Here's a glossary of common keywords on logistics

Logistics companies

Companies that specialize in managing the movement and storage of goods, including transportation, warehousing, and distribution.

Supply chain management

The coordination and management of all activities involved in the production and delivery of goods, from the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of finished products to customers.

Freight forwarding

The process of organizing and managing the shipment of goods from one location to another, including transportation, customs clearance, and documentation.

Transport logistics

The planning, management, and execution of the physical movement of goods, including transportation by road, air, rail, or sea.

Warehousing solutions

Services that provide storage and inventory management solutions for goods, including warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment.

Last mile delivery

The final stage of delivery, where goods are transported from a warehouse or distribution center to the end customer.

Inventory management

The process of tracking and managing inventory levels to ensure that the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantity.

Freight brokerage

A service that connects shippers with carriers to facilitate the movement of goods, including negotiating rates and handling documentation.

Customs brokerage

The process of managing customs clearance for imported or exported goods, including handling documentation, paying duties and taxes, and managing compliance.

Cross-border logistics

The management of the movement of goods across international borders, including customs clearance and compliance with regulations.

Cold chain logistics

The management of the transportation and storage of temperature-sensitive goods, including perishable items like food and pharmaceuticals.

E-commerce logistics

The management of logistics for online retailers, including inventory management, order fulfilment, and last mile delivery.

Reverse logistics

The process of managing the return and disposal of goods, including handling returns, repairs, and recycling.

Third-party logistics (3PL)

A service that provides outsourced logistics solutions, including transportation, warehousing, and inventory management.

Carrier management

The process of managing relationships with carriers and ensuring that they meet service level agreements and comply with regulations.

Logistics automation

The use of technology to automate logistics processes, including warehouse management, inventory management, and transportation management.

Route optimisation

The process of optimising delivery routes to minimise transportation costs and improve efficiency.

Shipping and tracking

The process of managing the shipment of goods and providing customers with real-time tracking information.

Freight audit and payment

The process of auditing freight bills to ensure that they are accurate and making payments to carriers.

Warehouse management systems (WMS)

A software system that automates warehouse management processes, including inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and shipping.

Textile Addendum

This is required when shipping clothing items or fabrics to the USA. Different types may require different addendums. Textile Addendums usually include details such as manufacturer’s information, type of fabric, etc.

Commercial Invoice

This document lists all the items you are shipping, their quantities, and their values. A commercial invoice is similar to standard invoices but also has details that will assist with clearing customs, e.g. Item description, Quantity, Country of origin, H.S. code, Item value, Total weight, etc.

Waybill

This document tracks a shipment from its point of origin to its destination. It contains essential information about the shipment, such as the sender and receiver’s name and address, the type of goods being shipped, and the package’s weight and dimensions.

FDA Certificate

FDA (Food & Drugs Administration) certificates are needed when shipping food items, herbs, or medical devices to the USA and other countries. FDA Certificates usually include details such as manufacturer’s information, type of food item, quantity, how it’s packaged, etc.

Quarantine/ Phytosanitary Certificate

This is needed when shipping edible items from Nigeria and is issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. It usually includes details such as the sender and shipper’s information, tracking number, and the food items you are sending.

Museum Certificate

These documents are issued by National Museums when shipping artworks, e.g. paintings, artefacts, sculptures, etc., from Nigeria. To get this, you should take your item to the museum the charge will depend on the value.

Lithium Battery Declaration Form

This is required by transportation regulations when shipping devices/equipment with lithium batteries. This form provides important information about the type and quantity of batteries being shipped as well as relevant safety information and precautions.

Drop Ball Form

This is needed when shipping eyeglasses and sunglasses to the USA. Drop Ball form usually includes details such as name, address, etc.

Shoe Form

It is required when shipping shoes to the USA. The shoe form usually includes details such as the manufacturer’s information, type of footwear, material composition, etc.

Wristwatch Form

This is needed when shipping wristwatches to the USA. This includes details like the type of watch, value, etc.