• Overweight Surcharge (OWS)

  The Overweight Surcharge (OWS) is charged by shipping companies to transport heavy containers. It applies to 20ft containers and each shipping company sets the rate at their own discretion.

• Packing List (PL)

  A Packing List (PL) is a document used for customs declaration that identifies the quantity, weight, dimensions, and carton count of the shipped products.

• Pallet

  A pallet is a flat transport structure used to increase the ease of handling, speed of loading and unloading, and protection of cargo during the transportation process.

• Pallet Exchange Fee

  A Pallet Exchange fee is charged by the carrier if the trucker does not bring pallets to exchange with the carrier's pallets when they pick up the cargo.

• Particular Average

  Particular average is a term often used in cargo insurance to describe a loss or damage to cargo that is not caused by a general average event. It refers to a loss suffered by a specific party rather than being shared among all interested parties.

• PGA (Partner Government Agency)

  A PGA (Partner Government Agency) is a government agency that works alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to regulate commodities entering the U.S.

• PSS (Peak Season Surcharge)

  PSS (Peak Season Surcharge) is a variable surcharge that carriers may apply during times of peak demand. It may be applied at any time of year but tends to be more common before the fall/winter holidays and before Chinese New Year.

• Per Diem Charge

  A per diem charge is the fee the ocean carrier charges for each day past the number of "free" days that a container is away from port. Per diem is also known as detention.

• Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS)

  The periodic monthly statement is a payment option under CBP's Automated Clearing House (ACH) that lets importers pay customs fees, duties, and taxes electronically once a month for shipments that cleared Customs the previous month, interest free.

• Pier Pass Fee

  The Pier Pass fee is a single flat fee charged for both daytime and nighttime container moves at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, intended to reduce regional traffic congestion.

• POA (Power of Attorney)

  A Customs Power of Attorney is a legal document authorizing Flexport LLC to conduct Customs business on your behalf. Flexport cannot clear a shipment through Customs without a signed POA.

• Port filings

  A port filing is a notification to the port that a certain container will be on board of a certain vessel going to a certain location with corresponding export declaration documents. It is a step after export clearance.

• Power of Attorney

  In the context of customs clearance, power of attorney is the authorization given to a customs broker to act on behalf of the importer or exporter.

• Pre-Pull

  A pre-pull is when a trucker pulls an FCL container from the port and stores it at the trucker's yard instead of immediately delivering it. It can help avoid costly demurrage fees.

• Preferential Duties

  A Preferential Duty Rate is lower than the normal duty rate applied to imports from third countries — i.e. lower than the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty rate. It may be claimed for qualifying goods originating in countries with which the importing country has a Free Trade…

• Prep/Kitting Services

  Prep/Kitting services are specialized tasks done for individual SKUs within a fulfillment center, from bagging and barcoding to assembling kits and embroidery.