Internal Answers to Common Questions
Quick Reference: Logistics Terms You’ll See Every Day
What is a Disposition?
In LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping, disposition generally refers to the final handling instructions or outcome for a shipment issue—essentially, what should happen next with freight that cannot move normally.
Examples of when a carrier may ask for a disposition:
- Damaged freight → Should it be returned, delivered as-is, inspected, or discarded?
- Refused shipment → Should it be returned to shipper, held, or re-consigned to another location?
- Undeliverable freight → Does it need a new address, return authorization, or storage instructions?
- Overage / shortage / exception freight → What action should the carrier take?
Common disposition instructions include:
- Return to shipper (RTS)
- Deliver as is
- Hold for pickup
- Reconsign / reroute
- Dispose / destroy
- Inspect and advise
- Await further instructions
What is Reconsignment?
In freight/shipping, reconsignment means changing the delivery instructions for a shipment after it is already in transit or after the original bill of lading has been issued.
Most commonly, that means changing:
- Delivery address – ship to a different location than originally planned
- Consignee – change who is receiving the freight
- Routing instructions – direct the shipment through a different route/carrier (less common)
- Delivery terms/details – special delivery changes after pickup
What is Redelivery?
In freight/LTL shipping, redelivery means a carrier makes another attempt to deliver a shipment after the first delivery attempt was unsuccessful or incomplete.
That second trip is considered a redelivery, and it often comes with additional charges.
Common reasons for redelivery:
- Receiver was closed when the truck arrived
- No one available to accept/sign for freight
- Appointment wasn’t scheduled (for appointment-required deliveries)
- Dock/warehouse unavailable (no space, long wait, or inaccessible dock)
- Delivery refused temporarily pending inspection/PO confirmation
- Address issue prevented completion
- Liftgate / special equipment not arranged
- Freight could not be unloaded due to consignee issues
What is a Liftgate?
In freight/LTL shipping, a liftgate is a hydraulic platform attached to the back of a truck that raises or lowers freight between the truck bed and the ground.
It’s used when there is no loading dock or forklift available at pickup or delivery.
Why it matters:
Most LTL trailers sit several feet off the ground. If a shipper or consignee cannot load/unload freight themselves, the carrier may need a liftgate to safely move the freight to ground level.
Common situations requiring a liftgate:
* Residential delivery
* Small business with no dock
* Delivery to schools/churches/offices
* Construction sites
* Any location without a forklift/pallet jack setup
What is Limited Access Delivery?
In freight/LTL shipping, limited access delivery (LAD) means the delivery location is harder for a standard freight truck to access or requires extra time/special handling, so the carrier applies an additional service charge.
It doesn’t necessarily mean the location is physically impossible to reach—just that it falls outside a normal commercial dock delivery.
Common locations considered limited access:
- Residential neighborhoods
- Schools / universities (University of Memphis-type campuses)
- Churches
- Military bases
- Hospitals / medical facilities
- Construction sites
- Farms / rural routes
- Storage units / mini warehouses
- Hotels / resorts
- Malls / shopping centers
- Prisons / government facilities
- Locations requiring security check-in or escort
Why carriers charge extra:
Limited access deliveries often involve:
- More time locating the receiver
- Check-in/security procedures
- Tight roads or truck restrictions
- Longer unload times
- Special appointment coordination
- Extra maneuvering or hand-unloading
What is Inside Delivery?
In freight/LTL shipping, inside delivery means the carrier moves the freight beyond the curb, dock, or front door and places it inside the building at the consignee’s request.
Normally, standard LTL service is considered dock-to-dock / curbside delivery—the carrier gets the freight to the delivery point, and the receiver is responsible for bringing it inside. Inside delivery is an extra service.
What “inside” can mean:
Depending on carrier rules, it may include placing freight:
- Inside a front entrance
- In a warehouse receiving area
- Into a storeroom
- Into a garage
- Into a first-floor room or designated area
(Some carriers define limits—distance inside, first floor only, no stairs, etc.)
What is a Third Party Shipment?
In freight/LTL shipping, a third-party shipment refers to a shipment where the freight charges are paid by a party that is neither the shipper nor the consignee.
Who’s involved:
- Shipper = sends the freight
- Consignee = receives the freight
- Third party = pays the freight charges
How it works:
The shipment still moves normally from shipper to consignee, but the billing responsibility is assigned to a third party account instead of the two endpoints.
What is an Accessorial?
In freight/LTL shipping, an accessorial is any extra service or charge beyond standard transportation.
Think of it as an add-on fee for services that require extra work, time, equipment, or special handling.
Standard freight charge covers:
Usually, the base freight rate covers:
- Pickup at shipper
- Linehaul transportation (moving freight terminal-to-terminal / city-to-city)
- Standard delivery to consignee
- Basic loading/unloading at normal dock locations
Anything outside “normal” service can become an accessorial.
Common LTL accessorials:
- Liftgate – truck uses hydraulic lift to lower/raise freight
- Limited Access Delivery/Pickup – schools, churches, residential, hospitals, construction sites, etc.
- Residential Delivery – delivery to a home
- Inside Delivery – carrier places freight inside building
- Appointment Delivery – delivery scheduled for a specific time/window
- Reconsignment – shipment redirected to a different destination
- Redelivery – second delivery attempt
- Detention – truck waits longer than allowed free time
- Sort / Segregate – freight separated or organized by SKU/location
- Hazmat handling – hazardous materials processing fees
- Storage – freight held at terminal awaiting instructions
- Notify Before Delivery – carrier calls ahead
- Freeze protection / temperature control – special handling for temperature-sensitive goods
What is the difference between Inbound vs Outbound ?
Inbound shipment
Freight is coming into a company/location.
- The company is the receiver (consignee)
- Goods are arriving from suppliers or vendors
Outbound shipment
Freight is leaving a company/location.
- The company is the shipper
- Goods are being sent to customers or distribution points
Simple way to remember:
- Inbound / Outbound = direction of freight
What is Prepaid vs Collect?
Prepaid shipment
The shipper pays the freight charges.
- Carrier bills the shipper (or their 3PL)
- Consignee receives freight with no freight charges due at delivery
Collect shipment
The consignee pays the freight charges.
- Carrier bills the receiving company
- Payment is typically due upon delivery or invoiced after
Simple way to remember:
- Prepaid / Collect = who pays the bill
Glossary Terms (these two are on the term list you have but I think need to be more defined)
Shipper
The shipper is the person or company sending the freight—the party that originates the shipment.
They are typically responsible for:
- Preparing/packaging the freight
- Creating the Bill of Lading (BOL)
- Providing shipment details (weight, class, dimensions, commodity)
- Arranging pickup
- Sometimes paying the freight charges (depending on terms)
Consignee
The consignee is the person or company receiving the freight—the final delivery destination listed on the shipment.
They are typically responsible for:
- Receiving/signing for delivery
- Inspecting freight for damage/shortage
- Unloading (unless liftgate/inside delivery is arranged)
- Sometimes paying freight charges (depending on terms)
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