Archita Mittra Last updated: July 21, 2023

English for Logistics: 30 Essential Terms You Should Know [With Audio]

Effective communication is vital in the world of logistics, where accuracy and clarity are key.

Whether you work in supply chain management, transportation, warehousing or customs clearance, having a solid grasp of logistics terminology is essential for seamless operations.

In this post, we’ll explore 30 essential terms used in the logistics industry.

From packaging and inventory to order processing and transportation, we’ll cover words that will help you communicate better and succeed in your logistics career.

So, let’s dive in and explore the language of logistics together!

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Essential English for Logistics Vocabulary

Below is a list of commonly used terms and abbreviations used in logistics. Carefully studying a vocabulary list like this will give you a thorough grounding in the basics, from where you can further build your knowledge base.

Advanced Shipment Notice (ASN)

This is a document that tells your customer all the information they need to know about a pending delivery—including the type, nature and number of goods, packaging information and other relevant shipment details. It’s sent in advance to the customer so that they have an idea of what to expect and when.

You better tell Sheila to send the ASN to the customer soon so that he knows when the products are coming.

Air Taxi

This is a small commercial aircraft that usually flies short distances on demand. There are restrictions on the amount of cargo and passengers allowed in the aircraft. It’s like hailing a cab when you’re in a hurry, except the cab is a plane!

The traffic on the highway is going to be pretty bad, so we booked an air taxi for our VIP guests so that they can reach the venue on time, without any hassles.

Backorder

To put it simply, a backorder is when a retailer orders something that’s currently out of stock. The client trusts the company long enough to wait for the order to be shipped at a later date.

Jack has finally dealt with all the pending backorders for our customers, and our inventory is up-to-date.

Bilateral Contract

This is a reciprocal arrangement between two parties, where you promise to do something in exchange for something in return. Both of you are bound to keep your ends of the bargain (deal or agreement).

If you agree to provide a service for a company and they agree to pay you for it, you’re entering into a basic bilateral contract.

Blanket Purchase Order

Also referred to as a blanket order or a standing order, this is a type of purchase order where a client receives regular, ongoing deliveries for large quantities of goods, thereby taking advantage of discount pricing.

Jane uses a blanket purchase order to get her products. This keeps her business steady and she gets what she needs at cheaper rates.

Business-to-Business (B2B)

This is an approach where a business targets other businesses to access and sell their products and services. In short, the commercial transaction occurs not with the customer but with another business.

For her new jewelry start-up, Maya recently bought a huge set of charms and beads directly from a wholesale supplier that specializes in B2B.

Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

This is the opposite of B2B and the one we’re more familiar with, where the transaction takes place between the business and a customer. The strategies used here differ significantly from those used in B2B marketing.

Typically, B2C strategies focus on emotionally engaging the customer to buy a product, whereas a B2B approach focuses more on value and utility.

Consignor and Consignee

The consignor is the person (or firm) that sells or ships the goods to the recipient, or “consignee.” The consignor is usually the “seller” and retains ownership of the goods until the consignee pays for them.

As per the transportation document, Aditya is the consignor and you must make the necessary payments to him when he delivers the goods.

Customs Officer

The customs officer is the law enforcement official who acts on behalf of the government and ensures that people and goods enter or exit a country legally.

The customs officer at the docks caught him trying to smuggle some banned substances and promptly confiscated them.

Distribution Network

This term refers to the interconnected group of storage facilities and transportation systems that ensure goods are smoothly delivered from the manufacturer to the customer. The distribution network is part of the supply chain (see definition below).

Creating and managing a strong distribution network is one of the key skills required to succeed in logistics.

Freight

This refers to the goods that are carried in bulk by land, sea or air. It can also mean the fees paid for the transportation of these goods.

Joe worked for a few months as a truck driver carrying freight across the highway from one city to another at night.

Inbound Logistics and Outbound Logistics

Inbound logistics refers to the activities involved in receiving, storing and distributing goods and materials coming into a company’s premises. Outbound logistics, on the other hand, involves the processes of storing, handling and transporting goods and materials from a company to its customers.

Amrita is the head of the inbound logistics team, so address all queries regarding the manufacturer to her and she’ll deal with them.

Inventory

This refers to all the goods, raw materials or finished products that a business holds for the purpose of production, sale or distribution.

Keeping the company’s inventory list up-to-date is very important so that it’s easy to see if any goods have gone missing or been stolen.

Lading

This term typically refers to the loading of cargo or goods onto a transportation vehicle. However, it also sometimes refers to the cargo itself.

The lading process was long and strenuous, but we did it carefully and now the ship’s set sail with the cargo.

Logistics Service Provider (LSP)

As the term suggests, LSPs are third parties that provide companies and clients with logistics services.

We advised Michael to research an LSP’s credentials and track record, before approaching one to distribute his goods and take care of the transportation for his business.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

This is a free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and covers several issues such as those relating to customs, intellectual property rights, government procedures and so on. NAFTA was implemented on January 1, 1994.

I work in logistics for a North American importer and exporter, so I need to be very familiar with the provisions of NAFTA.

Note that as of July 1, 2020, NAFTA was replaced by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). You can find more information about this on the International Trade Administration web page.

Order Picking

Order picking is the process of assembling the goods before they’re shipped off to the customer. It’s one of the basic warehousing processes.

Sayan recently got a job collecting articles before shipment and the company is so pleased with his efficient order picking he may soon get a promotion.

Order Processing

This refers to all the different activities related to the filling of a customer’s orders until they’re completed. It usually includes the picking, sorting, packing and delivery of goods to the shipping carrier.

Swift order processing is the hallmark of any wholesale retail company.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

An OEM is usually a company that manufactures goods that are then used as components in another company’s goods. However, the term has evolved over the years and now sometimes refers to the second company (i.e. the one receiving and using the goods).

I decided to purchase the car part from the OEM to ensure compatibility and quality.

Owner’s Risk

When something is transported at the owner’s risk, it means that the owner is responsible for insuring it against any potential loss or damage that may occur during the transportation process. The owner bears the financial burden and should take necessary precautions to protect the item during transit by obtaining appropriate insurance coverage.

When shipping goods internationally, the company opted for ‘owner’s risk‘ terms so that they wouldn’t be responsible for any potential losses or damages during transit.

Packaging

Packaging involves all the processes and materials that are used to contain, transport and protect a product until it’s delivered. It also can refer to the design and production of packages.

Sarita works as a packaging engineer for a small business and she’s responsible for the optimum use of paper and cardboard resources.

Pareto Principle

Also called the 80/20 rule, this principle says that 80% of profits come from 20% of your work or effort. In order to improve productivity, you identify the “20%” areas and capitalize on those.

The Pareto principle is applicable in all walks of life, so know your “20%” well and spend more time and resources on improving it.

Pooling

This is a common term in shipping lingo, where multiple shipments from different carriers are combined in one truckload to reduce shipping charges.

Pooling your delivery goods is an efficient way to make the most of your company budget and is also more environmentally friendly.

Preferential Rate

This is a term related to customs payments. It’s a special, reduced rate for products from certain “preferred” countries.

Luckily for you, you can pay per your country’s preferential rate for exporting these items.

Request for Information (RFI)

An RFI is a document to collect written information about a vendor, product, supplier or service.

Jackie filed several RFIs when choosing the most reliable supplier for his goods.

Route Optimization

The process of determining the most efficient route or sequence for transportation to minimize time, cost or distance.

The logistics team implemented route optimization software to minimize transportation costs and reduce delivery times for our products.

Supply Chain

The entire interconnected network of organizations, people, activities and resources that are responsible for the movement of the product from the supplier to the customer.

Efficient supply chain management is one of the chief aims of any logistics operation, so every detail must be overseen by the person who leads the operation.

Transportation

This is a key aspect of any logistics operation and refers to the movement of goods via land/sea/air, as well as the procedures involved to make it go smoothly and efficiently.

I was in charge of transportation, which meant I had to coordinate with truck drivers for the delivery of our goods to the warehouse.

Unit Loads

The combining of individual items in shipping containers into single units.

I need to find out the exact number of unit loads that will fit into this warehouse.

Warehousing

The act of storing goods that are to be distributed and sold at a later date. The commercial building where goods are stored is called a warehouse.

Tanya scaled down her plans for the start-up because the warehousing costs were too expensive.

Resources to Improve Your Logistics Vocabulary

To supplement your learning, you can check out these resources to further improve your business English skills and make an impression at the workplace:

Glossary of Supply Chain and Logistics Terms: This extensive glossary from Inbound Logistics includes over 1,400 definitions. Review them little by little to continue expanding your logistics and administrative vocabulary. With just 4-5 terms per day, you could learn them all in less than a year!
Investopedia: Whenever you come across an unfamiliar turn of phrase in logistics, head over to this site to learn more about it. For instance, this page gives you a short background on logistics with examples and detailed explanations of what a logistician actually does. If you have any queries, chances are that this site will answer most of them.
FluentU: This program helps you learn new terms by showing you authentic English videos made for native speakers. That includes business-oriented videos, like information about careers, tips for business owners, news segments about different sectors of business (including logistics) and more.

Every video comes with interactive subtitles so you can check a word’s definition without leaving the video player. You can also create personalized flashcards for any unknown words you find while watching, and practice speaking these words with quizzes that integrate typing practice and voice recognition.
Effective Business English for Logistics on Udemy: For serious learners, I recommend investing in an English course tailored to logistics professionals. This online course focuses on effective communication, staff management and efficient logistics processes. If you enjoy this resource, you can find many more engaging and effective courses on Udemy covering a range of both business and English language topics.

Take your time with this list—you don’t have to learn it all at once. Bookmark this post, review the definitions regularly and research any topics or concepts that are unfamiliar to you.

Then look for opportunities to use these terms in your daily life to get more comfortable saying and writing them. For more industry-specific terminology, see our post on construction vocabulary in English.

With some dedication and practice, you’re sure to succeed!