E

Economic Speed
That speed of a means of transport which produces the best possible financial result for the owner. Such speed should not be in excess of the maximum or minimum output allowed for the engine(s).

Economy of Scale
A phenomenon which encourages the production of larger volumes of a commodity to reduce its unit cost by distributing fixed costs over a greater quantity.

ECSI - Export Cargo Shipping Instruction/Preadvice
Instructions from shipper with details of all parties involved and description of goods.

ECT
Europe Combined Terminals (Rotterdam).

EDI
See Electronic Data Interchange.

EDIFACT
See Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport.

EDP
See Electronic Data Processing.

EDR
See Equipment Damage Report.

EFTA - European Free Trade Association
Comprising Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

EHA (Equipment Handover Agreement), Interchange (Fr)
An agreement acknowledging the condition of the carrier's equipment when handed over and returned, which includes the terms of contract under which the equipment was taken over..

EIR
See Equipment Interchange Receipt.

Electronic Data Interchange
Abbreviation: EDI
The transfer of structured data, by agreed standards from applications on the computer of one party to the applications on the computer of another party by electronic means.

Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport
Abbreviation: EDIFACT
The ISO application level syntax rules for the structuring of user data and of the associated service data in the interchange of messages in an open environment.

Electronic Data Processing
Abbreviation: EDP
The computerized handling of information (e.g. business data).

Elevator
Equipment used to discharge some bulk cargoes such as grain which is removed from the hold by a continuous line of buckets or by suction and carried on a conveyor belt to store.

Embargo

1. A government order prohibiting the entry or departure of commercial vessels or goods at its ports.
2. The refusal by a carrier, for a limited period, to accept for transport over any route or segment thereof, and to or from any area or point, of a connecting carrier, any commodity, type of class of cargo duly tendered (aircargo).

EMS
See Emergency Medical Service.

Endorsement
The transfer of the right to obtain delivery of the goods of the carrier by means of the consignee's signature on the reverse side of a bill of lading. If the name of the new consignee (transferee) is not stated, the endorsement is an open one which means that every holder of the document is entitled to obtain delivery of the goods.

Enquiry
Document issued by a party interested in the purchase of goods specified therein and indicating particular, desirable conditions regarding delivery terms, etc., addressed to a prospective supplier with a view to obtaining an offer.

Enterprise
An organization created to provide products and/or services to customers.

Equipment
Material resources necessary to facilitate the transport and handling of cargo. Transport equipment does under the given circumstances not have the ability to move by its own propulsion (e.g. sea container, trailer, unit load device, pallet).

Equipment Damage Report
Abbreviation: EDR
Written statement concerning damage to equipment, based on a physical inspection.

Equipment Interchange Receipt
Abbreviation: EIR
Physical inspection and transfer receipt.

Estimated Time of Arrival
Abbreviation: ETA
The expected date and time of arrival in a certain (air)port.
Synonym: Expected time of arrival.

Estimated Time of Departure
Abbreviation: ETD
The expected date and time when a certain (air)port is left.
Synonym: Expected time of departure.

ETA
See Estimated Time of Arrival.

ETD
See Estimated Time of Departure.

European Article Numbering Association
Abbreviation: EAN
An international body responsible for administering the European Article Numbering system. It has affiliates in many countries such as: CCG in West Germany, DCC in Japan, ANA in the United Kingdom.
Note: The North American body responsible for the Uniform Product Code (UPC) coding is the Uniform Code Council. (UPC is considered a subset of EAN).

European Pallet Pool
Pool for the exchange of standard size pallets (the so-called Europallets) in European cargo traffic, formed in 1961 by a number of European rail administrators.

European Zone Charge
Abbreviation: EZC
A charge for inland haulage transport in case of carrier haulage in Europe.

Even Keel
Said of a vessel which is balanced in such a way that the draft forward and aft is the same as the draft in the midship of the vessel on both sides.

Event
An occurrence.

Ex Works (...named place)
"Ex works" means that the seller fulfils his obligation to deliver when he has made the goods available at his premises (i.e. works, factory, warehouse, etc.) to the buyer. In particular, he is not responsible for loading the goods on the vehicle provided by the buyer or for clearing the goods for export, unless otherwise agreed. The buyer bears all costs and risks involved in taking the goods from the seller's premises to the desired destination. This term thus represents the minimum obligation for the seller. This term should not be used when the buyer cannot carry out directly or indirectly the export formalities. In such circumstances, the FCA term should be used.

Exceptions Clause
See Exemption Clause.

Excess
Going over the prescribed amount or degree e.g. excess luggage is luggage of which the weight is over the weight for free carriage.

Excess Stock
That portion of stock on hand which is over and above the desired stock level.

Exchange Rate
The rate at which one currency can be exchanged for another, usually expressed as the value of the one in terms of the other.

Execution
The actual act of carrying out a task.

Exemption Clause
A clause in a contract, which relieves the carrier's responsibility for certain events.
Synonym: Exceptions Clause.

Expected
Likely to occur or appear.

Expedite Baggage
Luggage, not accompanied by a passenger and not covered by an Air Waybill (aircargo).
Synonym: Rush Baggage.

Expediting
The 'rushing' or 'chasing' of production or purchase orders which are needed in less than the normal lead time.

Expendable Pallet
See disposable pallet.
Synonym: One Way Pallet.

Expenses
Costs paid out in connection with booking of cargo and arranging transport (e.g. commission).

Expiration
Termination of a certain period.

Export
The process of carrying or sending goods to another country or countries, especially for purposes of use or sale in the country of destination. The sale of products to clients abroad.
Export Licence
Document granting permission to export as detailed within a specified time.

Export Packer
Company, packing goods for export.

Exporter
The party responsible for the export of goods.

Extract
Summary or copy of something written, e.g. used in connection with the log book.

EXW
See Ex Works (...named place).

EZC
See European Zone Charge.