ADR
Agreement governing international carriage of dangerous goods by road. Requirements depend on cargo classification, quantity, packaging and any exemptions. Provide the UN number and classification details before requesting a quote.
Glossary
Road freight and logistics glossary
33 terms to help you understand quotes, documents and transport planning. The definitions highlight what to clarify for your cargo and route.
Definitions reviewed on 8 October 2026.
AETR
Agreement on crews’ work in certain international road operations. It sets driving and rest rules; its application instead of EU rules depends on the route and vehicle registration.
ATP
Agreement for the international carriage of certain perishable foodstuffs and the equipment used. Check whether it applies to the cargo and trip, the equipment class and certificate expiry. Validity is not universally six years.
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor, a term originating in shipping for fuel cost adjustments. In a road freight quote, check the index, formula, review frequency and whether it is included in the price. Contracts may use different arrangements.
Cabotage
Domestic carriage temporarily performed by a non-resident carrier. The general EU rule allows up to three operations within seven days after incoming international carriage, with additional conditions and a four-day cooling-off period in the same state for the same motor vehicle.
CMR
Convention governing certain contracts for international road carriage for reward. The CMR consignment note records the contract, cargo and handover. The convention has scope conditions and exclusions; the note does not replace customs formalities or cargo insurance.
CPI / CPC
Initial qualification and periodic training for professional drivers. Romanian CPI and CPC refer to different certificates. For the categories concerned, EU periodic training is 35 hours every five years, subject to statutory exemptions.
Cross-docking
Transfer from an incoming vehicle to a distribution vehicle with minimal or no storage. It can reduce dwell time but requires coordinated slots and package identification. Check whether the quote includes transhipment and who handles the goods.
Demurrage / waiting time
Demurrage usually refers to charges after agreed free time for vessels or containers. In road freight, loading or unloading waiting charges are defined in the contract. There is no universal allowance of two free hours.
DPF
Diesel particulate filter, part of the exhaust after-treatment system. It reduces particulate emissions. Its presence alone does not establish a vehicle’s Euro class or permission to enter a restricted zone.
Drive-relay / double crew
A double crew has two drivers on board; a relay may involve drivers changing along the route. Clarify the arrangement. Two drivers do not remove rest requirements: under EU multi-manning rules, each needs at least nine hours of daily rest within the applicable 30-hour period.
SDR
Special Drawing Rights, the IMF unit of account also used for certain CMR liability limits. Its euro value changes. Compensation depends on the applicable convention and protocol, relevant weight and circumstances, not a fixed euro equivalent.
EX1
Commercial shorthand for an export customs declaration. The procedure and documents depend on goods status and destination. Confirm the electronic declaration, MRN reference and exit evidence with the customs representative where required.
FTL
Full Truck Load, carriage with a vehicle or capacity dedicated to a shipment. The vehicle need not be physically full. Confirm loading and delivery points, exclusivity and any transhipments.
Dimensions and limits
Vehicle and load dimensions, assessed with gross weight and axle loads. Limits depend on configuration and road. In Romania, permitted excesses require a special transport authorisation from the road administrator and compliance with its conditions.
HACCP
Hazard analysis and critical control point method for food safety. Food businesses within scope apply procedures suited to their activity, including transport hygiene and temperature control where needed. It does not mean a universally mandatory certificate for every truck.
Just-in-time
Deliveries organised around when goods are needed to reduce stockholding. The slot, tolerance, dock appointment and consequences of delay are agreed for each flow. The term does not imply a universal 30-minute tolerance.
Community licence
Authorisation for international road haulage for reward within the scope of EU rules. It is issued for renewable periods of up to ten years. Check the holder, expiry and certified copy for the vehicle, together with any applicable exemptions.
LTL
Less Than Truckload, a shipment using part of a truck’s capacity that may travel with other goods. Price depends on space, weight, route and handling. Confirm stops, transhipments and delivery timing before booking.
Maut
Germany’s distance-based road toll, dependent on vehicle category. Since July 2024 it generally covers goods motor vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass above 3.5 tonnes, subject to exemptions. For combinations, the towing vehicle’s mass also matters; check Toll Collect classification.
Mega Trailer
A low-chassis semitrailer with greater usable internal height, used for bulky goods. Check interior dimensions, loading opening, payload and dock compatibility for the allocated vehicle.
Mobility Package
EU rules on market access, posting of drivers, driving and rest. The requirement for a truck to return every eight weeks was annulled by the CJEU in 2024. Separate obligations to organise drivers’ return remain relevant.
PB
An abbreviation that may have different meanings in documents and quotes. This glossary assigns it no universal definition or pay entitlement. Ask the issuer for the full wording, unit and meaning in that document.
POD
Proof of Delivery, evidence that goods were handed to the consignee. It may be a signed document or agreed electronic confirmation. Check date, quantity, recipient and reservations; a signature alone does not establish that no loss or damage occurred.
Tachograph
Device recording driver activities and vehicle data to check social rules. Applicability depends on vehicle and operation. Since July 2026, EU requirements also cover certain vehicles above 2.5 tonnes used for international carriage or cabotage, subject to legal exemptions.
TAU
A contextual abbreviation that may refer to a Tautliner in a quote. Do not assume its meaning: ask for vehicle type, usable dimensions and loading options. Spelling out the equipment avoids confusion.
Tautliner
Common name for a curtain-sided semitrailer. It provides side access and usually rear access. Pallet capacity, payload and roof opening depend on configuration and must be confirmed for the requested load.
T1
External transit procedure used mainly for non-Union goods, suspending certain charges until the customs destination. Customs sets the deadline for presenting the goods. There is no universal seven-day validity.
T2
Internal transit procedure preserving Union goods status in situations provided for by customs rules, including certain routes through third countries. Whether it is needed depends on goods status, territories crossed and the procedure used.
TIR
International customs transit system under the TIR Convention, with customs control and a guarantee. The TIR carnet and applicable procedures support movement between customs offices. TIR is not mandatory for every truck or every international trip.
Vignette
Permission to use certain roads for a set period. It differs from distance-based truck tolling: Austria, for example, uses GO toll for vehicles above 3.5 tonnes. Check the applicable system for each country and vehicle.
Waybill
English term for a transport document. In road freight it may mean a consignment note, including CMR where applicable. It is not automatically equivalent to a Romanian goods delivery note; check its role in the specific operation.
WMS
Warehouse Management System, software for receiving, locations, stock and order preparation. Data exchange with a carrier depends on the agreed integration; having a WMS does not guarantee automatic delivery tracking.