D&H: Abbreviation for Dangerous and Hazardous cargo.

Dangerous Goods: The term used by I.M.C.O. for hazardous materials.

Deadhead: One leg of a move with either a bobtail tractor alone or a tractor pulling an empty container.

Deadweight Cargo: A long ton of cargo that can be stowed in less than 70 cubic feet.

Deadweight Tonnage (D/W): The number of tons of 2,240 lbs that a vessel can transport of cargo, stores and bunker fuel. It is the difference between the number of tons of water a vessel displaces “light” and the number of tons it displaces when submerged to the “load line.”

Declared Value for Carriage: The value of the goods, declared by the shipper on a bill of lading for the purpose of determining a freight rate or the limit of the carrier's liability.

Deconsolidation Point: Place where loose or other non-containerized cargo is ungrouped for delivery.

Deficit Weight: Weight by which a shipment is less than the minimum weight.

Delivery: The transfer of property/goods from consignor to carrier, one carrier to another, or carrier to consignee.

Delivery Instructions: Order to pick-up goods at an in-transit (temporary) terminal and deliver to a pier. Usually issued by an exporter to trucker but may apply to a railroad, which completes delivery by land. Use is limited to a few major US ports.

Demurrage: US/Domestic Transportation: A penalty charge against shippers or consignees for delaying the carrier’s equipment beyond the allowed free time provision of the tariff at the rail ramp; International Transportation: A storage charge to shipper s which starts accruing after a container is discharged from a vessel. The charge varies according to rules of the appropriate tariff.

Density: The weight of freight per cubic foot or other unit.

Depot, Container: Container freight station or a designated area where empty containers can be picked up or dropped off.

Destination: Area where carrier physically turns over cargo to consignee or agent.

Destination Delivery Charge (DDC): A charge based on container size, that is applied in many tariffs to cargo. This charge is considered accessorial and is added to the base ocean freight. It covers crane lifts off the vessel, drayage of the container within the terminal and gate fees at the terminal operation.

Detention: A penalty charge against shippers or receivers for delaying carrier's equipment beyond allowed time.

Devanning: The removal of freight.

Differential: An amount added or deducted from base rate to make a rate to or from some other point or via another route.

Displacement: The weight, in tons of 2,240 pounds, of th e vessel and its weight contents. Calculated by dividing the volume of water displaced in cubic feet by 35, the average density of sea water.

Distributor: A person or firm performing a service of distribution on pool cars or consolidated shipments at destination.

Diversion: A change made in the route of a shipment in transit (also, reconsignment).

Division: Carriers’ practice of dividing revenue received through rates where joint hauls are involved. This is usually according to agreed formulas.

Dock: For Ships: A cargo handling area parallel to th e shoreline; For Land Transportation: A pier or wharf used as a loading or unloading platform at an industrial site or carrier terminal.

Dock Receipt (D/R): A document issued by an exporter (or freight forwarder on exporter's behalf) which includes shipment description, physical details and shipping information. Used by both shipper and carrier to verify shipment particulars, condition, and delivery to carrier. Signed by receiving clerk on behalf of carrier.

Docket: Present a rate proposal to a conference meeting for adoption as a conference group rate.

Doing Business As (D.B.A.): A legal term for conducting business under a registered name.

Dolly: A set of wheels that support the front of a container and used when the automotive unit is disconnected.

Door-to-Door: Through transportation of a container and its contents or cargo from consignor to consignee. Also known as House to House. Not necessarily a through rate.

D.O.T.: Department of Transportation.

Draft: The number of feet that the hull of a ship is beneath the surface of the water. An unconditional order in writing, addressed by one party (drawer) to another party (drawee), requiring the drawee to pay at a fixed or determinable future date, a specified sum in lawful currency to the order of a specified person.

Draft, Clean: A draft to which no documents are attached.

Draft, Date: A draft that matures on a fixed date, regardless of the time of acceptance.

Draft, Discounted: A time draft under a letter of credit that has been accepted and purchased by a bank at discount.

Draft, Sight: A draft payable on demand upon presentation.

Draft, Time: A draft that matures at a fixed or determinable time after presentation or acceptance.

Drawback: A partial refund of an import fee.

Drawee: The individual or firm that issues a draft and thus stands to receive payment.

Dray: A truck or other equipment designed to haul heavy loads.

Drayage: Charge made for local hauling by dray or truck.

Dry cargo: Cargo that does not require temperature control.

Dry-Bulk Container: A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free-flowing solids in bulk. Used in conjunction with a tilt chassis or platform.

Dry Freight: Dry cargoes that does not require controlled temperature.

Dumping: Attempt to import merchandise into a country at a price less that the fair market value, usually by subsidy by exporting country.

Duty: A tax imposed by a government on merchandise imported from one country to another. There are several types of duty, including: a) Ad valorem duty ("According to the value."): An assessment based on the actual value of an article. b) Specific duty: An assessment based on the weight or quantity of an article without reference to its monetary value or market price.

Duty Drawback: A refund of duty paid on imported merchandise when it later is exported.