Estes Express Lines Transportation Glossary

Transportation Glossary (PDF)

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F

FAA:

See Federal Aviation Administration.

FCL (Full Container Load):

The most common types of containers are 20’, 40’ and 40’ "High-Cube" containers.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

Created under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, this organization is charged with the responsibility of proclaiming operational standards and procedures for all classes of aviation in the United States.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA):

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Its primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

FEU (Forty-foot Equivalent Unit):

Two twenty-foot containers or one forty-foot container equals an FEU.

FIFO:

First-in-first-out. In warehousing, it describes the method of rotating inventory to use oldest product first.

Fifth Wheel:

A coupling device mounted to a tractor or a dolly used to connect a semi-trailer and a tractor, or two semi-trailers. A semi-truck trailer is supported at the rear by its own wheels and at the front by the fifth wheel, which is mounted to a tractor or dolly.

Fill Rate:

Sales order processing measurement that quantifies the ability to fill orders. There are various ways of measuring fill rate. Line fill compares the number of line items shipped complete to the number of lines ordered (95 line items shipped complete out of 100 lines ordered, would result in a 95% line fill rate). Order fill compares the number of orders shipped complete to the total number of orders shipped.

Flat Car:

A rail freight car with no supporting structure above the load deck except for bulkheads at the ends of the car on some types. See TOFC.

FOB:

See Free on Board.

Force Majeure:

The title of a standard clause on Bills of Lading or airway bills exempting the parties for nonfulfillment of their obligations as a result of conditions beyond their control, such as earthquakes, floods, strikes or wars.

Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit:

See FEU.

Free on Board (FOB):

The point at which the title of the goods passes from the shipper to the consignee.

Free Time:

The amount of time that a carrier's equipment may be used without incurring additional charges. See Demurrage.

Freight Forwarder:

The company authorized by a shipper to perform the services required to facilitate the export of items from the United States. This may include air couriers or carriers.

FSC:

See Fuel Surcharge.

Fuel Surcharge (FSC):

An additional charge added to the freight bill for the price of fuel according to the National Fuel Index to offset the high cost of fuel.

Fulfillment:

A process that supplies a finished manufactured product directly from a manufacturing facility to a distributor or end user. The fulfillment cycle may include receiving customer orders, configuring the products to order, shipping and invoicing products to distribution outlets or end users.

Full Container Load:

See FCL.

Full Trailer:

A truck trailer with wheels on both ends (as compared to a semitrailer in which the front rests on the rear of the power unit).

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