International freight runs on a shared vocabulary — and on the same term carrying a different name in every country. This glossary gives short, accurate definitions of the terms shippers, carriers, freight forwarders and customs brokers use every day, and for each one it lists the alternate names it travels under: an HS code is a commodity code in the United Kingdom, a CN or TARIC code in the European Union and a GTİP in Türkiye, and all of them share the same first six digits. Each entry leads with a plain-language definition you can quote on its own, and links on to the free tool or checklist that answers the next question.
Source: Logistivo editorial team.
Data last updated:
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Terms
Additional Customs Duty (İGV) — An additional customs duty is an import duty charged in Türkiye on top of the ordinary customs duty for certain tariff codes and origins. It is set by presidential decree and varies with the country group the origin belongs to. It applies to the same base as the customs duty — the customs value — not on top of the duty already calculated. Also called: İlave Gümrük Vergisi, İGV, additional duty.
ADR — ADR is the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, which sets the rules for classifying, packaging, labelling and safely transporting hazardous materials by road. Also called: dangerous goods agreement, tehlikeli madde taşımacılığı.
Anti-Dumping Duty — An anti-dumping duty is an extra import duty imposed on one product from one country of origin after an investigation finds it was exported below normal value and injured domestic producers. It is separate from the ordinary customs duty, is often several times higher, may be set per firm or per tonne, and lapses on its expiry date unless a review extends it. Also called: AD duty, dampinge karşı vergi, anti-damping vergisi, trade defence measure.
Bill of Lading (B/L) — A bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier to a shipper that acts as a receipt for the cargo, evidence of the contract of carriage and — in its negotiable form — a document of title that can transfer ownership of the goods. It is used primarily in sea freight. Also called: B/L, konşimento, ocean bill of lading.
Binding Tariff Information (BTI) — Binding tariff information is a written classification decision issued by a customs authority on request, confirming which tariff code applies to a described product. In the country that issued it, it binds both the authority and the holder for a set period, which removes classification risk before large or repeated imports. Validity periods and application rules differ by country. Also called: BTI, BTB, Bağlayıcı Tarife Bilgisi, binding classification ruling.
Carrier — A carrier is the company that physically transports goods — by road, sea, air or rail — and assumes responsibility for the cargo between pickup and delivery under the contract of carriage. Also called: haulier, trucking company, taşıyıcı, nakliyeci.
CMR — CMR is the standard international road freight consignment note governed by the CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956); it serves as the contract of carriage and as proof that goods were handed to the carrier for cross-border road transport. Unlike a bill of lading, it is not a document of title. Also called: consignment note, CMR waybill, taşıma senedi, CMR irsaliyesi.
Combined Nomenclature (CN) — The Combined Nomenclature is the European Union's eight-digit goods classification: the six-digit HS code plus two EU digits. It is updated every year and is the code used on EU export declarations and in EU trade statistics. Import declarations into the EU normally require the longer TARIC code built on the same eight digits. Also called: CN code, Kombine Nomanklatür, EU 8-digit code.
Commodity Code — A commodity code is the number that identifies your goods in a customs tariff. In the United Kingdom it has ten digits for imports and eight for exports; in the European Union the equivalent is the CN or TARIC code, and in Türkiye the twelve-digit GTİP. All of them begin with the same six-digit HS code, so the first six digits travel unchanged between countries. When a buyer, a forwarder or a customs system asks for a commodity code, it is asking for this number at its own country's length. Sending the first six digits is always safe; the importer completes the national digits under the tariff that applies to them. Also called: tariff code, HS code, GTİP, CN code, TARIC code, customs tariff number.
Consignee — The consignee is the party named to receive the goods at the destination — usually the buyer or importer — to whom the carrier delivers the consignment. Also called: receiver, alıcı, importer of record.
Consignor / Shipper — The consignor, or shipper, is the party that sends the goods and hands them to the carrier at origin — usually the seller or exporter — and whose name appears as sender on the transport document. Also called: sender, gönderici, exporter.
Country of Origin vs Country of Dispatch — Country of origin is where goods were produced or last substantially transformed; country of dispatch is simply where the shipment was sent from. Duty rates, preferential treatment and anti-dumping measures follow origin, not dispatch — goods shipped out of a warehouse in one country can still carry the duty attached to the country that made them. The distinction is also why a movement certificate and a proof of origin are not interchangeable: an A.TR certificate shows that goods are in free circulation between Türkiye and the EU, while EUR.1 or a supplier declaration is what evidences preferential origin. Also called: origin, menşe ülke, sevk ülkesi, country of consignment.
Cross-Docking — Cross-docking is a logistics practice in which incoming goods are unloaded and moved directly to outbound vehicles with little or no storage in between, speeding up flow and reducing warehousing. Also called: çapraz sevkiyat, flow-through distribution.
Customs Broker — A customs broker is a licensed specialist who handles customs clearance on behalf of importers and exporters — preparing declarations, classifying goods and ensuring compliance with duties, taxes and trade regulations. Also called: customs agent, gümrük müşaviri, customs clearance agent.
Customs Value — Customs value is the amount duty is calculated on. Under WTO valuation rules the primary method is the transaction value — the price actually paid for the goods — adjusted by the additions the law specifies. In Türkiye and the EU it includes freight and insurance up to the point of entry, so the same invoice produces a different customs value under EXW than under DAP. Also called: gümrük kıymeti, dutiable value, value for duty.
Deadhead / Empty Return — Deadheading, or empty running, is when a truck or vehicle travels without cargo — typically returning empty after a delivery — generating cost and emissions without revenue. Also called: empty running, boş dönüş.
Demurrage — Demurrage is a charge levied when a full container or cargo stays inside the port or terminal beyond the agreed free time before being collected, compensating the carrier or terminal for the occupied space or equipment. Also called: demuraj, port storage charge.
Detention — Detention is a charge levied when the shipper or consignee keeps the carrier's container beyond the free time while it is outside the terminal — for example, not returning an empty container on time after unloading. Also called: konteyner bekletme, equipment detention.
Dwell Time — Dwell time is the period cargo or a container sits idle at a port, terminal or facility while waiting for the next step in its journey, such as pickup, customs clearance or onward transport. Also called: bekleme süresi, terminal dwell.
eCMR — eCMR is the digital version of the CMR consignment note, defined by the 2008 Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention. It lets parties issue, sign and exchange the road freight note electronically with the same legal standing as the paper document. Also called: electronic consignment note, elektronik CMR, digital CMR.
ETA — ETA (estimated time of arrival) is the projected date and time at which a shipment or vehicle is expected to reach its destination. Also called: estimated time of arrival, tahmini varış zamanı.
ETD — ETD (estimated time of departure) is the projected date and time at which a shipment or vehicle is expected to leave its origin. Also called: estimated time of departure, tahmini kalkış zamanı.
Freight Forwarder — A freight forwarder is a company that organises shipments on behalf of shippers — arranging transport, carriers, documentation and customs — without necessarily owning the vehicles itself. It acts as the intermediary between the cargo owner and the carriers. Also called: forwarder, taşıma işleri organizatörü, logistics provider.
Freight Tender / RFQ — A freight tender, or RFQ (request for quotation), is a formal request in which a shipper invites carriers or forwarders to submit price and service offers for a defined transport need or lane. Also called: request for quotation, nakliye ihalesi, freight bid.
FTL (Full Truckload) — Full truckload (FTL) is a shipment that fills, or is contracted to use, an entire truck for a single consignor, moving directly from origin to destination without consolidation with other cargo. Also called: full load, komple yük, truckload.
General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) — The General Rules of Interpretation are the six legally binding rules that decide how goods are classified in the Harmonized System. They are applied in order: the wording of the headings first, then the rules for incomplete, mixed or composite goods, and last the heading that comes latest in numerical order among equally valid candidates. Every classification argument ultimately rests on them. Also called: GRI, Genel Yorum Kuralları, HS classification rules.
Groupage / LTL (Part Load) — Groupage, also called less-than-truckload (LTL) or part load, is the consolidation of several shippers' smaller consignments into one vehicle or container, so each customer pays only for the space their cargo occupies. Also called: LTL, less-than-truckload, parsiyel, grupaj, part load.
HS Code / GTİP — An HS code (Harmonized System code) is the internationally standardised numeric code used to classify traded goods for customs, tariffs and statistics, maintained by the World Customs Organization. The first six digits are the same in every member country; digits beyond six are national. In Türkiye the twelve-digit national extension is called the GTİP. Read the code in blocks: the first two digits are the chapter, the first four the heading, the first six the international subheading, and everything after that is national detail. That is why the same product is a ten-digit commodity code in the UK, a ten-digit TARIC code in the EU and a twelve-digit GTİP in Türkiye while still being the same goods. Also called: HS code, commodity code, tariff code, CN code, TARIC code, GTIP, customs tariff number, harmonized system code.
Import VAT — Import VAT is the value added tax charged when goods enter a country. Its base is wider than the invoice: the customs value, plus every tax paid at customs, plus the costs incurred up to registration of the declaration. The rate depends on how the goods are classified. VAT-registered importers can usually deduct it, so it affects cash flow more than final cost. Also called: ithalatta KDV, VAT on importation, import value added tax.
Incoterms — Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are the standardised trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (e.g. EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP) that define where the seller's and buyer's responsibilities, costs and risks transfer along the transport chain. Also called: teslim şekilleri, trade terms, delivery terms.
Landed Cost — Landed cost is what a shipment really costs by the time it reaches your door: the price of the goods, freight and insurance, customs duty, any additional or anti-dumping duty, import VAT, broker and terminal fees, inland transport, and any demurrage or storage that accrues. Comparing suppliers on unit price alone hides the difference; comparing on landed cost shows it. Two components move the total most: the duty rate attached to the tariff code, and the Incoterm, because the delivery term decides how much of the freight and insurance falls inside the customs value. VAT is listed but usually kept apart when comparing offers, since registered businesses deduct it. Also called: total landed cost, toplam ithalat maliyeti, delivered cost.
Lead Time — Lead time is the total elapsed time between placing an order and receiving the goods, covering order processing, transport and final delivery. Also called: tedarik süresi, order-to-delivery time.
Proof of Delivery (POD) — Proof of delivery (POD) is the signed confirmation — on paper or digital — that a consignment was received by the consignee at the destination. It records the date, time and condition of the goods on hand-over. Also called: POD, teslim kanıtı, delivery receipt.
Reefer — A reefer is a refrigerated container or trailer with its own temperature-control unit, used to transport perishable or temperature-sensitive goods such as food, flowers and pharmaceuticals. Also called: refrigerated container, frigorifik, soğutmalı araç.
TARIC — TARIC is the Integrated Tariff of the European Union: a ten-digit code that extends the eight-digit CN with EU measures such as tariff suspensions, quotas, preferences and anti-dumping duties. It is normally the code required on EU import declarations, and it is where you see whether a trade defence measure applies to your goods and their origin. Also called: TARIC code, EU integrated tariff, 10-digit EU code.
Tare / Gross / Net Weight — Net weight is the weight of the goods alone, tare weight is the weight of the empty packaging or container, and gross weight is the two combined (net + tare) — the total weight presented for transport. Also called: dara, brüt ağırlık, net ağırlık.
Tariff Code — Tariff code is the generic name for the number that classifies goods in a customs tariff; the specific name depends on the country. Its first six digits are the international HS code and the rest are national: eight digits in the EU's CN, ten in TARIC and in the UK tariff, twelve in Türkiye's GTİP. Also called: commodity code, HS code, GTİP, CN code, TARIC code, customs tariff number, tarife kodu.
TEU — A TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is the standard unit for measuring container capacity, based on one 20-foot container; a 40-foot container equals two TEU. Also called: twenty-foot equivalent unit, yirmi fitlik eşdeğer birim.
Transport Management System (TMS) — A transport management system (TMS) is software used to plan, execute and track the movement of freight, covering order and load management, carrier selection, routing, documentation and delivery visibility. Logistivo is a web- and mobile-based TMS for freight forwarding and transport operations. Also called: TMS, taşıma yönetim sistemi, logistics software, freight management software.
Transshipment — Transshipment is the transfer of cargo from one vehicle or vessel to another at an intermediate point on the way to the final destination, most commonly at hub ports. It is common when no direct route or single carrier covers the whole journey. Also called: aktarma, trans-shipment, hub transfer.
Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule (TGTC) — The Türk Gümrük Tarife Cetveli (TGTC) is Türkiye's official customs tariff schedule: the twelve-digit GTİP nomenclature with its Turkish goods descriptions, republished each year. The duty rates are not in the schedule itself — they come from the annexes of the Import Regime Decree, which list rates per code and per country group. Logistivo's free lookup tool searches all 23,581 lines of this schedule, and for the declarable twelve-digit codes it shows the customs duty rate taken from the Import Regime annexes — plus the additional customs duty column for the codes that fall within its scope — with no account required. Also called: TGTC, Türk Gümrük Tarife Cetveli, Turkish tariff schedule.
Frequently asked questions
My buyer asks for a commodity code — how many digits should I send?
Send the first six digits. Those six are the international part of the Harmonized System and mean the same thing in your buyer's country. The remaining digits of a Turkish twelve-digit GTİP are national and may have no counterpart in the tariff your buyer declares under, so sending the full code as if it were theirs can push them into the wrong subheading. Put the six digits next to a plain description of the goods on the invoice and packing list; the importer or their broker completes the national digits. If the buyer explicitly asks for a ten-digit UK commodity code or an EU TARIC code, that is a code they must confirm in their own tariff, not one you can issue for them.
What is the difference between country of origin and country of dispatch?
Country of origin is where the goods were produced, or where they last underwent a substantial transformation. Country of dispatch is simply the country the shipment physically left. Duty rates, preferential treatment and anti-dumping measures are attached to origin, so goods bought from a distributor in one country can still carry the duty and the trade defence measure of the country that manufactured them. The two are also evidenced by different documents: an A.TR movement certificate shows free-circulation status between Türkiye and the EU, while EUR.1 or a supplier's declaration is what proves preferential origin.
What happens if the wrong tariff code is used?
The declared code determines the duty rate, the permits required and which trade policy measures apply, so an incorrect code means tax that is either short-paid or over-paid. Where duty was short-paid, the difference, late-payment interest and an administrative fine can follow. Where the goods were subject to controls, the missing licence or certificate can hold the shipment at customs. Over-paid duty can usually be reclaimed, but the refund takes time and paperwork. For products you import repeatedly, binding tariff information closes this risk before the first declaration rather than after an audit.
How is an anti-dumping duty different from ordinary customs duty?
Ordinary customs duty is a general tax applied to imports by tariff code and country group. An anti-dumping duty is a targeted measure imposed only on a specific product from a specific origin, after an investigation concludes it was exported below normal value and injured domestic producers. Its rate is often several times the customs duty, it is sometimes expressed as a fixed amount per tonne, and it can differ by exporting company. Measures also have expiry dates and lapse unless a review extends them, so a rate you checked last year may no longer be in force — or a new one may be.
What is binding tariff information (BTI) and when is it worth applying for?
Binding tariff information is a written decision from a customs authority stating which tariff code applies to a product you describe in the application. Within the country that issued it, it binds both the administration and the holder for a set period, so the classification cannot be challenged case by case at the border. It is worth applying for when the product sits between two headings, when the duty difference between candidate codes is material, or when you will import the same item repeatedly and want the treatment fixed in advance. Validity and the application procedure differ by country, so check the rules of the customs administration you declare to.
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