Freight & Logistics Glossary
Clear definitions for the terms behind premium freight, time critical logistics, urgent transport, air and road freight, automotive supply chains and the Flash partnership network.
Freight & Logistics Glossary
The language behind shipments that cannot wait for the standard network.
The world of freight and logistics is full of terms that can be difficult to navigate, especially when a shipment cannot wait for the standard transport network.
Our freight and logistics glossary explains the terminology used across premium freight, time critical logistics, urgent transport, road and air freight, supply chain management and specialised industries.
Whether you are managing a production line, coordinating critical spare parts, responding to a supply chain disruption or exploring the logistics business, you will find clear explanations of the terms that matter. Browse by category or search for a specific term below.
Showing 70 terms across 8 categories
01. Time Critical & Premium Freight
Time Critical Logistics
Time critical logistics refers to the planning and execution of shipments where delivery must happen within a specific and often short timeframe. It is commonly used when a delay could disrupt production, operations or customer commitments. Discover Flash's solutions.
Time Critical Freight
Time critical freight is cargo that needs to reach its destination within a defined deadline because conventional transport schedules may not be fast or flexible enough. Discover Flash's solutions.
Urgent Freight
Urgent freight is a shipment that requires accelerated transportation because waiting for the normal logistics schedule could create operational or commercial consequences. See how Flash moves urgent freight.
Expedited Freight
Expedited freight is a transportation service designed to move cargo faster than standard shipping options, often using dedicated vehicles, priority air services or other accelerated solutions. Explore Flash's solutions.
Expedited Shipping
Expedited shipping means using a faster transport option to reduce the normal transit time between pickup and delivery. Explore Flash's solutions.
On Demand Transport
On demand transport provides a transportation solution in response to a specific shipment requirement rather than relying exclusively on a fixed or recurring schedule. Learn about on demand freight at Flash.
Same Day Delivery
Same day delivery means goods are collected and delivered within the same calendar day, subject to the origin, destination, shipment requirements and available transport capacity. Explore Flash's solutions.
Next Day Delivery
Next day delivery is a service where the shipment is scheduled to arrive on the following day after pickup. Explore Flash's solutions.
Mission Critical Freight
Mission critical freight describes shipments where a delay could have significant consequences for an operation, production process, service or customer commitment. See Flash's mission critical solutions.
Production Line Recovery
Production line recovery is the process of restoring the supply of a critical component or material quickly enough to prevent or minimise manufacturing downtime. See how Flash supports production critical shipments.
Line Down Situation
A line down situation occurs when a manufacturing production line stops because a required component, material or resource is unavailable. See how Flash supports manufacturers.
Critical Shipment
A critical shipment is cargo that requires priority attention because its timing, value, sensitivity or operational importance makes a standard delivery approach unsuitable. Explore Flash's solutions.
02. Road Freight
Dedicated Transport
Dedicated transport uses a vehicle and driver assigned specifically to a shipment or customer requirement, reducing the need for intermediate handling or additional loading stops. Discover Flash's road solutions.
Dedicated Vehicle
A dedicated vehicle is assigned specifically to a shipment or transport requirement instead of being shared with unrelated cargo. Discover Flash's road solutions.
FTL, Full Truckload
FTL, or Full Truckload, refers to transportation where a truck is allocated to one shipment or customer, generally without combining the cargo with other shipments. Discover Flash's road solutions.
LTL, Less Than Truckload
LTL, or Less Than Truckload, refers to shipments that do not require the entire capacity of a truck and may therefore travel together with other cargo. Discover Flash's road solutions.
Direct Transport
Direct transport moves goods from pickup to destination without intermediate transhipment or reloading. Discover Flash's road solutions.
Express Road Freight
Express road freight is road transportation arranged with an accelerated delivery timeframe, often using direct or dedicated transport. Discover Flash's road solutions.
Exclusive Use Vehicle
An exclusive use vehicle is reserved for a particular shipment, allowing the cargo to travel directly without sharing vehicle capacity with other customers. Discover Flash's road solutions.
Load Factor
Load factor measures how much of a vehicle's available capacity is being used. It can be calculated using weight, volume or another relevant capacity measure. Discover Flash's road solutions.
03. Air Freight
Express Airfreight
Express airfreight is an accelerated air transportation solution for shipments that need to reach their destination faster than standard road or scheduled freight options allow. Discover Flash's air solutions.
Air Charter
An air charter is a flight arranged specifically for a shipment or operational requirement rather than relying on standard scheduled cargo capacity. Discover Flash's air charter solution.
On Board Courier
An On Board Courier, or OBC, is a professional courier who personally accompanies a shipment on a commercial flight from origin to destination. Explore Flash's On Board Courier solution.
Next Flight Out
Next Flight Out, or NFO, is an expedited airfreight approach where a shipment is placed on the earliest suitable scheduled flight available. Discover Flash's air solutions.
Aircraft on Ground, AOG
AOG, or Aircraft on Ground, describes a situation where an aircraft cannot operate because a required part, component or technical intervention is unavailable. See how Flash supports AOG situations.
Hand Carry
Hand carry refers to personally transporting a shipment as accompanied baggage or cargo, typically when the shipment is extremely time sensitive. Explore Flash's air solutions.
Air Freight Forwarding
Air freight forwarding involves organising the transportation of goods by air, including coordination of pickup, airport handling, flight arrangements and final delivery. Discover Flash's air solutions.
04. Automotive & Manufacturing
Automotive Logistics
Automotive logistics covers the transportation, storage and coordination of components, parts, vehicles and materials throughout the automotive supply chain. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Just in Time Logistics
Just in Time, or JIT, logistics aims to deliver materials or components close to the moment they are required, minimising unnecessary inventory while maintaining production continuity. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Just in Sequence Logistics
Just in Sequence, or JIS, logistics goes beyond JIT by delivering components in the exact sequence required by the manufacturing process. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Line Side Delivery
Line side delivery involves delivering components directly to, or close to, the manufacturing production line where they will be used. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Spare Parts Logistics
Spare parts logistics covers the movement and management of replacement components required to maintain or repair equipment and machinery. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Supplier Expedite
A supplier expedite is an accelerated transport or logistics intervention used to move a delayed or urgently required shipment from a supplier to its destination. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Plant to Plant Transport
Plant to plant transport refers to the movement of materials, components or finished goods directly between manufacturing facilities. Explore Flash's automotive logistics solutions.
Production Critical Shipment
A production critical shipment contains goods required to maintain or restore a manufacturing operation within a defined timeframe. See how Flash supports production critical shipments.
05. Supply Chain & Disruption
Supply Chain Disruption
A supply chain disruption is an unexpected event that interrupts the normal flow of materials, products, information or transportation. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Supply Chain Resilience
Supply chain resilience is the ability of a supply chain to anticipate, respond to and recover from disruptions. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Logistics Disruption
A logistics disruption occurs when transportation, warehousing, customs or another logistics activity is interrupted or delayed. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Capacity Shortage
A capacity shortage occurs when there is insufficient available transportation capacity to meet shipment demand. Discover Flash's carrier network.
Transport Contingency
A transport contingency is an alternative transportation plan used when the original logistics solution becomes unavailable or unsuitable. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Contingency Logistics
Contingency logistics involves preparing alternative transportation and supply chain solutions for unexpected disruptions or urgent requirements. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Logistics Risk Management
Logistics risk management involves identifying, assessing and mitigating risks that could affect the movement of goods. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Supply Chain Recovery
Supply chain recovery is the process of restoring normal operations after a disruption, shortage, delay or other supply chain event. See how Flash responds to disruption.
Freight Exception
A freight exception occurs when a shipment does not proceed according to its planned transport process or expected delivery conditions. Discover Flash's control tower.
Recovery Transport
Recovery transport is an accelerated or alternative transportation solution used to recover from a shipment delay or supply chain disruption. See how Flash responds to disruption.
06. Visibility & Technology
Track & Trace
Track and trace allows a shipment's movement and status to be monitored throughout its transportation journey. Discover Flash's technology platform.
ETA, Estimated Time of Arrival
ETA, or Estimated Time of Arrival, is the expected time at which a shipment will reach its destination. Discover Flash's technology platform.
Real Time Shipment Tracking
Real time shipment tracking provides current information about a shipment's location and transport status while it is in transit. Discover Flash's technology platform.
Freight Visibility
Freight visibility refers to the ability to access information about shipment location, status, progress and exceptions throughout the transportation process. Discover Flash's technology platform.
Control Tower
A logistics control tower is a centralised operational function that monitors shipments, coordinates transportation activity and responds to exceptions. Discover Flash's control tower.
24/7 Control Tower
A 24/7 control tower provides continuous operational monitoring and support, allowing logistics teams to respond to shipment requirements outside normal business hours. Discover Flash's control tower.
Transportation Management System
A Transportation Management System, or TMS, is software used to plan, execute, monitor and manage transportation operations. Discover Flash's technology platform.
Carrier Network
A carrier network is a group of transportation providers available to perform shipments across different regions, modes or vehicle types. Discover Flash's carrier network.
Vetted Carrier
A vetted carrier is a transportation provider that has undergone a qualification or verification process before being included in a logistics network. Discover Flash's carrier network.
07. Specialised Freight
High Value Cargo
High value cargo refers to goods with significant financial or operational value that may require additional security, monitoring or specialised handling. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Sensitive Cargo
Sensitive cargo refers to goods that require special handling because they may be vulnerable to damage, temperature variation, security risks or other transport conditions. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Temperature Controlled Transport
Temperature controlled transport keeps goods within a defined temperature range throughout transportation to protect their quality, safety or functionality. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Medical Equipment Logistics
Medical equipment logistics involves transporting medical devices, equipment and related components while meeting their timing, handling and security requirements. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Critical Spare Parts
Critical spare parts are replacement components whose absence could significantly affect the operation of machinery, vehicles, aircraft or other equipment. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Industrial Equipment Transport
Industrial equipment transport involves moving machinery, components and equipment required for industrial operations, maintenance or projects. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
Project Logistics
Project logistics coordinates transportation and related logistics activities for complex or time sensitive projects involving specialised cargo, locations or delivery requirements. Explore Flash's vertical markets.
08. Logistics Business & Partnership
Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder organises transportation and related logistics services on behalf of shippers, coordinating carriers and other parties involved in moving goods. Explore Flash's solutions.
Logistics Business Model
A logistics business model defines how a logistics company creates value, delivers transportation or related services and generates revenue. Learn about becoming a Flash partner.
Logistics Partnership
A logistics partnership is a business relationship in which two or more parties combine resources, capabilities, networks or market knowledge to provide logistics services. Learn about becoming a Flash partner.
Logistics Franchise
A logistics franchise is a business model in which an entrepreneur operates a logistics business using an established company's brand, systems, technology and operating model under defined contractual terms. Discover the Flash partnership model.
Protected Territory
A protected territory is a geographic area assigned to a business partner under agreed conditions, limiting competition from other units within the same network. Explore available Flash territories.
Asset Light Logistics
Asset light logistics is a model where a logistics company relies primarily on technology, operational expertise and external transportation providers rather than owning a large physical fleet. Discover the Flash partnership model.
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Tell us what you are shipping and where it has to be. Our team will come back with the right road or air solution, backed by a 24 hour control tower and a vetted carrier network.
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Flash is opening protected territories to entrepreneurs with logistics experience. Discover how the partnership model works, from technology to operational support.
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