A-Z of shipping

A unique number used to identify a customer and to which all the customer's transactions are linked.

Latin term meaning "according to the value". All duties and taxes are calculated on the basis of value.

A charge for extra services to a consignment

A fee charged for the recovery of duties and taxes made on behalf of the sender.

A bill of lading for air transport that serves as a receipt for the shipper. It indicates that the carrier has accepted the goods listed and obligates the carrier to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions.

A charge made per the air waybill and per weight by an airline/carrier for handling a shipment. This is made in addition to the normal freight charges.

A notification to interested parties that a shipment is now outbound in the supply chain. This notification is transmitted to a customer or consignor designating items shipped. The ASN may also include expected time of arrival.

An international customs document which permits duty and tax free temporary movements, generally used for exhibition goods. ATA carnets are only handled through TNT Special Services and should never be used in our core product services.

A transportation document that is the contract of carriage containing the terms and conditions between the shipper and carrier.

Business that is conducted between two companies.

Business that is conducted between a company (business) and a private individual (consumer).

Procedure through which a customer orders collection of a consignment. TNT bookings can be processed by CIT applications (such as myTNT or ExpressShipper) or through customer services.

Goods stored in a bonded area or a secure warehouse. While they remain there, they are not liable for any payment of import duty or tax.

A person or legal entity who carries out a brokerage activity.

Brokerage is the service performed by a customs authorized broker to complete a customs declaration on behalf of an exporter or importer.

Document listing the goods carried and giving the commercial details of the goods, such as:

• transport document numbers
  
• consignors and consignees
  
• marks and numbers
  
• number and kind of packages
  
• descriptions and quantities of goods

Any company that undertakes the professional conveyance of goods or people.

A payment method that allows the receiver of a package to pay cash to the driver upon delivery.

Used by TNT to calculate the volumetric weight of a consignment to ensure that large, lighweight consignments charged based upon the space that they occupy rather than their actual weight.

A document confirming the origin of items issued by the competent national authorities of a country.

Customer interface technology, also known as shipping tools. Seamless, user-friendly electronic interface provided by TNT to its customers, enabling easy access to TNT's full range of products and services. TNT has 3 types of CIT application: PC-based (ExpressShipper and ExpressManager), Internet-based (myTNT and ExpressConnect) and integrated solutions. Compare our different solutions to find out which application may be most suitable to you.

A charge made against a carrier for loss, damage, delay or overcharge

The process of declaring goods to customs to formally allow entry into a country.

Picking up the consignment at the sender's location by a TNT driver. The collection (also called pick-up) marks the start of the shipping process, which lasts up to the consignment's final delivery to its receiver.

All goods carried are subject to TNT's general conditions, listed on the reverse of the consignment note.

The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered. Also known as the receiver.

One or more parcels shipped together at the same time.

Document completed by the shipper. A consignment note is a transport contract listing full details of the consignment and acting as proof of receipt.

Unique number which indentifies a consignment. It is printed on the consignment note and used to trace the movement of a consignment from pick up to delivery.

The person sending the shipment. Also known as sender or shipper.

Country to which the items are consigned and where the receivers' address is located.

Country from which the goods are consigned, though not necessarily the country where those goods are produced or manufactured.

Country of manufacture, production or growth where an article or product comes from. The country of origin may be different than the country of export.

Government authorities responsible for the administration of customs law, collection of duties and taxes, application of laws and regulations relating to importation, exportation, movement or storage of goods.

A customs-approved person or company who represents importers/exporters in dealings with customs. Normally responsible for obtaining and submitting all documents for clearing goods.

A customs entry or declaration is a statement or action (formal, informal or electronic) giving information required by customs to clear the goods.

The time until when booking can be arranged in order to be collected the same day through TNT's standard network.

Dangerous goods are articles or substances whicih are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. They require special handling or authorizations to be shipped by TNT. There are various classifications of DG, according to their degree of hazards.

Refers to the act of handling a consignment over to its receiver. The receiver will be asked to sign on receipt, which will then serve as proof of delivery (POD).

Latin term for low-value goods, where customs considers it more efficient to waive very small amounts of duties and taxes rather than collect them. This is why low-value thresholds are established.

A person and/or entity either subject to trade or financial sanctions (such as freezing of funds and economic resources) or who has been debarred and lost its export privileges (and is therefore not elibible to participate in export/re-exports for a period of time). Shipping consignments from/to any person listed as a denied party is prohibited.

Station and warehouse where transport vehicles load and unload goods, either from pick-ups or for deliveries.

Also referred to as customs duty. Fee payable to the customs authorities when goods are imported into a country. It is based on the classification, what the goods are, and generally charged as a percentage of the value of the goods.

Electronic Data Interchange, the electronic transmission of data.

Complete ban on economic exchanges (trade and commerce) and political relations (diplomatic relations visas) with a particular country, imposed in an effort to isolate the country and create difficulties for its governing body, forcing it to act on the underlying issue.

Additional coverage for loss of or damage to goods, over and above the minimal legal amounts and up to the maximum value declared in the policy. The underwriter will indemnify the sender, or other interested party, under the terms of the policy, even if TNT is not liable for the loss or damage.

The act of sending a consignment abroad

Regulations relating to the control of shipping specific goods to certain countries and ongoing international sanctions. TNT will only ship in compliance with regulations and sanctions imposed by the various international regulatory bodies and individual countries.

Authorization given by the competent national authorities allowing certain exports.

A service that has been arranged by the sender and that is paid for by the receiver.

PC-based software provided by TNT to its customers, enabling easy access to our full range of products and services.

PC-based software provided by TNT to its customers, enabling easy access to TTN's full range of products and services.

A type of criminal activity defined as the abuse of position, or false representation, or prejudicing someone's rights for personal gain. TNT is aware of the use of our identity on websites and email messages to mislead internet shoppers. Please click here for more information on what to do if you (suspect to) have been a victim of fraud.

An area within a country (e.g. a seaport, airport, warehouse or any designated area) regarded as being outside its customs territory. Importers can bring goods of foreign origin into a free zone without paying customs duties and taxes. This is always pending eventual processing, trans-shipment or re-exportation. May also be known as free ports, free warehouses, free trade zones or foreign trade zones.

International rules on classifying products based on a standardized system of names and numbers to define goods by where they are made from and what they are used for.

A central part of our network. TNT's European air hub is located in Liege, Belgium and our European road hub in Duiven, Netherlands.

The act of bringing goods in from a foreign country.

A shipment that is arranged and paid for by the receiver

International commercial terms defining the legal responsibilities between a buyer and seller. The transaction terms should appear on the commercial invoice to allow the correct customs declaration and calculation of duties and taxes.

Additional coverage for loss of or damage to the goods, over and above the minimum legal amounts and up to the maximum value declared in the policy. The underwriter will indemnify the sender, or other interested party, under the terms of the policy, even if TNT is not liable for the loss or damage.

Document normally required for customs purposes, which is issued by the seller to the buyer stating the description, quantity, price per unit, total value, country of origin of the goods being supplied.

Either "Receiver Pays" or "Sender Pays". Unless otherwise specified, consignments will be invoiced to the sender. Document consignments will always be invoiced to the sender. Both "Sender Pays" and "Receiver Pays" systems are available to numerous destinations. The failure of the receiver to pay TNT shall render the sender liable to pay all charges and duties. The sender, receiver and all other parties to the contract with TNT are jointly and severally liable for all charges invoiced.

ISO is a voluntary organization whose members are recognized authorities on standards. TNT holds ISO 9001 and 14001 certification, as well as OHSAS 18001 and Investors in People.

Internet-based CIT application provided by TNT to its customers, enabling easy access to TNT's full range of products and services.  Learn more...

A card left by TNT's driver after an unsuccessful delivery attempt. To re-arrange a delivery, please contact us.

The sum of our facilities on which consignments are moved. TNT's network, which is composed of its local depots and central hubs, supports the company's core products and services.

Any shipped goods other than paper documents.

An option is an optional enhancement to our sevices. A customer can choose to receive additional service, for which the cusotmer can be charged.

Internet-based CIT application giving immediate access to TNT's prices and services without having to register first.

The payment of duties and taxes is typically the responsibility of the receiver, although TNT does offer the facility for the sender to pay these costs at origin in many locations.

Official document issued to certify that plants or plant products have been inspected according to appropriate procedure and confirm with all applicable phytosanitary regulations of the inspecting country.

The act of collecting the consignment at the sender's location by a TNT driver. The pick-up (also called collection) marks the start of the shipping process, which lasts up to the consignment's final delivery to its receiver.

A lower duty rate based on the value of the goods and dependent on the country of origin.

Please see "Services" for more information on what products and services we offer.

Document signed by the receiver confirming receipt of a consignment.

The estimated price of a service based on the criteria provided by the customer.

Price at which TNT charges its customers.

The individual or organization that is to receive a consignment.

A term of payment that refers to the shipmeng being invoiced to the receiver. A receiver pays shipment can be arranged in 2 different ways: "import receiver pays" or "export receiver pays".

The address to which any undeliverable items are to be returned.

Refers to the road, course, or way of shipping a consignment from the sender's location to the receiver's.

Time-guaranteed Express service in which delivery occurs on the same day as the pick up

Legal instrument of a diplomatic and economic nature which seeks to bring about a change in activities or policies such as violations of international law or human rights, or policies that do not respect the rule of law or democratic principles.

Procedure of verifying whether the sender or receiver are listed as denied parties. All shipments are subject to TNT's denied-parties screening procedure.

The individual or organization that has arranged and sent a consignment.

A consignment is labelled ‘sender pays’ if the revenue is incurred in the origin country, i.e. the invoice is sent to the sender. The sender pays all the costs of carriage, insurance (if applicable), customs clearance and all other costs. Import VAT and taxes, import duties and other related charges will be invoiced to the receiver or importer.

Customer specific agreements between a service provider and a service user. An SLA often includes, but is not limited to, the definition of services, performance measurement, problem management, customer duties, warranties, disaster recovery and/or termination of agreement.

The actions taken in response to a service failure, for example, when a consignment is delivered late or lost. This process is typically executed a customer service representative.

TNT offers a wide range of services, including time-critical services, time- & day-definite services, and freight services.

Equivalent to the term 'consignment'. One or more pieces of goods accepted by the carrier from one shipper, at one time, at one address, receipted for in one lot, and moved under one consignment note to one consignee, at one destination address.

The individual or organization that has arranged and sent a consignment.

For urgent, hazardous or fragile shipments that require trained operators and correctly equipment vehicles, handling facilities and packaging. TNT special handling includes dangerous goods, clinical express and secure transportation services.

The process beginning with the sourcing of (raw) materials and ending in the delivery of the final product or service to the end customer. Included within the supply chain are vendors, suppliers and customers.

Rules and regulations set by TNT for shipment of goods. They are printed on the back of a consignment note and can also be found here.

Terms determining who is paying for the delivery of a consignment, and/or the length of time allowed to settle an invoice, for example 7 days.

A declaration form necessary for sending clothes into the United States.

TNT’s ability to provide the customer a readily available service solution. These capabilities must not be limited to the movement of goods only but also include invoicing options, CIT solutions, Customer Service etc.

Following the status of a shipment using TNT’s tracking facilities. Requires your nine-digit consignment note number or customer reference.

The transfer of a shipment from one carrier, or more commonly, from one vessel to another while in transit.

A company or individual who has not previously shipped with TNT and requests a collection from an unknown address or that has not traded with TNT in the past 26 weeks.

Industry or sector for which TNT has developed an integrated and highly efficient solution, tailored on the customers distinctive needs and requirements.

The amount of 3-dimensional space an object occupies, generally calculated by multiplying the lengths of all three sides of an object.

The volumetric weight of a consignment is calculated by multiplying the physical dimensions of the consignment by a specific factor (cube conversion factor).

International convention governing the carriage of goods internationally by air. It specifically limits the carrier’s liability for damage or loss to goods whilst in air transit.

TNT works with two types: actual weight and contractual weight. Contractual weight is stated by the customer in the paperwork. Actual weight is determined by TNT.