Go Trans FAQ Center
Quick answers to shipping questions, packing rules, parcel collections, and customs.
What is the Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser under ADR?
The Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) is a mandatory appointment for any company involved in the road transport, loading, unloading, …
View Full AnswerWhat are ADR tunnel restriction categories and which European routes are affected?
ADR assigns road tunnels to one of five categories — A through E — governing which dangerous goods may pass …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a UN number and a Kemler number
A UN number identifies the dangerous substance — the 4-digit code from the Orange Book classifying the substance across all …
View Full AnswerWhat is a proper shipping name and how does it relate to the UN number?
A proper shipping name is the official transport name assigned to a dangerous substance in ADR Table A — the …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the UN number is wrong or missing on an ADR transport document?
A transport document with an absent or incorrect UN number is non-compliant under ADR Annex A. Enforcement authorities — transport …
View Full AnswerDoes the UN number or its transport conditions change between ADR editions?
Assigned UN numbers rarely change, but the transport conditions attached to an existing number can be revised between editions. Special …
View Full AnswerWhat is an NA number and how does it differ from a UN number?
An NA number (North America number) is issued by the United States Department of Transportation for substances regulated under US …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a packing group and a hazard class in ADR?
A hazard class identifies the category of danger a substance presents — flammable, corrosive, toxic, radioactive, or explosive. The packing …
View Full AnswerWhat is UN performance-oriented packaging and how does it relate to packing groups?
UN performance-oriented packaging is packaging that has been independently tested and certified to the structural and containment standards required for …
View Full AnswerHow does the packing group affect the limited quantity threshold?
ADR Table A sets limited quantity thresholds per UN number and per packing group. PG III substances typically qualify for …
View Full AnswerCan the same chemical substance have two different packing groups at different concentrations?
Yes — concentration and purity shift the packing group for many substances. Acetic acid above 80% concentration is UN 2789, …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if goods are shipped in packaging approved for the wrong packing group?
Shipping PG I goods in Y-marked packaging (approved for PG II and III only) or Z-marked packaging (approved for PG …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an SDS and an MSDS?
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) was the predecessor document format used before the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) introduced the standardised …
View Full AnswerDoes every chemical product require a Safety Data Sheet?
An SDS is required under REACH for substances and mixtures classified as hazardous under CLP, for PBT and vPvB substances …
View Full AnswerWhat is an extended Safety Data Sheet (eSDS) and when does it apply?
An extended SDS adds one or more exposure scenario annexes to the standard 16-section document. Exposure scenarios describe the conditions …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a Safety Data Sheet and a transport document?
The SDS is a product document — prepared by the manufacturer for the substance itself and covering all its properties, …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if an ADR shipment is booked using an outdated Safety Data Sheet?
An outdated SDS — one that does not reflect the current ADR 2025 Table A entry for the UN number …
View Full AnswerCan LQ goods travel on the same vehicle as full ADR dangerous goods?
A vehicle can carry LQ goods and full ADR dangerous goods simultaneously. LQ goods are excluded from the 1000-point mixed …
View Full AnswerDoes the LQ mark have a Y in the centre for ADR road transport?
The Y inside the LQ diamond is an IATA air transport requirement — it identifies the package as complying with …
View Full AnswerIs a Safety Data Sheet still required for goods shipped under the LQ exemption?
The LQ exemption does not remove the SDS obligation. An SDS is required under REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 for all …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if a package exceeds the 30 kg gross mass limit?
A package that exceeds 30 kg gross at any amount falls outside the LQ provision and is subject to full …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between LQ for road transport and LQ for air transport?
ADR Chapter 3.4 governs LQ for road; IATA DGR Packing Instruction 910 (Y) governs LQ for air — these are …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an EPAL pallet and a EUR pallet?
EPAL and EUR are two certification marks that appear together on the same certified euro pallet — they identify the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a euro pallet and an industrial pallet?
A euro pallet measures 800mm × 1200mm and produces 33 loading positions on a standard 13.6m European semi-trailer. An industrial …
View Full AnswerWhat is a half euro pallet and when is it used in European freight?
A half euro pallet (EUR 6) measures 800mm × 600mm — exactly half the euro pallet footprint in the shorter …
View Full AnswerCan euro pallets be repaired and re-certified for European Pallet Pool exchange?
EPAL-certified euro pallets are repaired by EPAL-licensed repair workshops following the EPAL repair specification — damaged deck boards and blocks …
View Full AnswerCan euro pallets be loaded into standard ISO shipping containers for sea freight?
Standard ISO 20-foot and 40-foot containers present a loading constraint for euro pallets. Two euro pallets placed side by side …
View Full AnswerHow many industrial pallets fit in a 40-foot ISO container?
A standard 40-foot ISO container has an internal length of approximately 12,032mm and an internal width of approximately 2,352mm. Loading …
View Full AnswerWhat wood are industrial pallets made from?
Industrial pallets are manufactured from softwood — typically pine or spruce. Only dried timber enters production to prevent the mould …
View Full AnswerAre industrial pallets compatible with euro pallet warehouse racking?
Industrial pallets at 1000mm wide do not fit correctly on racking systems dimensioned for the euro pallet's 800mm footprint. Euro …
View Full AnswerCan UK standard industrial pallets be used for shipments from the UK to continental Europe?
UK standard industrial pallets can be shipped from the UK to continental European destinations, but two practical constraints apply. First, …
View Full AnswerHow do European LTL pallet networks price industrial pallet consignments?
European less-than-truckload (LTL) pallet networks price and route consignments on euro pallet units as the standard pricing base. Each industrial …
View Full AnswerWhat is a display pallet and is it the same as a half pallet?
Display pallet and half pallet are two names for the same physical object — the EUR 6 format at 800mm …
View Full AnswerCan half pallets be used in automated warehouse systems?
EUR 6 half pallets at 800mm × 600mm are within the dimensional range accepted by most European automated storage and …
View Full AnswerHow does a half pallet differ from a quarter pallet in European logistics?
A half euro pallet (EUR 6) measures 800mm × 600mm and covers 0.48 m² of floor space. A quarter pallet …
View Full AnswerHow are half pallets priced in European LTL pallet freight networks?
European less-than-truckload pallet networks price consignments by euro pallet positions consumed in the trailer. One EUR 6 half pallet occupies …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if wooden half pallets cross an international border without the ISPM 15 HT mark?
Wooden EUR 6 half pallets without the ISPM 15 HT (heat-treated) mark face quarantine, rejection, or destruction at international border …
View Full AnswerCan a tail lift vehicle deliver to a charging point site?
A tail lift vehicle can reach a charging point site but cannot raise its platform to dock height — tail …
View Full AnswerCan a shipper at a floor-level site book pallet freight through Go Trans?
Floor-level sites without a charging point book with a tail lift vehicle. The tail lift lowers to ground level, pallets …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the charging point dock is occupied when the driver arrives?
The driver waits in the loading bay until a dock position clears. Standard carrier booking slots include a waiting window …
View Full AnswerDoes dock height vary between charging point sites across Europe?
The European standard is 1.0 to 1.2 metres, but individual facilities built to older specifications may have platforms at 0.9 …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a dock leveller and a charging point?
A charging point is the complete raised platform structure at the warehouse wall. A dock leveller is a component built …
View Full AnswerDoes Go Trans need the platform height in metres to complete a booking?
Go Trans requires the site classification — charging point or floor-level — not the exact platform measurement. That classification is …
View Full AnswerAre wire mesh pallets compatible with standard pallet racking systems?
Wire mesh pallets with solid steel runner bases sit on standard beam racking the same way wooden pallets do — …
View Full AnswerWhat cargo cannot be loaded directly onto a wire mesh deck?
Fine powders, liquids, small loose components, and products with soft or irregular undersides should not be placed directly on a …
View Full AnswerHow does wire mesh pallet tare weight affect freight cost calculations?
A wire mesh pallet adds 15 to 25 kg per unit to the total consignment weight. On a shipment of …
View Full AnswerCan wire mesh pallets be repaired after transit damage?
Individual wires or frame sections that deform or fracture under impact can be rewelded by a metalwork fabricator, restoring the …
View Full AnswerWhat documentation is required for wire mesh pallets on international shipments?
Wire mesh pallets do not require ISPM 15 treatment certificates — the phytosanitary exemption for non-wooden pallets applies automatically at …
View Full AnswerCan a sandwich pallet be used on standard pallet racking?
Sandwich pallets with solid runner bases sit on standard beam racking the same way wooden euro pallets do — the …
View Full AnswerIs a sandwich pallet the same as a double-deck trailer?
No. A sandwich pallet is a pallet format — a load platform with two deck surfaces built into its physical …
View Full AnswerCan sandwich pallets be repaired after transit damage?
Wooden sandwich pallets are repairable by replacing individual deck boards or spacer blocks — the modular timber-and-block construction means damaged …
View Full AnswerWhat is the maximum static load a sandwich pallet can carry?
The maximum static load capacity of a sandwich pallet is 3,000 kg for heavy-duty wooden and metal frame variants built …
View Full AnswerWhat documentation does a wooden sandwich pallet need for customs clearance?
A wooden sandwich pallet requires a visible ISPM 15 heat treatment marking stamped or burned directly into the timber — …
View Full AnswerCan groupage freight be tracked?
Groupage shipments are trackable through the carrier's depot scanning network — a tracking reference is issued at collection and scan …
View Full AnswerCan hazardous goods travel in a groupage shipment?
ADR-classified goods travel in groupage freight subject to compatibility rules set out in the ADR regulations — not all hazardous …
View Full AnswerWhat happens to a groupage shipment if one consignment in the load is held at customs?
A customs hold on one consignment affects only that consignment. The carrier separates it at the border or customs examination …
View Full AnswerDoes groupage work for temperature-controlled cargo?
Standard groupage networks operate ambient temperature vehicles and are not temperature-controlled. Perishable goods, pharmaceutical products, and other cargo requiring a …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between groupage and express freight?
Groupage consolidates multiple shippers' loads through depot networks — transit is longer and time windows are approximate. Express freight moves …
View Full AnswerDoes cabotage apply to Go Trans as a logistics broker?
No. Cabotage regulations apply to the licensed road haulier holding a Community Licence issued under EU Regulation 1072/2009. Go Trans …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if a carrier claims cabotage rights but cannot produce the inbound CMR?
A carrier that cannot produce the CMR consignment note for the international inbound delivery has no documentary evidence of the …
View Full AnswerCan cabotage operations take place in multiple EU countries on the same trip?
No. All 3 permitted cabotage operations must take place in the same host member state where the international inbound delivery …
View Full AnswerWhat is systematic cabotage and how does the cooling-off period stop it?
Systematic cabotage is the continuous performance of domestic haulage in a host country by a non-resident carrier, used as a …
View Full AnswerDo cabotage rules apply to own-account transport, such as a company moving its own goods?
No. EU Regulation 1072/2009 covers road haulage "for hire or reward" — transport provided commercially for a third party in …
View Full AnswerWhat documents are required to collect a container from a port terminal?
Three documents are required before a port terminal releases a container to a drayage carrier: a delivery order or container …
View Full AnswerWho arranges drayage — the shipping line or the importer?
The shipping line's responsibility ends at the terminal gate. It discharges the container from the vessel and makes it available …
View Full AnswerCan customs clearance delays push a shipment into demurrage territory?
Yes — and the timeline is unforgiving. A customs inspection request or a missing document holds the container at the …
View Full AnswerIs drayage the same as last mile delivery?
Drayage and last mile delivery are two entirely separate legs with no operational overlap. Drayage moves a sealed, intact container …
View Full AnswerWho pays demurrage — the shipper or the consignee?
The consignee pays demurrage on import shipments, because the charge results from a failure to collect at destination. Under DDP …
View Full AnswerWhat does DND mean in shipping?
DND stands for demurrage and detention — a combined charge appearing on one invoice when both conditions apply to the …
View Full AnswerDoes a customs inspection pause the demurrage free time clock?
A customs inspection does not pause the clock. Free time continues counting throughout a customs hold, including inspections ordered with …
View Full AnswerIs demurrage the same as port storage charges?
Demurrage and port storage are distinct charges billed by different parties. Demurrage is levied by the shipping line for the …
View Full AnswerIs a courier a carrier?
A courier is a carrier working in the parcel and express segment. The legal role is identical — a courier …
View Full AnswerCan one company be both a carrier and a broker?
European logistics businesses operate in both capacities regularly. A company runs its own vehicles on lanes where it holds coverage …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a carrier and a shipper?
The shipper sends the goods and holds the commercial interest in them. The carrier transports them. They sit on opposite …
View Full AnswerWhat happens when a carrier subcontracts my load?
The carrier named in your contract stays responsible for the goods throughout, including for anything occurring while a subcontractor is …
View Full AnswerWho is the consignee and who is the consignor when both are the same company?
Internal stock transfers between two sites of one business list the same legal entity as consignor and consignee, with different …
View Full AnswerWhat is a consignment in export terms?
In export documentation the consignment is the unit the commercial invoice, packing list, and customs declaration each describe. All three …
View Full AnswerIs consignment in shipping the same as consignment stock?
The two are unrelated despite the shared word. In shipping, a consignment is a quantity of goods moving under one …
View Full AnswerCan one consignment be delivered to two addresses?
A single consignment cannot, because two consignees means two consignments by definition. What happens in practice is a single collection …
View Full AnswerWhy is it called dead weight?
The phrase comes from general English, where dead weight describes mass that cannot move or support itself. Freight adopted it …
View Full AnswerWhat does dead weight mean in shipping?
Three meanings apply depending on context. In road and courier freight, dead weight is the actual weight of a shipment …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between deadweight and weight?
Weight is the general term. Dead weight specifies the complete measured shipment weight, as distinct from net weight, tare weight, …
View Full AnswerDoes dead weight matter for full truckload bookings?
On FTL, dead weight governs legal payload rather than price. The shipper pays for the vehicle regardless of how much …
View Full AnswerWhat does class 70 freight mean?
Class 70 covers freight with a density between 15 and 22.5 lbs per cubic foot — machinery, engine components, car …
View Full AnswerWhat is class 200 in freight?
Class 200 applies to freight with a density between 4 and 5 lbs per cubic foot — aircraft parts, packaged …
View Full AnswerDoes freight class apply to full truckload shipments?
Freight class does not apply to FTL. A full truckload shipper pays for the entire trailer regardless of what fills …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between freight class and an NMFC item number?
The NMFC item number identifies the commodity within the classification directory. The class is the rating that item carries. One …
View Full AnswerIs FedEx a freight carrier?
FedEx operates separate parcel and freight divisions, as do DHL and UPS. A shipper booking with any of them is …
View Full AnswerWhat are three types of freight?
Road, rail, and air are the three modes moving freight across Europe. Road carries the bulk of inland movement and …
View Full AnswerCan a freight carrier deliver to a residential address?
Residential freight delivery works with tail-lift and pallet truck specified at booking. The constraint is access rather than equipment — …
View Full AnswerHow does a freight claim work from start to finish?
The sequence runs: reservation written on the consignment note at delivery, written claim submitted to the carrier inside the notification …
View Full AnswerWho files when the consignor and consignee disagree?
Whoever holds the right of disposal over the goods at the time of loss is best placed to notify the …
View Full AnswerCan I claim against a freight broker?
A cargo claim runs against the carrier, not the broker, because the broker never takes the goods into its charge. …
View Full AnswerDoes cargo insurance replace a freight claim?
They run in parallel. A CMR claim recovers up to the weight-based cap; cargo insurance covers the value declared in …
View Full AnswerDoes the freight exchange platform hold any liability if a consignment is lost or damaged?
No. The exchange platform is not named on the CMR consignment note — the legal contract of carriage is between …
View Full AnswerHow do spot rates on freight exchanges behave during peak demand periods?
During high-demand periods — pre-Christmas build-up, post-summer industrial restart, and trade fair seasons across Europe — available vehicle postings on …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a public and a private freight exchange?
A public freight exchange is open to any verified registered user — all load and capacity postings are visible across …
View Full AnswerCan a freight forwarder or logistics broker use a freight exchange?
Yes. Freight forwarders and logistics brokers appear regularly on the shipper side of freight exchanges — posting loads they cannot …
View Full AnswerIs a freight exchange subscription worth the cost for an occasional shipper?
For a business shipping fewer than five or six non-standard loads per month, the subscription cost of a major European …
View Full AnswerIs a freight charge the same as a freight rate?
No. The freight rate is the base transport price per unit — per kilogram, per pallet space, per loading metre, …
View Full AnswerWhy does the freight charge differ between two identical consignments booked a week apart?
Three of the four components are variable. The diesel surcharge adjusts monthly — a booking in a new calendar month …
View Full AnswerDoes the freight charge include customs duties for cross-border EU shipments?
For intra-EU road freight between EU member states, no customs duties apply — goods move freely under single market rules …
View Full AnswerWhat is freight prepaid vs freight collect and how does it affect the freight charge?
Freight prepaid means the seller pays the carrier at origin before the goods depart — under CIF, CPT, DAP, and …
View Full AnswerHow do I compare two freight charge quotes accurately?
Compare total confirmed amounts, not base rates alone. Two quotes at the same rate per kilogram can produce different total …
View Full AnswerIs cargo the same as freight?
In everyday logistics language, yes — the two terms are frequently interchangeable. The technical distinction: cargo is the goods themselves …
View Full AnswerWhat makes dangerous goods different from standard cargo on a road freight movement?
Standard general cargo requires the CMR consignment note, commercial invoice, and packing list. Dangerous goods under ADR require four additional …
View Full AnswerDoes cargo insurance cover the same risk as CMR carrier liability?
No — they cover different things at different levels. CMR carrier liability under Article 23 is mandatory and caps the …
View Full AnswerCan different types of cargo travel together in the same vehicle?
General cargo types — different product categories, different commodities — can travel together in the same groupage vehicle. The restriction …
View Full AnswerHow does oversized cargo differ from general cargo in terms of transport requirements?
General cargo moves on standard curtainsider or box body trucks within legal vehicle dimension limits — 13.5 metres long, 2.55 …
View Full AnswerWhat does bulky mean in transport compared to oversized or heavy?
Three different problems. Bulky describes volume relative to weight — a large item that weighs little. Oversized means exceeding a …
View Full AnswerWhat vehicles are used to transport bulky goods?
Curtainsiders carry palletised bulky freight and load from the side, which helps where dock access is limited. Box vans and …
View Full AnswerAre bulky goods the same as bulk goods?
No connection beyond the spelling. Bulk goods are unpackaged commodities moved loose in quantity — grain, cement, aggregates, fuel — …
View Full AnswerDoes bulky goods mean something different outside freight?
Two other meanings circulate. In town planning, bulky goods premises is a retail zoning classification covering showrooms selling large items …
View Full AnswerIs LDM the same as a linear metre?
No. A linear metre is a straight-line measurement of any length in any direction. An LDM is a metre of …
View Full AnswerWhat does LDM stand for outside freight?
Laser Distance Meter — a handheld instrument that measures distance using a laser beam. The abbreviation is shared with loading …
View Full AnswerHow do I calculate LDM when the pallets are different sizes?
Calculate each pallet type on its own dimensions, then add the results together. A consignment of 10 Euro pallets and …
View Full AnswerCan I reduce my LDM figure without shipping less?
Three levers exist. Confirming stackability where the goods genuinely allow it halves the figure at a factor of two. Eliminating …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between colli and pieces?
Colli counts handling units; pieces counts individual products. A pallet carrying twenty boxes of forty components each is one collo, …
View Full AnswerDoes the colli count affect the freight rate?
On European part load and full load freight the rate follows loading metres and weight, leaving the unit count with …
View Full AnswerWhat does colli mean on a CMR note?
The number of individual packages making up the consignment, entered alongside the goods description. It records what the carrier took …
View Full AnswerShould I write colli or collo on a booking form?
Carrier forms and consignment notes ask for a number of colli, using the plural whether the shipment holds one unit …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between LTL and partial?
Transit time separates them in practice. An LTL consignment moves through a terminal network on a schedule built around consolidation, …
View Full AnswerWhat does a partial shipment mean?
Two different things, and the context decides which. In freight, a partial shipment is a partial truck load — freight …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a full load and a part load?
The useful question is where the crossover falls. As a part load grows, the rate per loading metre drops but …
View Full AnswerCan a part load be collected and delivered on fixed dates?
Part loads move on scheduled trunk runs, so collection and delivery fall within windows rather than on named dates. The …
View Full AnswerWhat does ISO stand for?
International Organization for Standardization. The abbreviation does not match the English name because it is not drawn from it — …
View Full AnswerWhat is an ISO steel cargo container?
The same object as an ISO container, described by its construction material. Corten weathering steel is the standard build material, …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL means one shipper's goods fill the container. LCL means several shippers share one, with cargo consolidated at origin and …
View Full AnswerCan a container be delivered directly to my warehouse?
Direct container delivery works where the site handles an articulated vehicle carrying a container chassis. That means turning space, hard …
View Full AnswerIs moving my own goods in my own van freight transport?
Not in the commercial sense. Moving your own stock in your own vehicle is own-account transport, which creates no contract …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a carrier and a freight forwarder?
A carrier takes the goods into its charge and moves them, accepting responsibility for them during the journey. A forwarder …
View Full AnswerDoes freight transport always need a written contract?
The contract of carriage exists whether or not anything is written down. A consignment note evidences that contract rather than …
View Full AnswerIs freight transport governed the same way in every country?
The activity is identical; the law is not. Carriage entirely within one country falls under that country's national transport law. …
View Full AnswerCan the diesel surcharge fall to zero?
Yes. The diesel surcharge percentage tracks the fuel price index in both directions. If the prevailing diesel price falls below …
View Full AnswerWhich fuel index do European road freight carriers use to set the surcharge?
European road freight carriers reference the European Commission Oil Bulletin, published weekly by the Directorate General for Energy and Transport. …
View Full AnswerDoes the diesel surcharge apply on top of accessorial fees such as tail-lift or extended delivery zone charges?
On most European carrier tariff schedules, yes. The diesel surcharge is calculated on the net transport charge and on transport-related …
View Full AnswerWhy does a freight quote issued on a different date show a different diesel surcharge for the same route?
The diesel surcharge in a quote reflects the carrier's published band rate on the date the quote is issued. If …
View Full AnswerDoes Go Trans add a margin on top of the carrier's diesel surcharge?
No. The diesel surcharge in a Go Trans quote is the carrier's current published band rate at the time of …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an abnormal load and a bulky item?
The difference shows up in the calendar rather than the invoice. A bulky item can be booked in the morning …
View Full AnswerWhat does convoi exceptionnel mean?
French for exceptional convoy, describing a road movement that requires a special permit because of its size or weight. The …
View Full AnswerCan one permit cover a journey across several countries?
No. Permits are issued by national authorities and in some cases by regional ones, so a movement crossing three countries …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible for loading and unloading an abnormal load?
Whoever the parties agree, and the agreement needs making before the vehicle is booked. Loading and unloading an oversized or …
View Full AnswerDoes each package in a multi-package consignment get its own tracking number?
Each package in a consignment receives a unique carrier barcode and tracking number at collection, including when multiple packages travel …
View Full AnswerWhat happens when a package exceeds 70 kg and cannot go through the parcel network?
A package above 70 kg is redirected from the parcel carrier network into road freight or pallet delivery, depending on …
View Full AnswerCan a carrier reject a damage claim because the outer packaging was insufficient?
Yes. Under standard European carrier terms, a damage claim is rejected or reduced when the carrier determines at delivery that …
View Full AnswerDoes the volumetric weight divisor change for air express shipments?
Yes. Standard European road parcel carriers — DHL, DPD, and UPS on ground services — use a divisor of 5,000. …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the declared weight on the label does not match the actual weight at the depot?
Carriers weigh packages at the collection depot or at the first sort hub. When the depot weight differs from the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between the consignee and the notify party?
The consignee is the party legally designated to take delivery of the cargo. The notify party is a third party …
View Full AnswerWhen does ownership of freight transfer from the sender to the receiver?
Ownership transfer depends on the Incoterms agreed in the commercial contract between sender and receiver — not on the CMR …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the receiver refuses to accept a delivery?
If a receiver refuses delivery, the carrier cannot complete the consignment as contracted and must immediately notify the sender and …
View Full AnswerIs merchandise the same as goods?
Every merchandise item is goods; not all goods are merchandise. Goods is the neutral term covering anything transported, and it …
View Full AnswerDoes merchandise mean branded promotional products?
That is one narrow sense of a much broader word, and the one with the widest public reach through band, …
View Full AnswerWhat is general merchandise?
A category label rather than a definition. In retail it describes a broad assortment of consumer goods sold together rather …
View Full AnswerDoes merchandise need a commodity code?
Goods crossing a customs frontier are classified against a commodity code that determines the duty rate and any restrictions applying …
View Full AnswerDo major carriers own all vehicles in their fleet or do they also subcontract?
Major asset-based carriers supplement their owned rolling stock with subcontracted vehicles and owner-operators — particularly on thinner lanes or during …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between carrier assets and carrier infrastructure?
Carrier infrastructure refers specifically to the fixed physical network — depots, sorting hubs, and regional facilities. Carrier assets is the …
View Full AnswerDoes asset ownership determine who is liable when freight is lost or damaged?
Yes. The carrier that physically moves a consignment on its own vehicles is the contracting carrier under CMR convention and …
View Full AnswerCan a carrier's owned assets give it a pricing advantage over a broker arrangement?
On lanes where a carrier runs high-frequency, high-utilisation owned-asset services, its fixed cost per consignment is low and its pricing …
View Full AnswerAre technology systems such as TMS platforms and tracking software considered carrier assets?
Yes. Technology infrastructure — Transport Management Systems, depot scanning equipment, real-time tracking platforms, and route optimisation software — is a …
View Full AnswerWhat is an NVOCC and how does it differ from a standard freight forwarder?
An NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) is a freight forwarder that issues Bills of Lading under its own name and …
View Full AnswerHow does a freight forwarder handle customs clearance for international shipments?
A freight forwarder coordinates customs clearance either through its own in-house customs team or by subcontracting to a licensed customs …
View Full AnswerIs a logistics broker the same as a freight forwarder?
In everyday usage, logistics broker and freight forwarder describe similar intermediary roles — both arrange transport on behalf of shippers …
View Full AnswerIs logistics the same as shipping?
No. Shipping is one component of logistics — the act of sending goods from a collection address to a delivery …
View Full AnswerWhat distinguishes a freight forwarder from a carrier in European logistics?
A carrier owns the physical assets used to move goods — trucks, depot infrastructure, and handling equipment. DSV, DHL Freight, …
View Full AnswerWhat is Logistics 4.0 and how does it apply to European freight?
Logistics 4.0 applies Industry 4.0 digital technologies to freight management — replacing manual planning and phone-based tracking with connected digital …
View Full AnswerHow do EU sustainability regulations affect European logistics operations?
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires larger companies to report Scope 3 emissions, which include freight transport arranged through …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between logistics cost and total supply chain cost?
Logistics cost covers the direct expenses of moving and storing goods: transport rates, diesel surcharges, toll charges, warehousing fees, and …
View Full AnswerCan a 3PL evolve into a 4PL?
Yes — the transition follows a recognised industry path. A 3PL takes on additional management responsibilities alongside its direct service …
View Full AnswerWhat triggers the move from 3PL to 4PL in a European logistics operation?
The practical trigger is managing four or more logistics providers across multiple European countries, where the coordination burden — different …
View Full AnswerHow does 5PL differ from a TMS software platform?
A Transport Management System gives the shipper tools to plan, book, and track shipments — the shipper or 3PL operates …
View Full AnswerHow is a 4PL management fee structured?
4PL providers use two primary pricing models. A fixed management fee covers network design, 3PL coordination, and performance reporting at …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a 4PL and a logistics control tower?
The terms describe the same model under different labels. A control tower is the operational term for the centralised management …
View Full AnswerWhy is it called "last mile" if the delivery distance is often more than one mile?
The "last mile" name comes from telecommunications, not from a literal distance measurement. In telecom, the final cable connecting a …
View Full AnswerWhat does each failed last mile delivery attempt actually cost?
Each failed last mile delivery attempt costs the carrier €1–3 in direct redelivery and operational costs — plus the return-to-depot …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between last mile delivery and final mile delivery?
Last mile delivery and final mile delivery describe the same concept — the final leg of the logistics chain from …
View Full AnswerWhat is the bullwhip effect and why does it create logistics problems?
The bullwhip effect is the amplification of small customer demand fluctuations into progressively larger swings in production orders, inventory levels, …
View Full AnswerHow does Belgium's geographic position benefit European supply chain logistics operations?
Belgium sits at the convergence of Northwest Europe's primary freight corridors — 370 km from Frankfurt, 305 km from Paris, …
View Full AnswerWhat technology systems support supply chain logistics execution?
Three systems form the operational technology infrastructure. Transport Management Systems plan, book, and track shipments — connecting carrier bookings to …
View Full AnswerHow does a customs documentation error affect downstream supply chain logistics at an EU external border?
An error — wrong commodity code, missing EORI number, or package count mismatch between the commercial invoice and the physical …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between distribution logistics and last-mile delivery in a European supply chain?
Distribution logistics is the planned movement of goods from a central warehouse or distribution centre to regional delivery points or …
View Full AnswerDoes a logistics broker in Europe need a licence to operate?
In most EU member states, logistics brokers are not required to hold a specific broker licence — unlike the US, …
View Full AnswerHow does a logistics broker make money on each shipment?
A logistics broker earns the margin between the rate it pays the carrier and the confirmed freight charge it invoices …
View Full AnswerCan a logistics broker arrange same-day or express deliveries?
Yes. A broker's carrier network spans multiple service levels — standard road freight, express, and same-day where the carrier network …
View Full AnswerWho is liable when a consignment arranged by a broker is damaged in transit?
The carrier named on the CMR consignment note holds direct liability under CMR Article 23 — not the broker. The …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a logistics broker and a full-service 3PL?
A full-service 3PL manages warehousing, inventory, order fulfilment, and returns handling alongside transport — making it the right choice for …
View Full AnswerWhat is the hub and spoke model in business?
In business, hub and spoke describes any network where a central node coordinates multiple distributed points. Franchise head offices, airline …
View Full AnswerWhat are the different types of hub and spoke networks?
Hub and spoke networks vary by hub count and tier structure. Single-hub networks route all traffic through one facility. Multi-hub …
View Full AnswerCan a freight shipment bypass the hub and travel direct?
Yes. Full truckload freight between fixed points routes point-to-point without hub transfer. Hub and spoke applies to parcels and LTL …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a hub and a cross-dock terminal?
A hub is a network position — where a facility sits in a carrier's route hierarchy. A cross-dock terminal is …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between cross-docking and transloading?
Cross-docking moves goods between vehicles of the same transport mode — truck to truck — at a terminal without storage. …
View Full AnswerCan cross-docking handle temperature-controlled or ADR dangerous goods?
Temperature-controlled and ADR goods require certified facilities. Temperature-controlled cross-docking needs refrigerated staging areas between inbound and outbound docks. ADR goods …
View Full AnswerWho carries liability if goods are damaged during a cross-docking transfer?
Liability sits with the carrier or terminal operator handling goods at the point damage occurs, governed by the carrier's terms …
View Full AnswerIs cross-docking the same as a hub-and-spoke logistics model?
No. A hub-and-spoke model is a network architecture connecting origin points through a central hub to destination points. Cross-docking is …
View Full AnswerWhat is Industry 4.0 in simple terms?
Industry 4.0 is the Fourth Industrial Revolution — the integration of cyber-physical systems, IoT, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing into …
View Full AnswerWhat are the main challenges of Logistics 4.0 adoption for freight operators?
High upfront investment in sensors, automation equipment, and digital platforms. Integration complexity between new Logistics 4.0 tools and legacy warehouse …
View Full AnswerDoes Logistics 4.0 apply to smaller freight operators and logistics brokers?
Smaller operators and brokers benefit directly through cloud-based freight platforms, carrier API connections, and digital tracking tools without building the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between Logistics 3.0 and Logistics 4.0?
Logistics 3.0 digitalised logistics — barcodes, EDI, basic GPS, warehouse management systems. Data existed but sat in separate systems and …
View Full AnswerWhat is carbon offsetting in freight and what does it not do?
Carbon offsetting compensates for unavoidable freight emissions by funding emission reductions elsewhere — tree planting, renewable energy. It does not …
View Full AnswerHow is the carbon footprint of a freight shipment calculated?
Freight carbon footprint is measured in CO2 equivalent per tonne-kilometre — goods weight multiplied by distance, then by the emission …
View Full AnswerWhat is HVO fuel and why are European freight carriers switching to it?
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a renewable diesel produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste lipids — compatible with …
View Full AnswerHow does a company measure progress toward sustainable logistics goals?
Track CO2 per tonne-kilometre by mode, vehicle load factor, and the share of shipments consolidated. CSRD requires Scope 3 transport …
View Full AnswerDoes a commercial credit check affect the assessed company's credit rating?
A commercial credit check by a logistics provider does not reduce the assessed business's credit score the way a consumer …
View Full AnswerWhich commercial credit agencies operate in Belgium and Europe?
Dun & Bradstreet, Graydon (part of Atradius), and Euler Hermes/Allianz Trade are the primary commercial credit data providers in Belgium …
View Full AnswerWhat is trade credit insurance in logistics?
Trade credit insurance protects a logistics provider against customer non-payment caused by insolvency or extended default. The insurer independently assesses …
View Full AnswerWhat is a credit limit in a freight account?
A credit limit is the maximum outstanding invoice balance a business customer may carry with the logistics provider at any …
View Full AnswerWhat is the largest free trade zone in the world?
Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai is widely regarded as the largest by registered company count. Singapore and Hong Kong …
View Full AnswerCan any business operate inside a free trade zone, or is approval required?
Businesses must apply to the zone authority and receive formal approval before operating inside a free trade zone. Authorised operators …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a free trade zone and a special economic zone?
A free trade zone specifically suspends customs duties. A special economic zone is broader — including tax relief and regulatory …
View Full AnswerCan goods be held in a free trade zone indefinitely, or is there a time limit?
EU free zones set no standard time limit on goods under customs supervision. Inward processing authorisations carry time limits set …
View Full AnswerIs the declared value the same as the invoice price of the goods?
In most cases yes. The declared customs value reflects the transaction value — the price actually paid for the goods …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between declared value and freight insurance?
Declared value for carriage caps the road carrier's liability under CMR. Freight insurance is a separate contract providing all-risk coverage. …
View Full AnswerDoes the declared value on a CMR note affect customs duty?
No. The CMR declared value for carriage sets the carrier's liability limit only and has no effect on customs duty. …
View Full AnswerWhat should be declared for samples, gifts, or goods sent for repair?
Samples should be declared at approximate market value — not zero. Personal gifts may qualify for customs relief below defined …
View Full AnswerDoes an export shipment need customs clearance in the destination country?
Yes. Export clearance in the EU and import clearance on arrival are separate procedures handled by different parties. The importer …
View Full AnswerDoes a sample or free-of-charge shipment count as an export?
Yes. Samples, warranty replacements, and returns leaving the EU customs territory require an export declaration and a stated value for …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible if the commodity code on an export declaration is wrong?
The exporter carries responsibility for the accuracy of the declaration, including classification, even where a declarant submitted it on their …
View Full AnswerDoes a groupage load need one export declaration or several?
Each exporter's goods are declared separately, so a part-load leaving the EU carries one declaration per exporter rather than a …
View Full AnswerDoes an exporter need to be established in the EU to file an export declaration?
EU export declarations are filed by EU-established entities with EU EORI numbers. A non-EU seller using EXW needs an EU-established …
View Full AnswerCan a freight forwarder become the Exporter of Record?
A freight forwarder filing as indirect customs representative acts on the exporter's behalf but does not replace the Exporter of …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between direct and indirect customs representation?
Direct representation: the agent files in the exporter's name and the exporter bears full liability. Indirect representation: the agent files …
View Full AnswerDoes every export from Belgium require a full export declaration?
All commercial goods leaving the EU to non-EU countries require an export declaration. Simplified procedures may apply below defined value …
View Full AnswerDoes an importer need VAT registration as well as an EORI number?
The two registrations are separate. An EORI number identifies the party to customs and is required before a declaration is …
View Full AnswerCan a private individual be the importer?
Yes. An individual receiving goods from outside the EU is the importer for that consignment and owes the duty and …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an importer and a distributor?
An importer holds a customs position on one consignment. A distributor holds a commercial role in onward sale. A distributor …
View Full AnswerDoes the importer need to be registered before the goods arrive?
Yes. The EORI number exists before the declaration is lodged, so registration arranged after arrival leaves the consignment in temporary …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if a supplier charges VAT when the reverse charge should have applied?
The supplier has collected VAT without legal basis. The buyer cannot reclaim it as standard input tax. Both parties carry …
View Full AnswerHow does the reverse charge apply when a Belgian provider invoices a UK buyer?
EU reverse charge applies only between EU-registered businesses. UK businesses left the EU VAT system on 1 January 2021. A …
View Full AnswerHow does a supplier verify a buyer's VAT number before applying the reverse charge?
The EU VIES portal verifies VAT registration numbers across all EU member states in real time. A confirmed VIES result …
View Full AnswerDoes the reverse charge apply when a Belgian provider invoices a non-EU business without an EU VAT registration?
The EU reverse charge applies only when the buyer holds a valid EU VAT registration. A non-EU business without EU …
View Full AnswerWhich customs office is the office of first entry on a road consignment?
The office responsible for the border crossing the vehicle uses. Routing decides it, so a carrier changing route between quotation …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if goods are not placed under a customs procedure after presentation?
They remain in temporary storage inside the customs territory without entering free circulation. Storage charges accrue against the consignment for …
View Full AnswerCan one consignment have more than one country of entry?
No. A consignment crosses into the customs territory once and one office of first entry is recorded against it. Internal …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a binding tariff ruling and a commodity code I assign myself?
A self-assigned commodity code carries no legal protection at the EU border. If a customs authority disagrees with the classification, …
View Full AnswerCan a binding tariff ruling issued in one EU country be used at borders in other member states?
A BTI issued by any EU member state's customs authority is binding on all 27 EU customs administrations for the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a binding tariff ruling and a Binding Origin Information decision?
A binding tariff ruling classifies goods under the correct HS code — it determines what the goods are for tariff …
View Full AnswerWhat happens to goods already in transit when a binding tariff ruling is revoked?
In specific revocation cases, the Union Customs Code provides a transitional period. Goods already committed to a customs procedure under …
View Full AnswerWhat is the purpose of a compliance certificate?
A compliance certificate proves that a product meets the technical and safety standards required for its destination market. It protects …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a Certificate of Compliance and a Certificate of Conformity?
Both terms describe a document confirming a product meets a defined standard or directive. Certificate of Conformity is the precise …
View Full AnswerHow long is a compliance certificate valid?
A compliance certificate has no fixed universal expiry date. It covers the product as assessed at the time of certification …
View Full AnswerIs a compliance certificate required for all goods crossing an EU external border?
A compliance certificate is required only for regulated product categories governed by EU CE marking directives or equivalent EU product …
View Full AnswerIs SDR a real currency?
SDRs are not a currency. They are an international reserve asset and unit of account created by the IMF in …
View Full AnswerHow is the value of one SDR calculated?
The IMF takes fixed amounts of each of the 5 basket currencies and converts those amounts to US dollars using …
View Full AnswerWhat is another name for Special Drawing Rights?
The ISO 4217 currency code for Special Drawing Rights is XDR — the formal alternative designation used in financial and …
View Full AnswerDoes the 8.33 SDR per kg CMR cap apply if only part of a consignment is damaged?
The CMR liability cap of 8.33 SDR per kilogram applies to the gross weight of the goods actually lost or …
View Full AnswerHow can I get proof of delivery for a shipment arranged through Go Trans?
The proof of delivery is issued by the carrier and accessible through the carrier's tracking portal using the consignment reference …
View Full AnswerHow do I view an electronic proof of delivery?
The carrier sends an email notification after delivery containing a direct download link for the ePOD. The recipient also accesses …
View Full AnswerCan a delivery photo count as proof of delivery?
A delivery photo captured within the carrier's ePOD system — geo-tagged, time-stamped, and linked to the consignment reference in the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a proof of delivery and a goods receipt slip?
A proof of delivery is an external carrier document confirming that the consignment was delivered to and accepted by the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the purpose of a delivery note?
A delivery note gives the recipient a written record of what the sender dispatched, allowing them to verify the physical …
View Full AnswerWho issues a delivery note?
The sender or supplier who dispatches the goods issues the delivery note. In B2B cross-border freight, this is the exporter, …
View Full AnswerHow do I create a delivery note?
A delivery note includes the sender's name and contact details, the recipient's name and delivery address, the dispatch date, a …
View Full AnswerIs a delivery note the same as a commercial invoice?
A delivery note and a commercial invoice are different documents. The delivery note lists goods dispatched without prices and is …
View Full AnswerWhat are delivery receipts?
Delivery receipts are documents signed by recipients at the point of delivery confirming that specific consignments were physically received at …
View Full AnswerWhat does order receipt mean?
An order receipt is a different document from a delivery receipt. An order receipt confirms that a purchase order has …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an invoice and a delivery receipt?
A commercial invoice is a payment request from the seller, stating the commercial value of the goods, payment terms, and …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a delivery receipt and a goods receipt slip?
A delivery receipt is signed at the delivery door — it is the recipient's acknowledgement of the handover at the …
View Full AnswerIs a transport order the same as a shipping order?
A shipping order confirms what the seller will dispatch and initiates the commercial shipment process — it addresses the relationship …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible if a transport order contains incorrect information?
The party that provided the incorrect data carries responsibility for the consequences. The shipper carries the cost of errors in …
View Full AnswerCan a transport order be cancelled or amended after it is issued?
A transport order is cancellable or amendable before the carrier dispatches the collection vehicle, subject to the carrier's terms. Cancellation …
View Full AnswerDoes a transport order have legal status in cross-border road freight?
A transport order is an operational instruction between the ordering party and the carrier — it is not the legal …
View Full AnswerHow do I confirm an order?
The seller confirms an order by issuing a written document — by email, ERP-generated output, or formal letter — that …
View Full AnswerIs an order confirmation a receipt?
An order confirmation is not a receipt. A receipt confirms that payment has been received — it is issued after …
View Full AnswerIs a confirmation number the same as an order number?
A confirmation number is the seller's own reference for the order confirmation document; an order number is the buyer's reference …
View Full AnswerIs an order confirmation a legal document?
An order confirmation is legally binding in most EU member states once issued by the seller — the seller is …
View Full AnswerWhat is an accompanying document in freight?
An accompanying document is any document that travels with a shipment of goods — confirming the goods' identity, value, origin, …
View Full AnswerWhat does export document mean?
An export document is any document required to move goods from the EU customs territory to a non-EU country — …
View Full AnswerWhat does EAD stand for in customs?
EAD stands for Export Accompanying Document. In EU customs, it is the document generated by the national customs authority after …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible for ensuring the EAD accompanies the goods?
The exporter or their customs agent is responsible for submitting the export declaration, obtaining the EAD, and ensuring it accompanies …
View Full AnswerWho generates a delivery report?
The carrier or logistics provider generates the delivery report using data captured through their TMS or tracking platform during the …
View Full AnswerWhat does failed delivery mean on a delivery report?
A failed delivery on a delivery report means the carrier's driver was unable to complete the handover at the recipient's …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a delivery report and a shipment tracking record?
A shipment tracking record provides real-time status updates for a specific consignment as it moves through the carrier's network — …
View Full AnswerHow long should delivery reports be retained?
EU VAT Directive requirements for commercial and accounting records set a minimum 7-year retention period across EU member states — …
View Full AnswerWhat is the purpose of a goods receipt slip?
A goods receipt slip confirms that a delivery was physically received, counted, and accepted into stock — it protects the …
View Full AnswerWhat is a receipt slip in logistics?
A receipt slip in logistics is a written or printed confirmation that a delivery was received. A goods receipt slip …
View Full AnswerWhat is a goods receipt in an ERP system?
A goods receipt in an ERP system is the transaction posted when goods are accepted into stock — it updates …
View Full AnswerWhat is a goods receipt number?
A goods receipt number is the unique sequential reference assigned by the recipient's ERP or warehouse management system to a …
View Full AnswerHow can I get an order number for a freight booking?
The order number is generated by the buyer's or seller's order management system at the point of purchase. The buyer …
View Full AnswerWhat is an order number on a package or shipping label?
On a shipping label, the order number is the buyer's or seller's commercial reference for the purchase — distinct from …
View Full AnswerWhat do order numbers look like?
Order numbers are numeric or alphanumeric references assigned by the buyer's or seller's order management system. A common B2B format …
View Full AnswerWhere should an order number be entered in a freight booking?
The order number goes in the order reference field of the freight booking form at the point of collection. It …
View Full AnswerDoes a delivery notification cost extra?
A delivery notification is a bookable service option rather than a standard inclusion, and the charge depends on the carrier …
View Full AnswerCan the receiver change the agreed delivery window after notification?
he receiver can request a new window by responding to the carrier contact before the consignment enters final route planning. …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a notification and a tracking update?
A notification asks the receiver to agree an appointment before the goods move, while shipment tracking reports the consignment position …
View Full AnswerCan a notification requirement be added after booking?
A notification requirement added after booking reaches the driver only when the carrier accepts the change before the delivery round …
View Full AnswerWho plans the delivery route — the carrier or the sender?
The carrier's dispatcher or transport management system plans the route, using the booking data the sender supplies. The sender does …
View Full AnswerWhat information does a sender need to provide for route planning?
A sender needs to supply the collection postcode, full delivery address, consignment weight in kg, pallet or parcel dimensions, agreed …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between static and dynamic route planning?
Static route planning fixes the stop sequence before the vehicle loads and does not change during the run. Dynamic route …
View Full AnswerHow do low-emission zones affect freight routing in European cities?
Carriers using vehicles that do not meet a city zone's emissions rating reroute around the restricted area rather than enter …
View Full AnswerWhat is the just in time concept?
Just in time is an organisational approach in which materials or goods are delivered at the exact moment and in …
View Full AnswerWhat is just in time used for?
Just in time delivery is used in automotive manufacturing, electronics assembly, food production, and pharmaceutical supply to align material delivery …
View Full AnswerIs just in time the same as same-day delivery?
Just in time is not the same as same-day delivery. Same-day delivery sends a consignment from collection to destination within …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between just in time and safety stock?
Safety stock is inventory held in reserve to cover delivery delays or demand spikes — it exists to absorb the …
View Full AnswerWhat does urgent delivery mean?
Urgent delivery is the receiver-side experience of a consignment arriving outside a standard delivery schedule, at short notice, with no …
View Full AnswerCan urgent transport cross European borders?
Urgent transport operates across European borders by road, with the CMR consignment note covering the carriage contract and liability on …
View Full AnswerHow quickly can urgent transport be arranged?
Urgent transport can be confirmed within hours of the request, provided the collection address, delivery address, load weight and dimensions, …
View Full AnswerWhat cargo types are commonly sent by urgent transport?
Spare parts for halted production lines, JIT components that missed their scheduled delivery, medical and pharmaceutical supplies, legal documents with …
View Full AnswerWhat does delivery date mean in a logistics contract?
A delivery date in a logistics contract is the agreed date the carrier commits to delivering a consignment to the …
View Full AnswerIs a delivery date the day it arrives?
The delivery date is the scheduled arrival date — not always the day the goods physically arrive. On time-definite express …
View Full AnswerHow will I know my delivery date?
The delivery date is confirmed on the booking confirmation Go Trans issues after the quote is accepted. It also appears …
View Full AnswerHow do I verify a delivery date that has changed during transit?
If the carrier's tracking system shows a revised expected arrival date, the updated date reflects a delay event recorded during …
View Full AnswerWhat does lead time mean in shipping?
In shipping, lead time is the planned period from the moment a carrier picks up the consignment to the moment …
View Full AnswerWhat does a 1 week lead time mean in freight?
A 1 week lead time in freight means the consignment is expected to arrive 5 business days after the order …
View Full AnswerWhat is an example of lead time in European freight?
A parcel booked on Monday morning from Belgium to Germany with 1 business day order processing and a 2 business …
View Full AnswerA parcel booked on Monday morning from Belgium to Germany with 1 business day order processing and a 2 business day transit has a total lead time of 3 business days, arriving on Thursday. The same consignment booked after Monday's cut-off shifts collectio
Standard services carry transit components of 2–5 business days on European lanes depending on distance, producing an estimated lead time …
View Full AnswerWhat does handling mean in shipping?
Handling in shipping refers to the physical management of goods at a specific point in the transport chain — loading …
View Full AnswerWhat are the five cargo handling safety tips?
5 cargo handling safety practices apply across pallet and freight deliveries: position goods at the correct height and access point …
View Full AnswerDoes cargo handling affect the freight quote?
Handling requirements that exceed the standard service scope — a tail-lift vehicle, multi-floor delivery, or extended waiting time — add …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the receiver cannot unload the delivery?
If the receiver cannot unload, the vehicle waits from the point of arrival. A free-waiting window applies from that moment …
View Full AnswerWhat is cargo securing?
Cargo securing and load securing describe the same obligation using different terminology. Load securing is the road freight-specific term used …
View Full AnswerWhat are the two types of load restraints?
Load restraints divide into direct restraint and indirect restraint. Direct restraint uses force-fit equipment — straps, chains, and lashing — …
View Full AnswerWhat is the best method to secure loads in road freight?
No single method covers every load type — the correct approach depends on the consignment weight, shape, and vehicle configuration. …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible for securing a load on a truck?
The driver is legally responsible for the load's security on the road from the moment the vehicle departs. The sender …
View Full AnswerWhat is the definition of a forklift?
A forklift is a powered industrial vehicle used to lift and move loads on two horizontal forks attached to a …
View Full AnswerWhat are the three types of forklift used in logistics?
The three types most relevant to road freight logistics are the counterbalance forklift, the reach truck, and the rough terrain …
View Full AnswerWhat is a Type 4 forklift?
A Type 4 forklift in the standard industry classification is an electric motor narrow-aisle truck — this category covers reach …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a forklift and a pallet truck?
A forklift lifts loads to height using a hydraulic mast — it raises a pallet from the ground to racking …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between shop delivery and home delivery?
Shop delivery sends goods from a supplier or distributor to a retail store address — a B2B movement where the …
View Full AnswerDo retail stores have a forklift available for deliveries?
Most retail stores do not have a forklift on site. Cases and cartons are hand-balled from the vehicle into the …
View Full AnswerCan a full trailer deliver to a retail store address?
A full-length trailer is unsuitable for most retail store delivery addresses. City-centre streets, pedestrian precincts, and retail park service roads …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if the shop is closed when the delivery arrives?
If the shop is closed or unstaffed when the vehicle arrives, the delivery cannot be completed. The vehicle returns to …
View Full AnswerWhat is an example of broadcast logistics?
A brand releasing a new product line across 50 retail partner stores in 5 European countries on a Monday morning …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between broadcast logistics and hub-and-spoke distribution?
Hub-and-spoke distribution consolidates goods at an intermediate depot before sorting and dispatching to final destinations — each consignment passes through …
View Full AnswerHow is the broadcast window defined in a logistics booking?
The broadcast window is the period within which all destination addresses must receive their consignment — typically a named date …
View Full AnswerWhat happens when one destination misses the broadcast window?
A missed window at one destination does not affect the other destinations — each consignment travels on its own transport …
View Full AnswerHow do you use a tension strap on a freight vehicle?
Position the load on anti-slip matting on the vehicle floor. Route the webbing over the top of the load and …
View Full AnswerWhat are the different strap types and when is each used?
Ratchet straps secure standard pallet and freight loads where high pre-tension is needed to resist braking and cornering forces. Cam …
View Full AnswerWhat is a tightening strap called in European freight?
A tightening strap in European freight is called a tension strap, tension belt, lashing strap, tie-down strap, or ratchet strap …
View Full AnswerHow do you store a tension strap after use?
Open the ratchet fully before rolling — a closed ratchet traps the webbing under tension and stresses the mechanism over …
View Full AnswerHow heavy is a flat concrete slab for transport?
A flat concrete slab weight is calculated from its dimensions multiplied by the density of standard reinforced concrete — 2,400 …
View Full AnswerCan a flat concrete slab be shipped on a standard pallet service?
A flat concrete slab consignment moves on a standard pallet service when the total gross weight falls within the pallet …
View Full AnswerWhat happens if lifting points are not declared at booking?
A carrier arriving at a collection address without confirmed lifting point information cannot verify that available equipment is compatible with …
View Full AnswerIs a flat concrete slab classified as an oversized load in Europe?
A flat concrete slab becomes an oversized load when its dimensions exceed the standard legal road freight limits — across …
View Full AnswerWhat is the maximum payload of a semi-trailer in European international freight?
The standard payload for a semi-trailer in EU international freight runs between 24,000 and 26,000 kg for a 5-axle articulated …
View Full AnswerCan a semi-trailer cross EU member state borders without special permits?
A semi-trailer that meets EU Directive 96/53/EC dimension and weight limits circulates freely across EU member state borders for international …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a mega trailer and a standard semi-trailer in Europe?
A mega semi-trailer has an internal cargo height of 3.0 metres, achieved through a lowered chassis profile, compared to 2.7 …
View Full AnswerWhat is drop-and-hook in semi-trailer freight operations?
Drop-and-hook is a trailer exchange method in which a tractor unit uncouples from a loaded semi-trailer at a delivery or …
View Full AnswerWhat cargo falls outside the capacity of a standard curtainsider semi-trailer?
Cargo exceeding 4.0 metres in height, 2.55 metres in width, or 26,000 kg in payload falls outside the limits of …
View Full AnswerWhy is it called a semi-trailer truck if the vehicle is very large?
The "semi" refers to the trailer — specifically its absence of a front axle. A semi-trailer is only partially supported …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a semi-trailer and a full trailer?
A semi-trailer has no front axle and cannot support its own front end — the front rests on the tractor's …
View Full AnswerHow many Euro pallets fit in a standard European semi-trailer?
A standard European semi-trailer floor accepts 33 Euro pallets (120 × 80 cm) in a single floor layer. Double-deck loading …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an N1 and N2 van for cross-border European freight?
An N1 van has a GVW up to 3,500 kg, needs only a Category B driving licence, and moves freely …
View Full AnswerWhat is the internal load length of a large panel van in XLWB configuration?
An extra-long wheelbase large panel van reaches an internal load length of up to 4.5 metres on select models, against …
View Full AnswerCan a panel van be converted into a refrigerated vehicle for cold-chain freight?
A refrigerated panel van conversion fits an insulated lining and an external cooling unit to the existing N1 enclosed body. …
View Full AnswerWhat cargo profile does not fit through a standard panel van rear door?
Cargo wider than approximately 1.2 to 1.4 metres or taller than approximately 1.5 to 1.8 metres exceeds the rear door …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a panel van and a box van in European freight?
A box van has a separate rigid load body mounted on a chassis frame, with a loading floor positioned higher …
View Full AnswerHow is a tautliner curtain tensioned and what does four-way tensioning mean?
Standard tautliner tensioning uses winches at each end of the curtain to pull the tarpaulin tight along the trailer's length, …
View Full AnswerWhen is a mega tautliner the right trailer choice over a standard tautliner?
A mega tautliner is the correct choice when the load fills a standard tautliner's floor space but does not reach …
View Full AnswerAre there safety checks required when opening a tautliner curtain?
Yes. Before opening a tautliner curtain at the delivery point, confirm the load has not shifted during transit — a …
View Full AnswerDoes driving a tarpaulin sprinter require a special licence?
No Category C (truck) or C1 (medium truck) licence is required to operate a tarpaulin sprinter at 3,500 kg GVW …
View Full AnswerWhat is the driving licence difference between a tarpaulin sprinter and a tautliner?
A tautliner requires a Category CE driving licence — the full articulated vehicle licence — because the tractor unit pulling …
View Full AnswerWhen should I use a tarpaulin sprinter instead of a standard panel van?
Use a tarpaulin sprinter when the load requires side access — long items such as aluminium profiles, steel bars, or …
View Full AnswerWhat is the BDF system in European logistics?
BDF stands for Bundesverband des Deutschen Güterfernverkehrs — the German long-distance road freight association whose standardisation work defined the chassis …
View Full AnswerCan a swap body serve as a stationary temporary warehouse?
A swap body standing on its support legs at a production facility, distribution yard, or construction site acts as a …
View Full AnswerHow does a swap body transfer from a truck to a rail wagon at an intermodal terminal?
At an intermodal terminal, a Type C swap body moves from a truck chassis to a rail wagon using a …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a swap body and a demountable body?
Demountable body is the direct English translation of the swap body concept, and both terms appear interchangeably in European freight …
View Full AnswerWhat weight limits apply when a swap body travels on European rail wagons?
The combined weight of the swap body tare — typically 3,000 to 3,500 kg for an unloaded Type C box …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a step-frame low loader and a semi-low loader?
A step-frame low loader has a deck height of 700–950 mm from the road surface — produced by two drops …
View Full AnswerHow do I calculate whether my load needs a low loader or a standard flatbed?
Add the load's height to the trailer's deck height. A standard flatbed deck at 1,400 mm plus a 3.0 metre …
View Full AnswerHow many axles does a low loader need for heavy plant transport?
Axle count determines how load weight is distributed across the road surface — more axles spread the same total weight …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a box body truck and a box body trailer?
A box body truck is a single rigid vehicle — the enclosed cargo body is permanently fixed to the chassis …
View Full AnswerWhat is an ADR-certified box body?
An ADR-certified box body meets the construction requirements of the European Agreement on International Carriage of Dangerous Goods for road …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a box body and a refrigerated trailer?
A refrigerated trailer is a box body with insulated wall panels and an external active cooling unit that holds cargo …
View Full AnswerWhat is a double-deck box body trailer?
A double-deck box body trailer has a secondary internal floor system — folding or sliding rail frames fitted at mid-height …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a hardside and a curtainsider in European freight?
Hardside is the European logistics shorthand for a box body — a trailer or truck body with fixed rigid walls …
View Full AnswerWhat does Innenlader mean in English?
Innenlader is the German logistics term for in-loader — a specialist semi-trailer in European road freight whose cargo sits inside …
View Full AnswerWhat are inloader flats?
Inloader flats — Innenlader-Paletten in German — are the flat steel or concrete load carrier platforms that sit inside the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the load capacity of an in-loader trailer?
Standard in-loader trailers carry payloads of approximately 20,000 to 24,000 kg depending on configuration and axle specification. Glass inloader pallets …
View Full AnswerWhat industries use in-loaders regularly in European road freight?
Precast concrete panel manufacturing, architectural and industrial glass production, timber frame offsite building construction, and structural steel fabrication are the …
View Full AnswerWho manufactures in-loader trailers in Europe?
Faymonville and Langendorf are the two principal European manufacturers of in-loader trailer systems. Faymonville produces the PREFAMAX telescopic in-loader range, …
View Full AnswerHow does the Edscha sliding roof mechanism work mechanically?
The Edscha sliding roof is built from a series of aluminium bow frames spanning the trailer's width, connected to rails …
View Full AnswerWhen should I use an Edscha body instead of a flatbed trailer for crane-loaded cargo?
Use an Edscha body when the crane-loaded cargo requires weather protection during transit. Steel coils, paper rolls, and glass panels …
View Full AnswerWhat is a coil well on an Edscha body and why is it used?
A coil well is a recessed trough built into the floor of some Edscha body trailers, typically 100–200 mm deep, …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between logistics terminology and freight terminology?
Logistics terminology covers the full supply chain — planning, warehousing, inventory management, transportation, and delivery performance. Freight terminology refers specifically …
View Full AnswerWhy is the CMR consignment note the most important document in European road freight?
The CMR consignment note is the standard road freight contract across 55 member countries under the Convention on the Contract …
View Full AnswerHow is the Go Trans logistics glossary organised?
The Go Trans logistics glossary is organised into 8 clusters by functional area — Vehicle Types, Freight Terms, Logistics Concepts, …
View Full AnswerWhat is the most common pallet type in Europe?
The Euro pallet — 1,200 × 800 mm, EPAL-certified — is the dominant pallet format in European road freight. Approximately …
View Full AnswerWhat is a loading metre and how does the pallet type affect it?
A loading metre (LDM) is one linear metre of trailer floor space across the full 2.4 m trailer width — …
View Full AnswerWhat is the EPAL exchange system?
The EPAL exchange system is a 1:1 pallet return arrangement — the carrier delivers goods on EPAL-certified Euro pallets and …
View Full AnswerWhat is ISPM-15 and which pallet types need to comply?
ISPM-15 is the international phytosanitary standard requiring solid wood pallets used in international shipments to be heat-treated (HT) or fumigated …
View Full AnswerWhy are European freight terms standardised across all EU member states?
European road freight terms are standardised under the CMR Convention — the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a freight carrier and a logistics broker?
A freight carrier physically transports cargo using its own vehicles — road hauliers, shipping lines, and airlines are all freight …
View Full AnswerWhy is proof of delivery the most important document at the end of a freight transaction?
Proof of delivery is the document that legally closes a freight transaction — it confirms the named consignee received the …
View Full AnswerWhat is the most common vehicle type in European road freight?
The curtainsider semi-trailer truck — also called a tautliner — is the most widely used vehicle in European road freight. …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a tautliner and a box body?
A tautliner has retractable fabric curtain sides that open for forklift side loading — accessible from the side, rear, and …
View Full AnswerWhen is a low loader required instead of a standard trailer?
A low loader is required when the cargo exceeds the maximum loading height on a standard semi-trailer — typically when …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a panel van and a tarpaulin sprinter?
A panel van has a rigid sealed load area accessible only from the rear — full weather and security protection, …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between customs compliance and trade compliance?
Customs compliance covers the procedural obligations at the border — export declarations, import declarations, duty payment, and document submission to …
View Full AnswerDo intra-EU shipments require customs clearance?
No — goods moving between EU member states travel within the EU customs territory and are not subject to customs …
View Full AnswerWhat is a commodity code and why does it matter in European freight?
A commodity code is the numeric classification assigned to goods under the EU Combined Nomenclature — 8 digits for EU …
View Full AnswerWho is responsible for customs compliance when shipping through a freight broker?
The shipper — not the freight broker or carrier — is responsible for customs compliance. The exporter is legally responsible …
View Full AnswerWhat is the EN 12195 standard and why does it matter for road freight in Belgium?
EN 12195 is the European standard governing cargo securing on road vehicles — it specifies the minimum lashing forces, securing …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between route planning and transport scheduling?
Route planning determines the optimal stop sequence and routing for a vehicle on a specific delivery run — accounting for …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between production logistics and supply chain logistics?
Production logistics covers the internal movement of materials within a manufacturing facility — raw materials from goods-in to production lines, …
View Full AnswerWhat is an eCMR and how does it differ from a paper CMR consignment note?
An eCMR is the electronic version of the CMR consignment note — legally recognised under the 2008 Additional Protocol to …
View Full AnswerWhat are the three functions of a CMR consignment note?
The CMR consignment note performs three legal functions in a single document. The information function: the CMR records cargo description, …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between an order number and a CMR consignment note number?
An order number is assigned by the buyer or shipper — it references the commercial purchase order in the shipper's …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a freight forwarder and a logistics broker?
A freight forwarder takes on legal carrier status for international air and ocean freight — it is contractually liable to …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a carrier and a transporter in European road freight?
In everyday logistics usage, carrier and transporter are interchangeable. In CMR Convention and EU road freight law, the transporter is …
View Full AnswerWhat is the difference between a 3PL and a freight broker?
A 3PL provides a bundle of outsourced logistics services — warehousing, inventory management, transport, and distribution — under one contract. …
View Full AnswerWhat does last mile mean in B2B cross-border freight?
In B2B cross-border freight, the last mile is the carrier's final delivery leg from the local depot in the destination …
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