipped with heavy equipment, such as
cranes and tie replacing machines.
Mini-Landbridge
Imported traffic movement from an origin port to a destination port on an ocean bill of lading via land transportation.
Notify Party
The party that is notified at the time a container or trailer is grounded from a train. Most notify parties are draymen.
Ocean Bill of Lading
Receipt and contract of carriage with a steamship company movement of goods between ports.
Off Junction
Location where interchange to another carrier takes place.
OTR (Over the Road)
Refers to movement of a truck over the road instead of an intermodal movement.
Outgate
The
process of checking a container or trailer out of an intermodal
facility. The outgate process includes inspection of the unit, input of
data into Union Pacific's computer system and the filling out of the
J-1.
OutReach Program
A
rail-truck or truck-rail movement in which Union Pacific has combined
the rail and drayage into a single transportation package for EMP and
SPDU containers. Containers are shipped via rail from one terminal to
another. After that, a contracted drayage firm drays the container to
the paper ramp operators lot for customer pickup. The process also
works reverse as well, shipment can originate with the truck movement
and then move to the rail portion of the movement. Also referred to as
the OutReach Program.
Overhead Shipment
A railroad movement involving at least three railroad carriers at which UP is neither the first nor the last carrier.
Packer
A
moveable piece of heavy machinery used to lift rail containers or
trailers on/off railroad flatcars at an intermodal facility. Also known
as a piggybacker.
Packing List
A detailed specification as to goods packed into a container or trailer.
Pad
An
area within a parking lot or intermodal terminal designated for a
particular type of container or trailer, such as loaded outbound.
Pallet
A
wooden, paper or plastic platform usually with a top and bottom, on
which packaged goods are placed to facilitate movement by some type of
freight handling equipment.
Paper Ramp
A
rail-truck or truck-rail movement in which Union Pacific has combined
the rail and drayage into a single transportation package for EMP and
SPDU containers. Containers are shipped via rail from one terminal to
another. After that, a contracted drayage firm drays the container to
the paper ramp operators lot for customer pickup. The process also
works reverse as well, shipment can originate with the truck movement
and then move to the rail portion of the movement. Also referred to as
the OutReach Program.
Per Diem
Charge
based on a fixed rate per day which a carrier makes against another
carrier or customer for use of its containers or trailers.
Piggyback
Transportation of a highway trailer on a railroad flat car.
Pigs
A railroad term for trailers loaded on flat cars.
Placard
A
sign affixed to a rail car or truck, which indicates the hazardous
designation of the product being transported in that vehicle.
Pool
An assigned group of containers, trailers or cars used to satisfy the transportation requirements of a customer.
Port Charge
A charge for services rendered at ports.
Port Mark
A
term used in foreign shipping which denotes final destination--not the
port of entry unless such port is the final destination.
Port of Entry
A
port at which foreign goods are admitted into the receiving country.
Ports of entry are officially designated by the government.
Premium Service
Highest level of service available on the railroad.
Private Equipment
Equipment whose ownership is vested in a person or company that is not engaged in the service of common carriage.
Proportional Price
Price
from or to an intermediate point. Rate is to be used in combination
with another carrier's proportional rate to make an interline rate.
Pup
A 28' trailer, used mostly in less than truckload business.
Ramp
Slang
word for an intermodal terminal. Ramps were originally structures,
permanent or temporary, from which trailers or machinery are driven
onto or off of a railroad flatcar.
Ramp-to-Door
A movement of lading from the intermodal ramp closest to the customer to the receivers from door (dock).
Ramp-to-Ramp
A movement of lading from the intermodal ramp closest to the customer to the closest intermodal ramp to the receiver.
RCAF (Rail Cost Adjustment Factor)
An index published quarterly by the
Reconsignment
1. Any change, other than a change in route, made in a consignment before the arrival of goods at their billed destination.
2. Any change made in a consignment after the arrival of goods at their
billed destination. When the change is accomplished under conditions
which make it subject to the reconsignment rules and charges of the
carrier.
Revenue Empty
Movement of an empty container or trailer that generates revenue for the railroad. Done for repositioning purposes.
Reverse Route
The exact reverse of the route a loaded car traveled from its destination, including all carriers and junctions involved.
REZ-1
An
independent agent, REZ-1 develops, deploys and supports a suite of
online applications and business services that connect the intermodal
community to their shipments; including reservation, tracking,
management, and third-party billing/collections services for
rail-controlled container programs (CSXU, EMP, NACS), international
container domestic reload programs (CMA CGM, MSC, etc.), as well as
emerging private trailer and chassis usage programs
Rubber Wheel Interchange
Containers or trailers that are interchanged between two railroads by means of drayage.
Rule 11
A
railroad accounting term which refers to a customer shipping their
freight "pre-paid" to an intermediate point and "collect" beyond that
intermediate point to the final destination.
Run-Through
A
train which originates on a different railroad that it terminates and
does not get reclassified at interchange but rather "runs-through" to a
point on the second railroad before the train is broken up.
SCQ (Specific Commodity Quote)
A
private contract issued to Union Pacific Intermodal customers that
lists rates for specific origin and destination pairs. Also includes
restrictions and provisions for the application of those rates.
Seal
A
device for fastening or locking the doors of a railcar, container or
trailer. This is done for security and integrity of the shipment.
Slack
The elongation which occurs between railcar couplers because of their spring-loaded design.
Slot Utilization
The
method of utilizing every space available on a double stack car. A slot
includes the space above a container when another container can be
double-stacked. A five platform double stack car has 10 slots available
for loading. If all 10 slots are loaded, you have 100% slot
utilization.
Spine Car
A
light weight articulated car that is assembled in permanent consists of
three or five platforms. Spine cars carry containers or trailers in
single stack configuration.
Stack Car
An
intermodal flat car that was specifically designed to place one
container on top of another better utilization and economics. Also
referred to as a well car because the cars are depressed in the center
to allow clearance of the double stacked containers when moving under
low-lying structures.
Stanchion
The
hitches used to support the nose end of trailers when they are mounted
on a flat car. There are two types of stanchions: collapsible and
fixed.
STCC (Standard Transportation Commodity Codes)
The
STCC system is a 7 digit coding structure designed to classify all
commodities or articles which move or may move in freight
transportation.
Steel Wheel Interchange
Containers or trailers that are interchanged between two railroads while on the railroad flatcar.
Storage Charge
A
charge assigned to the shipper or consignee for holding containers or
trailers at an intermodal terminal beyond the free time allotted to
them.
Street Time
The time a container or trailer is away from the possession of the railroad.
System Equipment
Equipment owned or leased by a railroad. Each railroad considers their own equipment as system equipment.
Tare Weight
a) The weight of a container and the material used for packing.
b) As applied to a car/trailer, the weight of the car/trailer exclusive of its contents.
Tariff
A legal listing of rates used when moving regulated traffic by rail.
Through Rate
A rate applicable from origin to destination over two or more rail carriers.
TOFC (trailer on flat car)
A rail trailer or container mounted on a chassis that is transported on a rail car. Also known as piggyback.
Trailer
A rectangular shaped box with permanent wheels attached for the transport of goods on rail, highway or a combination of both.
Transload
To physically transfer product from one transportation vehicle to another.
UMLER (Universal Machine Language Equipment Register)
A
computer readable file of vital statistics for each railroad car in
service. It applies to all railroads, types of cars, and data
processing machines.
UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement)
A
standard equipment interchange contract used in the intermodal industry
that has been developed by water, rail and motor carriers and is
administered by IANA
Van Grounding
The
event when a container or trailer is taken off of the train and placed
on the ground for customer pickup. At this time, the container is
mounted on a chassis and the notify party is notified.
Van Notify
The event when the notify party is notified by the railroad that the container or trailer is available for pickup.
Vessel's Manifest
Statement of vessel's cargo, revenue, consignee, etc.
Waybill
A
document covering a shipment and showing the forwarding and receiving
station, the names of consignor and consignee, the car initials and
number, the routing, the description and weight of the commodity,
instructions for special services, the rate, total charges, advances
and waybill reference for previous services and the amount prepaid.
Well Car
An
intermodal flat car that was specifically designed to place one
container on top of another better utilization and economics. Referred
to as a well car because the cars are depressed in the center to allow
clearance of the double stacked containers when moving under low-lying
structures.
