Shipping Vocabulary
Shipping from China to the US doesn't have to be as hard as it seems if you work with a forwarder to China. We've built a family owned and China-time zone operated company to handle US China global shipping. We know all the tips and tricks of the trade and the lingo, too.
If you're in the middle of the process or want to know more about the global shipping process, read on. We've put together a short guide to shipping lingo and abbreviations. With our services and team on your side plus this knowledge, you'll know exactly what’s happening with your product.
Shipping Lingo
Advice of Shipment
Not that you need to worry about all the paperwork, but it's nice to know what's going on. An advice of shipment is like a receipt saying that the goods have shipped. It's administered by the port the goods are leaving and includes documents like an invoice and bill of lading.
Bill of Lading
A bill of lading is a document certifying that the goods shipped are in good condition and remain that way. The document includes details such as the shipping company, the type of transport, and shipment weight. Unless otherwise noted, all bills of ladings are clean - meaning there were no problems.
Freight Forwarder
JC Logistics is a freight forwarder from China. We handle the details of foreign shipments out of China to US ports. We take the time to gather everything we need to know about your shipment and book its reservation. We act on behalf of your company as an outside agent and will need power of attorney to make our decisions.
Power of Attorney
To book us as your global shipping forwarder to China, we'll need power of attorney. It's a legal term which grants permission to the "power of attorney" holding person to make decisions. For your global shipping order, it means we will be able to sign documents and speak to customs on your behalf.
It's a simple form to fill out, with a few signatures. We only request power of attorney for the period of time that your shipment is in our care. Once your goods are delivered, the power of attorney drops and we relinquish control.
Certificate of Origin (CO)
The certificate of origin or CO is important to decide if we're the right global shipping company for you. To accept your order, we need to know that all of your products were made in China. The reason we only accept Chinese goods is that of limitations around certificates of origins.
Terminal
A terminal is where your shipment is loaded into whatever kind of transport you are using. Terminals are used to load large trucks, trains, boats, or planes. Once the goods have arrived at the US terminal, your shipment will soon be delivered.
We offer as up-to-date tracking information as the authorities provide. When we receive information about your goods’ location, you'll be the first to know.
If you have any other questions about shipping lingo or what we will provide you during the process, don't hesitate to ask. We are available during US and China work days to better serve our customers.
