| F.O.B. (Free on Board) |
The price including cost of loading the goods for transportation at a specified place. |
| Facsimile |
The transmission of an exact copy of a document by wire or radio. |
| FAF |
Fuel Adjustment Factor. |
| FCL |
Full Container Load. |
| Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) |
Regulatory agency responsible for rates and practices of ocean carriers shipping to and from the United States. |
| FEU |
40 foot equivalent unit. |
| Flat Bed |
A type of truck with no side panels on to which cargo is usually strapped, chained or otherwise attached. |
| Flat Rack |
Usually a wheel-less piece of equipment to which a piece of cargo is attached, strapped, or otherwise secured. Standard size is 20' or 40' long. |
| Foreign Trade Zone |
A site sanctioned by the U.S. Customs Service in which imported goods are exempted from duties until withdrawn for domestic sale or use. Such zones are used for commercial warehouses or assembly plants. |
| Form A |
"Form A" refers to an origin declaration document, required by importers from their foreign suppliers, to enable the importer to receive favorable Customs duty considerations for goods imported under the Generalized Systems of Preference (GSP). The documents may be supplied only by the foreign shipper, and are not available in the U.S. |
| Form B |
"Form B" would refer to the U.S. . Exporter's version of an origin declaration, and is represented by the U.S./Israel Free Trade area Certificate of Origin used by U.S. exporters for shipments to Israel. |
| 40 Footer |
A container which is 40 feet in length. |
| Forwarder's Receipt |
Receipt issued by the appointed forwarder that goods have been received without exception for export. Could be used in case of Letter of Credit shipment under Ex-Works terms of sale. |
| Forwarding |
To ensure and facilitate the passage of goods from an origin to a destination. |
| Free Trade Zone |
A port designated by the government of a country for duty-free entry of any non-prohibited goods. Merchandise may be sorted, displayed, used for manufacturing, etc., within the zone and re-exported without duties being paid. Duties are imposed on the merchandise (or items manufactured from the merchandise) only when the goods pass from the zone into an area of the country subject to the Customs authority. |
| Freight Forwarder |
A firm that represents shippers by arranging transport and completing documentation required for international shipping. Some freight forwarders also act as cargo consolidators. |
| Freight Payable at Destination |
When the ocean freight of a shipment is paid at the time of delivery at the foreign port. |
| Full Set Off B/L's |
Usually means the issuance of the three original's and three copies of the ocean Bill of Lading. This term is generally accepted by banks and shippers. |
| FVD |
Full Value Declared. |
