The_Dictionary_of_Transport_and_Logistics

ADVANCED DRIVING TEST

Advanced driving test Advanced level driving test organized and conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (available for car, motorcycle and goods vehicle drivers) and intended to ensure exceptionally high standards of driving competence and road safety.

Advice note A document that provides details of goods, their consignor and consignee.

AETR The ‘European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport’ under which a set of hours rules are applied when drivers travel to or through states which are party to the agreement (other than EU states where the EU rules apply).

AEVR Approved requirements for the construction of vehicles intended for the carriage of explosives by road. HSE publication.

Affreightment A contract for the carriage of goods by sea for shipment expressed in charter party or bill of lading.

AFRL Automated First Registration and Licensing System. Computer at DVLA* Swansea dealing with vehicle registrations and providing online facility for motor manufacturers and dealers.

AFT-IFTIM Association pour le développement de la Formation professionnelle dans les Transports and Institut de Formation aux Techniques d’implantation et de Manutention. French road haulage and logistics professional training organization based at Monchy St Eloi, France.

AFV Alternative fuel vehicle, also known as bi-fuel vehicles*. Vehicles (mainly cars and light vans, currently) designed to run on both conventional unleaded petrol or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG*).

Agency card A form of credit card (usually supplied by fuel companies) issued to drivers to enable them to draw fuel from retail outlets (ie filling stations) away from base.

Agency driver A temporary driver hired from staff/employment agency firm (eg Manpower organization) to cover for staff shortages/holidays/ illness, etc.

Agent One who represents a principal, or buys or sells for another. A person who acts for or on behalf of another person or firm, usually under a contractual agreement which sets out and limits the extent to which they are permitted to act on behalf of that other party.

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AIR DRYER

Aggregate inventory management The size of many inventories requires that they be broken down into groupings for the purpose of control. Aggregated inventory is the further collection of these groupings into a single entity to enable the establishment of operating policies, key performance indicators, targets and reports. Aggregate Inventory Management enables such things as the overall level of inventory desired to be established and then appropriate controls implemented to ensure that individual operating decisions achieve that goal, at optimum cost. (Source:

ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

Aggregation A term used to mean combining of goods (or consignments) perhaps into a container or trailer load.

Aggregator Firms that aggregate individual load demands and ‘buy’ freight train services to carry them as whole trainloads.

AGR Convention International convention concerned with route marking – in particular the trans-Europe ‘E’ route system.

Agricultural machine Defined in the Vehicles Excise Act. Includes tractors (see also land tractor), ploughing engines and such like used in agriculture for haulage-type work between farms and other agricultural land. Reduced rates of VED apply. Also defined in C&U regulations* as an agricultural trailed appliance which is a trailer used off roads for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry.

AGV Automated guided vehicle. A load/personnel carrying computercontrolled vehicle that follows an automatic guidance system (invariably laid in the floor) without manual steering or control – usually found in warehouses and large stores.

AICC Autonomous Intelligent Cruise Control. Part of the European Prometheus* road safety project. See also CoPilot.

Aiding and abetting A phrase usually associated with the aiding and abetting of a crime or offence by another person. In general terms it is an offence to assist or encourage another person to commit an offence.

AIL Abnormal indivisible load. See also Abnormal load.

AIM Alternative investment market. Public stock market operated by the Stock Exchange for smaller, growing companies, management buyouts, etc (ie useful source of funds for the smaller business).

Air dryer Component part of heavy goods vehicle inserted in air brake system to eliminate (ie dry) condensation in air pipes/reservoirs, etc.

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AIR-LIFT AXLE

Air-lift axle Retractable (ie lift-up) axle on vehicle/trailer lifted from road surface by means of compressed air to reduce rolling resistance (for fuel economy reasons) and tyre wear.

Air management Systems added to goods vehicle driver cabs to improve airflow and consequently improve fuel consumption – eg cab-top air deflectors, front air dams, side skirts and cab-to-body collars.

Air pollution Pollution of the atmosphere (ie the air we breathe) by vehicle exhausts. A comparison of the emission factors between road and rail shows the following general relativity of emissions in grammes per tonne kilometre:

	Road (g/tkm)	Rail (g/tkm)
Carbon dioxide	183.00	30.00
Carbon monoxide	2.08	0.05
Nitrogen oxides	3.86	0.55
Hydrocarbons	3.60	0.07
Sulphur oxides	0.26	0.23
Respirable particles	0.67	0.11

(Source: Railtrack plc, ‘A Guide to Railfreight’ April 1999)

Air receiver Correct name for the air storage tank on air compressor in a vehicle workshop/factory, etc. These have to be regularly inspected by an approved engineer under safety legislation.

Air suspension Heavy vehicle suspension system that relies on compressed air stored in air bags to provide smooth suspension – mainly used on vehicles carrying goods susceptible to damage or on tanker vehicles where vibration may cause damage to tanks/tank mountings (also on luxury coaches to provide greater passenger comfort).

Air tank/reservoir Storage tank for compressed air used in heavy vehicle air braking systems.

Air/water separator Term used for anti-spray* equipment on goods vehicle – refers specifically to ‘cats whisker’ type of nylon bristle which surrounds the mudguard valance to prevent water from spraying out but allows air to pass through.

Air waybill A form of consignment note used in air freighting. See also Waybill.

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ALLMI

Airsprung axle/bogie Axle or set of axles with suspension provided by air bags (see Air suspension).

AL Nationality symbol for Albania – to be shown on the rear of vehicles from that country.

Alcohol problem Motor vehicle drivers convicted for having an excess of alcohol in their breath/blood may be officially classed as having an ‘alcohol problem’ if the levels of alcohol found are particularly high or the offence is repeated. Such persons have to prove they no longer have a ‘problem’ before their driving licence is restored.

Alcolmeter Equipment used by police to test motor vehicle drivers for excess alcohol in their breath – as with a breathalyzer*.

Alert See Scania Alert.

Aligned documents Documents used in international trade which are standardized as to size and layout and capable of being produced in a onerun unified set from a single master document for ease of understanding and speed and efficiency of completion.

All risks cover A form of insurance cover providing protection against ‘all risks’ as opposed to specified individual risks.

All-time order The last order for a particular product in the last phase of its life cycle. This order is of such a size that the stock provided will satisfy all expected future demand (see all-time requirement below) for the product concerned. Sometimes known as a life of type order. (Source:

ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

All-time requirement The total requirement for a particular product to be expected in the future. Normally used for products in the last phase of their life cycles, when production is (nearly) stopped. (Source: ILT Supply-

Chain Inventory Management SIG)

All-time stock The stock resulting from the assessment of an all-time requirement and delivery of an all-time order. If necessary, controls can be set for such stock to avoid consumption of items for reasons over and above those for which usage was predicted. (Source: ILT Supply-Chain

Inventory Management SIG)

ALLMI Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers. Trade association for such. Publishes code of practice on the application and operation of lorry loaders.

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ALLOCATED STOCK

Allocated stock A part that has been reserved, but not yet withdrawn or issued from stock, and is thus not available for other purposes. (Source: ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

Allocation Term used in connection with distribution planning (eg allocation of orders/consignments to a vehicle or route).

ALREM Association of Load Restraint Equipment Manufacturers. Trade association for such.

Ambient barrier Term used in temperature controlled transport operations to refer to the temperature below that of normal air at which point mechanical (or other) means of cooling/chilling is necessary for satisfactory carriage of food, etc.

Ambient temperature The temperature of the surrounding air.

Amortization lease A form of financial lease where the full cost of the asset and interest is covered (ie amortized) in the lease payments leaving no residual value to be recovered.

AMT Air mail transfer. A term used in international trade when a remittance is purchased by a debtor from a banker.

ANA Article Number Association. An independent non-profit making body which provides standard numbers for all traded goods which are displayed in the form of bar codes.

ANAC Analysis Centre. An oil analysis service and database operated by French company Elf.

AND Nationality symbol for Andorra – to be shown on the rear of vehicles from that country.

ANF Arrival notification form – advice to consignee of goods coming forward.

Animo Code name for Europe-wide computer database on live animal movements.

Annual testing 1 (goods vehicle) A scheme for testing goods vehicles over 3,500 kg gvw, articulated vehicles and certain goods-carrying trailers annually from the anniversary date of first registration at Goods Vehicle Test Stations. On passing a ‘test certificate’ is issued which must be produced when applying for vehicle excise licences and at the request of police and enforcement authorities.

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ANTICIPATION STOCK

Annual testing 2 (passenger vehicles) Passenger vehicles are subject to annual testing in much the same way as goods vehicles described above, the actual requirements depending on the classification of the vehicle. Basically, passenger vehicles seating not more than eight persons fall within scope of the Class IV ‘MOT’ test conducted at approved garages displaying the white triangular symbol on a blue background or at designated Council garages. This test requires a first examination after three years and then annually thereafter. Passenger vehicles seating not more than 13 persons which are not PSVs* are also subject to this test except that the first such test is required after the first anniversary of the date of original registration. Passenger vehicles with more than 12 seats and those used as works buses and permit minibuses which are non-PSVs, and PSVs with no Certificate of Initial Fitness (CoIF*) such as Community buses and certain school buses are tested after the first year and then annually either at approved council workshops or at DTLR* heavy goods vehicle testing stations. Other PSVs with more than eight seats are tested annually at DTLR heavy goods vehicle test stations or at approved council workshops.

Anti-jack knife/device A device fitted to articulated vehicles to prevent jack-knifing whereby the tractive unit and semi-trailer hinge in the middle causing the semi-trailer to push the towing unit round in a circular movement out of control. Such devices may be designed to lock the tractive unit and trailer in the straight-ahead position but more commonly prevent the tractive unit rear wheels from locking under braking, which is a fundamental cause of jack-knifing accidents.

Anti-lock braking (ABS) Anti-lock braking system. A safety system by which vehicle brakes are prevented from locking the road wheels thereby preventing skidding. Works by rapidly applying and releasing brakes so as to prevent wheel lock-up, which would induce a skid.

Anti-spray A system employed on heavy vehicles to prevent excessive spray being thrown up from the wheels in wet weather conditions. See also BS AU 200 and Air/water separator.

Anti-theft device/alarm Equipment fitted to vehicle to prevent unlawful interference and theft of it or its contents.

Anticipation stock Inventory held in order to be able to satisfy a demand with seasonal fluctuations with a production level that does not fluctuate at all or that varies to a lesser extent than the demand; or to cope with erratic production or deficiencies in production capacity. (Source: ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

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AOL

AOL Auto-Oil Programme*.

AORTL Association of Road Transport Lawyers. Specialist lawyers dealing with road transport/traffic law cases.

APA Accreditation of Prior Achievement. A method of obtaining a qualification by demonstrating previously acquired qualifications and experience – as used by the CIT* for experienced candidates seeking its Diploma in Transport. See also APEL.

APEL Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning. Qualification relating to past experience. See also APA.

API American Petroleum Institute.

Approval mark Mainly referring to European Type Approval marks whereby vehicle components are marked to show they meet established standards (eg the ‘E’ mark).

Approved list Under legislation controlling the carriage of dangerous goods* by road, the relevant ‘dangerous goods’ are identified in Approved Lists published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE*).

Approved workshop/fitter A workshop or fitter approved by VI* to test, repair, calibrate (see Calibration) and fit tachograph equipment to vehicles. It is illegal for any other workshop or person to undertake such work. Approved workshops must be quality approved to BS 5750/ISO 9000*.

APPS Approved personal pension scheme. A pension scheme taken out by a self-employed person – available also to employed persons in certain circumstances and subject to laid-down conditions.

APR Adjustable pallet racking. Pallet rack with beams adjustable for height on side frames usually in increments of 75 mm.

APS Advanced Planning System. Computer software package that views the whole supply chain and allows decisions to be made on a chain-wide basis rather than on a restricted, local basis.

APT After peak tank. Tank on ship for carrying fuel, water, etc located in stern of vessel. Usually forms aft-most watertight bulkhead.

Aqueduct Bridge carrying water (usually a canal). Best known in the UK is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in north Wales (306 metres long).

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ASR

Arbitration A widely employed means of settling disputes via an arbitrator, ie an independent person or authority (eg an advocate or judge) whose final decision is usually binding on the parties concerned.

Archiving service New concept whereby logistics operators provide customers with secure storage and recovery services for archived documentation.

Armitage Report A report published by the DoT (now DTLR*) in 1980 entitled ‘Report of the Inquiry into Lorries, People and the Environment’ based on the work of a committee headed by Sir Arthur Armitage which recommended increased lorry weights for the UK.

Artic Colloquialism for an articulated vehicle.

Articulated vehicle A goods vehicle comprising a powered tractive unit (ie the drawing vehicle) and a semi-trailer superimposed upon it in such a way that when the trailer is uniformly loaded, not less than 20 per cent of the weight of the load is borne by the tractive unit. Certain buses and coaches are also articulated where they are in two parts (ie hinged) and where the passenger can pass from one part to the other.

Articulation The function whereby two parts of a vehicle are flexibly joined to provide a more manoeuvrable whole. See also Bendibus.

ARTM Approved requirements and test methods for the classification and packaging of dangerous goods for carriage. HSE publication.

As and Ds ‘Applications and Decisions’ – booklet produced fortnightly by the Traffic Area* offices detailing applications to the Traffic Commissioners* for new and varied ‘O’ licences* plus results of the TCs’ decisions on applications (and disciplinary proceedings) – source of information for bodies which have statutory rights of objection to licence applications.

ASA Air service agreement. A reciprocal (bilateral) agreement between two countries governing air traffic rights (eg the frequency and capacity of services, fare and tariff agreements, etc).

ASCII American standard code for information interchange (ie via computer).

ASR Anti-skid technology. Product of Mercedes-Benz on its ‘Actros’ range of disc-braked heavy trucks fitted with the ‘Telligent’* braking system.

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AS/RS

AS/RS Automated storage and retrieval system. System used in automated warehouses, usually computer controlled handling systems – may be carousels, cranes or AGVs*.

Assembly Term used in distribution in connection with load assembly (ie compiling a number of individual consignments into a full vehicle/ container load).

Asset-based Term often used in logistics where a firm is expanding its operations by buying other established businesses (ie buying the assets) as opposed to forming strategic alliances*.

Associate company In ‘O’ licensing*, a company where the parent/ holding company has an equity holding no greater than 50 per cent and therefore is not a subsidiary company* for these purposes. Vehicles specified on the restricted ‘O’ licence of a parent/holding company cannot carry goods for the business of an associate company, and those on the ‘O’ licence of an associate company may not legally carry goods for the business of the parent/holding company or any of its subsidiaries.

ATA American Trucking Association. Virtual equivalent of our Road Haulage Association.

ATA carnet A Customs carnet (ie clearance document) used in international transport operations for the purposes of allowing goods to be temporarily imported into a country (eg for exhibition purposes) without payment of, or deposits against, import duties. Obtainable from Chambers of Commerce.

ATC (1) Technical Committee of Petroleum Additive Manufacturers in Europe (Belgium).

ATC (2) Air Traffic Control.

ATCC Air Traffic Control Centre.

ATCO Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers. Brings together Local Authority transport officers.

ATIEL Association Technique de l’Industrie Européenne des Lubrifiants.

Athens Convention An international convention governing carrier’s liability for passengers and their baggage when carried by air.

ATOC Association of Train Operating Companies. Set up in 1994 by Britain’s privatized passenger train companies. The Association’s aim is

14

AUDITOR

to support and represent these companies and provide membership services. The train companies were, on formation, Anglia; Cardiff Railway; Central Trains; Chiltern; Connex South Central; Connex South Eastern; Gatwick Express; Great Eastern; Great North Eastern; Great Western; Island Line; LTS Rail; Merseyside Electrics; Midland Main Line; North Western Trains; Northern Spirit; Scotrail; Silverlink; South West Trains; Thameslink; Thames Trains; Virgin Trains; Wales & West; and West Anglia Great Northern.

ATP (1) From French title: European Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs to which the UK is a signatory. It sets specified temperature conditions and standards of thermal efficiency for the movement of prescribed perishable foodstuffs on international journeys. Not currently applicable for UK domestic transport of such foods.

ATP (2) Automatic Train Protection. A system to prevent trains passing signals at danger (ie red signals). See also TPWS, SPAD and ERTMS.

ATR Approved tank requirements – ie for dangerous goods carriage. HSE publication.

Attendance at work Term used to describe the activity of goods vehicle driver (and shown on his tachograph chart*) as being work for his employer other than driving.

Attendant Extra person required to be carried when vehicles/loads exceed certain dimensions. When three or more such vehicle/loads travel in convoy, attendants are required on the first and last vehicles only. See also Statutory attendant – RV (C&U) 1986.

Audible warning instrument An instrument required on a motor vehicle, other than a bell, gong or siren, and capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle. Also includes reversing alarms* which are devices intended to warn persons that a vehicle is reversing or is about to reverse.

Audited accounts The (annual) accounts of a business which have been examined and approved by an ‘auditor’. In the case of limited liability companies such accounts are required by law (see Registrar of Companies) and must have been prepared by an independent ‘chartered’ (ie professional) accountant.

Auditor A person/accounting firm who officially audits company accounts in accordance with legal requirements – must be a ‘chartered’ accountant.

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