Freight Glossary.
Key terms in entertainment freight — from ATA Carnets to Withholding Tax reclaim.
ATA Carnet
An international customs document that allows temporary import of professional equipment — cameras, staging, backline — without paying duties. BTS manages Carnets for touring and production clients worldwide.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The contract between shipper and carrier for ocean freight. The B/L functions as receipt of cargo, contract of carriage, and document of title. BTS issues and manages B/Ls on behalf of production clients.
Bonded Warehouse
A secure facility where dutiable goods can be stored without paying import duties until they are released into the local market. BTS maintains bonded warehouse relationships in key production markets worldwide.
Carnet de Passages
A customs document for temporarily importing vehicles across borders. Common for touring productions moving vehicles between countries in Europe and beyond.
Charter Freight
Hiring an entire aircraft — or a significant portion of one — exclusively for your cargo. Used when commercial air freight schedules won't work and cost is secondary to timing.
CIF
Cost, Insurance, and Freight. An Incoterm meaning the seller pays for shipping and insurance to the destination port. BTS helps clients understand which Incoterms apply to their production shipments.
Customs Broker
A licensed professional who handles import/export paperwork and duties on behalf of shippers. BTS works with a global network of trusted customs brokers to clear production gear at any port of entry.
DG / Dangerous Goods
Cargo classified as hazardous by IATA or IMDG standards — batteries, pyrotechnics, fuel, certain chemicals. BTS is certified to handle DG shipments by air and ocean.
Door-to-Door
Full freight service from origin address to destination address — BTS manages every leg, including customs, drayage, and last-mile delivery to set.
Drayage
The short-haul trucking that moves containers from port or rail yard to final destination. BTS coordinates drayage at all major ports to connect ocean shipments to production facilities.
FCL / LCL
Full Container Load vs. Less than Container Load. FCL means your cargo fills the entire container; LCL means your cargo shares space with other shippers. BTS handles both.
Freight Forwarder
A logistics company that organises and manages the shipment of cargo on behalf of shippers — arranging carriers, handling customs, and coordinating all legs of transit. BTS is a specialist freight forwarder for the entertainment industry.
Hawksbill
A type of temperature-sensitive packaging used for fragile optical equipment — lenses, sensors, precision glass — that must be protected from extreme temperature swings during air freight.
IATA
International Air Transport Association. The trade association for the world's airlines that sets standards for air cargo — including dangerous goods regulations that BTS is certified to follow.
Incoterms
International commercial terms defining where responsibility and cost transfer from seller to buyer — EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP, and others. Critical for production freight contracts.
NFO / Next-Flight-Out
Air freight placed on the next available commercial flight departing the origin airport. BTS books NFO shipments around the clock for time-critical production cargo.
Production Carnet
An ATA Carnet specifically issued for professional equipment used in film, television, or commercial production — covering cameras, lenses, lighting, and related gear.
Proforma Invoice
A preliminary invoice sent before goods ship, used for customs purposes to declare cargo value. BTS helps productions prepare accurate proforma invoices to avoid customs holds.
RORO
Roll-On/Roll-Off — ocean shipping where wheeled cargo (vehicles, generators, production trailers) is driven onto the vessel and secured for transit, rather than lifted by crane.
WHT / Withholding Tax Reclaim
Many countries withhold a portion of payments made to foreign touring artists and crew. BTS's financial services team files WHT reclaim applications to recover withheld funds for touring clients.