Logistics and shipping terms Glossary

This logistics and shipping glossary helps you clearly and easily understand the most commonly used terms in luggage transport and courier services, especially when you are organising a suitcase shipment or travelling.

It brings together the main logistics definitions, concepts and commonly used expressions in domestic and international shipments, from delivery types and transit times to topics such as volumetric weight, transport insurance or customs documentation.

The transport industry uses a wide range of logistics terminology that can be confusing if you are not familiar with it. That is why this glossary is designed for people who want to know exactly what they are booking when shipping their luggage, with practical explanations based on real shipping situations.

Actual / volumetric weight: Actual weight is the weight shown on the scale when a parcel is weighed, while volumetric weight is calculated based on the space it occupies during transport. To determine the shipping cost, courier companies compare both values and always charge the higher of the two.
Additional insurance: Optional coverage that allows shipments to be insured for a value higher than the legal minimum established by the LOTT and the CMR Convention, providing greater protection for the declared value. This type of insurance is taken out when the contents of the luggage or parcels are of high value, offering greater financial protection in case of damage, loss or incidents during transport. You can review the specific terms of our additional insurance in section 7.2, How our additional insurance works.

Basic coverage: Minimum mandatory insurance in accordance with Law 16/1987 of 30 July on Land Transport Regulation (LOTT) and the CMR Convention, covering damage and loss up to certain limits and providing basic legal protection for the shipment. All luggage shipments with Sinmaletas.com are covered by this insurance at no additional cost.

CMR convention: The CMR convention is the international regulation governing road transport, establishing responsibilities, deadlines and compensation limits for domestic and international shipments.
Certified box: New, sturdy and certified cardboard box recommended by Sinmaletas.com to ensure luggage protection and comply with safe-transport packaging conditions. Double-wall cardboard is recommended, and it must support the weight it will carry. Plastic boxes are not allowed. Consult our guide on how to prepare and pack boxes for safe shipping.
Collection notice: Confirmation sent to the customer with the estimated date, time slot and exact location for luggage collection, including details about whether the pickup is scheduled or door-to-door.
Content declaration: Detailed list describing the contents included in one or all of the parcels that make up the shipment.
Countries with restrictions: Destinations that require special customs control and additional documentation, such as the USA, Australia or Switzerland. Sinmaletas provides information about these limitations to help avoid issues during customs clearance. Check the customs requirements and restrictions by destination country.
Courier: Standard door-to-door courier service; Sinmaletas works with operators such as UPS, TNT or FedEx to ensure efficient and secure logistics transit.
Customs: Government authority that controls the import and export of goods in international shipments, applying customs duties and taxes according to the type of product and the destination country. For shipments outside the European Union (EU), where there is no free movement of goods, Sinmaletas requires additional customs documentation to facilitate customs clearance and avoid delays in the clearance process. Check the customs requirements by country before making an international shipment.
Customs agent: A professional or specialised company that processes and submits the customs documentation required for customs clearance on behalf of the customer, facilitating the management of duties, taxes and permits for international shipments.
Customs clearance: Official process of shipment review and approval by customs authorities, which may include inspection, the application of duties and possible delays before final delivery.
Customs declaration: A mandatory document that describes the contents, origin, declared value and other characteristics of the shipment; essential for customs clearance in international shipments.
Customs duties: Taxes charged by customs authorities on imported products.
Customs duties and fees: Mandatory taxes applied to imported or exported goods, calculated according to customs value, product type and destination country. These charges are handled during the customs clearance process to ensure compliance with current regulations. If you have specific questions about duties or customs documentation, you can contact our customer support team.
Customs form: An official document required for customs clearance.
Customs value: Value used by customs authorities to calculate duties and taxes on imported goods, based on the contents declared in the customs documentation.

Dangerous goods: Items that require special packaging and documentation in accordance with ADR, IMDG or IATA regulations; most standard services do not cover this type of shipment. Consult the list of dangerous and prohibited goods for shipping.
Declared / insured value: Amount assigned to a shipment to define the maximum compensation in case of damage or loss, which determines the coverage of the basic or additional insurance taken out.
Destination: Dirección final de entrega de la mercancía.
Dimensional weight: Volume-based calculation that may exceed actual weight.
Dimensions (parcels, boxes, suitcases): External measurements that affect pricing and shipment acceptance.
Direct service: Shipment carried out without consolidation with other parcels, using dedicated transport for greater speed, control and reduced handling of the luggage.
Door-to-door delivery: In logistics, door-to-door delivery is a service in which luggage, suitcases or boxes are collected from the address specified by the customer and delivered directly to the final destination, whether a private home, residence, hotel, office or temporary accommodation. This type of shipping is common in courier services and is especially convenient for travel, small moves or temporary relocations, as it simplifies the entire transport process.

Estimated delivery: Approximate date when delivery is expected, subject to logistics transit.
Estimated delivery time: Approximate timeframe that varies depending on origin, destination and service type, shown in the calculator and confirmed in the confirmation email.
European Union: A free movement area with no internal customs, where shipments do not require customs clearance, enabling faster and more cost-effective logistics transit within its member countries.
Excess of Baggage: Excess baggage occurs when the weight or volume of luggage exceeds the limits allowed by airlines, usually resulting in additional charges for each extra kilogram or item. In these cases, many people choose to ship part of their luggage by courier as an alternative to paying extra fees at the airport, especially on long trips or temporary relocations.
Expats: Foreign residents who ship luggage to their country of origin or destination.
Export: Shipment of goods outside the country of origin.
Express service: Shipping option with faster delivery times than standard service, prioritising the transit of the luggage.

Flexible shipping: Service with the option to change dates or use temporary storage in the Sinmaletas luggage storage/parking facility. This service is subject to the specifications set out on our website.

Import: Legal entry of foreign goods into a country, subject to customs duties.
Insurance conditions: Guidelines and liability limits applicable to both basic and additional insurance. These can be extended by purchasing extra coverage to protect the declared or insured value of the shipment. You can review the terms and conditions of the basic and additional insurance in section 7 (Security of my shipment).

LOTT: The LOTT is the law that regulates land transport in Spain, including insurance and rights.
Logistics agent: Company that organizes and manages transport fulfilment, including warehousing, end-to-end logistics and shipment documentation, as well as coordination with customs agents and real-time tracking of the logistics transit.
Luggage comparator: Online tool that calculates and compares prices with airline baggage fees, helping users choose the best service for shipping their luggage.
Luggage parking: Luggage Parking is the service that allows luggage to be stored in a secure location and delivered at a later date, available for flexible shipments and scheduled pickups.
Luggage preparation: Luggage preparation is the process of packing luggage using protective film and security kits for protection and identification, especially in the case of heavy parcels. If you need additional assistance, you can consult the professional packaging options available for suitcases and boxes.
Luggage storage: A temporary luggage storage service before or after shipping, also referred to as Luggage parking on the website, offering flexibility to collect or deliver luggage on different dates.
Luggage transport for groups: Group luggage transport is a specialized service for groups (e.g. students, companies or events), using a dedicated vehicle and driver for the service. It includes door-to-door pickup and delivery. Services are subject to specific quotations.

Maximum dimensions: Maximum size allowed for each parcel, generally based on its perimeter.
Check our shipping calculator to find out the permitted dimensions and weights.
Maximum perimeter: The sum of the length plus twice the width and height (L + 2×(W + H)). Sinmaletas recommends checking dimensions before shipping to avoid additional charges or rejection.
Mini removal: A mini removal is a shipping service that groups several parcels, such as suitcases or boxes, to carry out small-volume personal relocations. This type of service is common for temporary relocations, work or study stays, or international moves, and allows personal belongings to be transported without the need to hire a traditional removal service. Sinmaletas offers a specific service for both domestic and international mini moves. Bulky items such as office chairs, filing cabinets, large household appliances, sofas and beds, among others, are excluded.

Origin / destination: Collection and delivery addresses used in the online calculator to quote shipment prices and rates based on the country or region.

Package: A manageable shipping unit such as a suitcase, box or parcel. These must comply with the established weight and size limits, with a maximum of 30 kg per package. To check the permitted weights and dimensions for shipments, please use our shipping calculator by entering the origin and destination of the shipment.
Packaging: Process of preparing the parcel using protective materials to ensure its protection and safety during transit.
Packing tape: Material used to seal boxes and secure labels during the packaging of parcels, ensuring the integrity of the luggage throughout the logistics transit.
Proforma invoice: A commercial document that declares the value and contents of the shipment for the destination country’s customs authorities.
Prohibited / restricted items: Items that cannot be shipped for legal or safety reasons, or that require special permits for transport, such as dangerous goods regulated under ADR, IMDG or IATA regulations. Sinmaletas always recommends checking in case of doubt about whether these items can be included in a shipment. Consult the list of restricted items for shipping.

Relocations: Relocations is a service for international moves for work or personal reasons.

Shipping for companies: Service tailored to corporate logistics needs, such as group transfers for trade fairs, conferences, work relocations, etc.
Shipping label: Label with sender and recipient details attached to each parcel.
Special pickups (or time-specific deliveries): Services with specific time slots or particular requirements. Please contact our customer support team for more information.
Standard shipping: Regular service with predefined delivery times and conditions.

Time slot: Time interval for scheduling collections or deliveries.
Tracking number: Unique code assigned to each shipment allowing customers to track the status and location of the parcel on the website through the “Track your shipment” feature.

Logistics glossary: shipping, courier and transport definitions

Logistics glossary:
shipping, courier and transport definitions