Glossary
Courier and logistics glossary
Every term your team, your carriers and your clients use, explained in one or two plain sentences.
By the Hyper Route team · Updated
3PL (third-party logistics)
A 3PL is a company that runs logistics for other businesses: warehousing, packing, shipping and returns. Many courier agencies grow into small 3PLs for their e-commerce clients.
AWB (air waybill) number
An AWB number is the unique number a carrier gives a shipment so it can be tracked. The term comes from air freight, but in India every courier's tracking number is commonly called the AWB number. How to track an AWB number →
AWB masking
AWB masking replaces the carrier's AWB number with a tracking number issued by the agency, so the end client tracks with the agency's number and never sees which carrier moved the parcel. White-label tracking with AWB masking →
Chargeable weight
Chargeable weight is the weight a carrier bills: the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight, usually rounded up to the next weight slab. Volumetric weight calculator →
COD (cash on delivery)
COD is a payment method where the receiver pays in cash (or by UPI or card) at the doorstep, and the carrier collects the money on the shipper's behalf. Rider app with COD control →
COD remittance
COD remittance is the carrier paying the cash it collected on delivery back to the shipper, usually in cycles after delivery. Matching remittances to delivered shipments is called COD reconciliation.
Consignee
The consignee is the person or business the shipment is addressed to: the receiver.
Consignor
The consignor is the person or business sending the shipment: the shipper.
Docket number / consignment note
A docket or consignment note (CN) records a shipment's sender, receiver, contents and charges. Many Indian couriers and transporters use the docket or CN number as the tracking number.
EDD (estimated delivery date)
The EDD is the date a carrier expects to deliver a shipment, based on the lane, service type and pickup time.
E-way bill
An e-way bill is an electronic document under GST that must accompany goods in transit. It's generally required when the consignment value exceeds ₹50,000, with some state-specific rules and exemptions. GST on courier services →
First mile
The first mile is the pickup leg: collecting the shipment from the shipper and bringing it to the carrier's first hub.
FTL and PTL
FTL (full truckload) means one shipper books a whole truck. PTL (part truckload), also called LTL, means several shippers' goods share a truck and are priced by weight or CFT.
Fuel surcharge (FSC)
A fuel surcharge is a percentage added to the freight charge to reflect fuel prices. Carriers revise it periodically, so it should be checked on every carrier bill.
Hub / sorting centre
A hub is a facility where a carrier collects, sorts and routes shipments between the first mile and the last mile.
Last mile
The last mile is the final delivery leg from the local hub to the receiver's door. It's usually the most expensive and failure-prone part of the journey.
Line haul (mid-mile)
Line haul is the long-distance movement of shipments between hubs or cities, by air or road.
LR (lorry receipt)
A lorry receipt is the document a road transporter issues on accepting goods for transport. The LR number is used to track truck consignments.
Manifest
A manifest is the list of shipments handed over to a carrier at pickup. Signed manifests settle disputes about what was actually picked up.
Multi-carrier shipping
Multi-carrier shipping means booking and tracking shipments with several couriers from one system, choosing the best carrier for each lane, weight or service. Multi-carrier tracking →
NDR (non-delivery report)
An NDR is the status a carrier raises when a delivery attempt fails, for example a wrong address, an unreachable phone or a refused parcel. Acting on NDRs quickly is the main way to prevent RTO. NDR and RTO management →
ODA (out of delivery area)
ODA pin codes are outside a carrier's regular delivery network. Shipments to them usually carry an extra charge and a longer transit time.
OFD (out for delivery)
Out for delivery means the shipment has left the last-mile hub with a delivery rider and should be delivered that day.
POD (proof of delivery)
A POD is the evidence that a shipment was delivered: a signature, OTP, photo or stamped copy, with date and time.
Pin code serviceability
Serviceability tells you whether a carrier can pick up from or deliver to a given pin code, and with which services such as COD or reverse pickup.
Prepaid shipment
A prepaid shipment is one where the receiver has already paid, so the carrier collects no money at delivery.
Rate card
A rate card is a carrier's or agency's price list, usually by weight slab and zone, plus surcharges such as fuel, COD and ODA.
Reverse pickup
A reverse pickup is when the carrier collects a return from the receiver and brings it back to the shipper.
RTO (return to origin)
RTO means a shipment couldn't be delivered and is being sent back to the shipper. It usually costs the forward freight plus a return charge. How to reduce RTO →
SAC code for courier (996812)
SAC (Services Accounting Code) classifies services under GST. Courier services fall under SAC 996812. GST on courier services →
Surface vs air (express)
Surface shipments move by road and are cheaper but slower. Air or express shipments fly between cities and cost more, and are usually priced on volumetric weight.
TAT (turnaround time)
TAT is the promised or actual time from pickup to delivery on a lane.
Volumetric weight
Volumetric weight is a parcel's size converted into kilograms: length × width × height in cm divided by the carrier's divisor, commonly 5000 for express courier. Volumetric weight calculator →
Weight discrepancy
A weight discrepancy is when the carrier bills a higher weight than the shipper declared, usually after re-weighing or re-measuring the parcel at a hub. How to catch weight discrepancies →
Weight slab
A weight slab is the step in which a carrier charges weight, such as every 0.5 kg. A 1.1 kg parcel on 0.5 kg slabs is billed as 1.5 kg.
White-label tracking
White-label tracking is a tracking page that carries the agency's brand instead of the carrier's, so clients stay loyal to the agency. White-label tracking →
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