Australian Air Freight
Make shipping decisions with fewer surprises
Australia Freight and Customs Guides
Learn how chargeable weight is calculated, what an AWB or Bill of Lading actually does, how Incoterms shift responsibility, and where delays usually happen at terminals and depots.
Glossary: Freight and Customs Terms (Australia)
Sanzio White
Sanzio White is the writer behind sensio.tv. He explains Australian freight and customs in clear steps, with practical checklists that help you avoid delays, extra fees, and documentation mistakes.
Clear definitions for the terms that slow shipments down, inflate invoices, or cause confusion at handover. Each entry is short and practical. Use this page as an index.
Quick jump: Documents • Shipping Methods • Weights & Measures • Fees & Delays • Compliance • Roles
Documents
- Air Waybill (AWB) — the control document for air cargo.
- Bill of Lading (B/L) — the main ocean freight transport document.
- Commercial Invoice — the invoice used for trade and clearance data.
- Packing List — itemises cartons, weights, and packing details.
- Certificate of Origin (COO) — supports origin claims in some trade contexts.
Shipping Methods
- Air Freight — fast transport by aircraft.
- Sea Freight — containerised or bulk shipping by vessel.
- FCL (Full Container Load) — one shipper uses a full container.
- LCL (Less than Container Load) — shared container space, priced by volume.
- Consolidation — combining multiple shipments to share space and cost.
Weights & Measures
- Chargeable Weight — the billable weight used for pricing (air freight).
- Volumetric Weight — a calculated weight based on dimensions.
- Gross Weight — the actual scale weight including packaging.
- Dimensions — length, width, height; drives volumetric pricing.
Fees & Delays
- Demurrage — time-based charges when cargo sits at terminals beyond free time.
- Detention — time-based charges for late container return (often FCL).
- Storage Fees — charges when cargo remains uncollected/undelivered.
- Terminal Handling Charges (THC) — handling costs at ports/terminals.
- Cut-Off Time — latest time cargo must be received for a scheduled movement.
Compliance
- Customs Clearance — steps to release goods through border processes.
- HS Code — classification code used for duty/GST assessment and controls.
- Duty and GST — common import charges based on classification and value.
- Permits — approvals required for regulated categories (case-by-case).
Roles
- Freight Forwarder — coordinates shipping and handoffs across carriers and terminals.
- Customs Broker — specialises in clearance submissions and border documentation.
- Carrier — the airline, shipping line, or road operator moving the cargo.
- 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) — warehousing and distribution provider.
Start here
If you want the bigger picture before diving into definitions, read Air Freight in Australia. For quick answers, visit FAQs page.
Our mission is to simplify Australian freight and customs with practical guides and checklists that reduce delays, paperwork errors, and unexpected costs.