FAK   Freight All Kinds. Usually refers to consolidated cargo.
FAS   Free Along Side
FCA  Free Carrier
FCL   Full Container Load. Containers are charged a specific rate for ocean transit regardless of their (lack of) contents. A full container will thus offer a better price per unit shipped than will a LCL.
Feeder   Transportation conveyance utilized to relay cargo from the mother vessel to ultimate destination or from first receipt port to mother vessel.
FFE  Forty-foot Equivalent Unit. The standard measurement unit of containerized cargo.
FIFO  Free In Free Out. See also FIO
FIO  Free In Free Out
Flat Bed   Truck designed to haul heavy or oversized non-containerizable cargo.
Floating Cranes   Heavy duty cranes that are able to handle exceptionally heavy cargo if unable to use conventional gantry cranes.
FMC   Federal Maritime Commission. U.S. Government agency responsible for overseeing regulatory aspects of the Shipping Act.
FOB  Free On Board
For-Hire Carriers   Persons or firms engaged in the transportation of goods or passengers for compensation. Classified into two general categories, specialized and general freight motor carriers.
Force Majeure  A state of emergency or condition that permits a company to depart from the strict terms of contract because of an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled. I.e: beyond human control (French superior or irresistible force). Compare: ACT OF GOD, INEVITABLE ACCIDENT, VIS MAJOR.
Forwarder's Cargo Receipt   A non-negotiable document issued by a forwarder which will satisfy legal requirements for a letter-of-credit. Since a forwarder is not an NVOCC it cannot issue actual Bills of Lading. The FCR is legally binding upon the forwarder and is an industry standard.
Free Time  Time allowed for shippers or consignees/receivers to load or unload cargo before demurrage, detention, and other charges accrue.
Freight Bill  Destination (Collect), Freight Bill: Prepaid Freight Bill.
(1) Bill rendered by a transportation line to consignee containing description of freight shipper name, point of origin, weight charges (if not prepaid).
(2) Bill rendered by a transportation line to shipper containing description of freight, consignee, destination, and weight charges.
Freight Cashier   Responsible for collections of freight/charges/release of cargo/release of bills of ladings
Freight Forwarder   (1)Person engaged in assembling, collecting, consolidating shipping and distributing less than trailerload freight.
(2)also, a person acting as an agent in the trans-shipping of freight to or from foreign countries and clearing freight through Federal Customs.
Freight Release   Evidence that the freight charges for the cargo have been paid. If in writing, it may be presented at the pier to obtain release of the cargo. Normally, once the freight is paid freight releases are arranged without additional documentation. aka Freight Bill Receipt.
Full Visible Capacity   The trailer is loaded as full as the character of the freight and other conditions permit, so that no more of the same type of freight can be loaded therein, consistent with safety and damage precautions.