Glossary

Container

Sealed, reusable metal box for carrying goods by ship or rail.

Contract logistics

Involves complex logistics and logistics-related services along the value chain that are performed by a contract logistics service provider. Long-term contracts allow services to be tailored to a particular industry and customer. 

Cross-border mail (outbound)

All international mail.

Customs brokerage

Involves the clearing of goods through customs barriers for importers and exporters, which includes the preparation of documents and/or electronic submissions as well as the calculation of taxes, duties and excises on behalf of the client. 

Day Definite 

Delivery of shipments on a specified day.

DHL Solutions & Innovations

New unit that brings together the Group’s existing innovation drivers – including the DHL Innovation Centre – develops innovative solutions and promotes cross-divisional co-operation. 

Dialogue marketing

Market-orientated activities which draw on direct communications to selectively reach target groups through a personal, individualised approach and to enter into dialogue.

Distribution

Process flows in the sales channel from producers via wholesalers/retailers to consumers.

EU Postal Directive

Legal framework for the postal markets in the member states of the European Union.

Exclusive licence

In accordance with the German postal act, Deutsche Post AG had the exclusive licence until the end of 2007 to commercially transport certain items. The exclusive licence expired with effect from 1 January 2008.

Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur)

National regulator for electricity, gas, telecommunications, post and railway.

First Choice

Group-wide programme aimed at improving service quality and enhancing customer focus. 

Full Container Load (FCL)

Shipments which completely fill a container. 

Gateway

Collection centre for the consolidation of flows of goods in one direction.

Global Customer Solutions

Customer relationship management organisation for the Group’s largest and most important global clients.

Hub

Collection centre for the transhipment and consolidation of flows of goods.

Inbound-to-manufacturing

The procurement of goods and their transport from the place of origin/manufacture to the production line. 

Intermodal transport

Transport chain integrating different modes of transport, often combining road and rail.

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

International trade body for commercial air transport.

Fourth-party logistics (4PL)

Independent agent that puts together the most effective and economical complete logistics package for customers and co-ordinates the different service providers along the complete supply chain. 

Full truckload

Complete capacity of truck is utilised from sender to receiver.

Less than Container Load (LCL)

Loads that will not fill a container by themselves and are therefore consolidated for ocean transport.

Less than truckload

Shipment that is smaller than a full truckload that is consolidated with other senders and/or receivers into one load for transport.

Medical Services

Worldwide Medical Express. Express service using a modular packaging system that facilitates the delivery of temperature-sensitive goods.

Outsourcing

The subcontracting of tasks to external service providers.

Packstation

Parcel machine where parcels and small packets can be deposited and collected around the clock.

Paketbox

Postbox for franked parcels and small packets (maximum dimensions: 50 × 40 × 30 cm).

Partner outlets

Postal retail outlets operated primarily by merchants in the retail sector who offer postal services in addition to the core businesses.

Part truckload

Shipment that does not constitute a full truckload but is transported from point of departure to destination without transhipment. 

Postal act (Postgesetz)

The purpose of the German postal act, which took effect on 1 January 1998, is to promote postal competition through regulation and ensure the nationwide provision of appropriate and sufficient postal services. It includes regulations on licensing, price control and the universal service.

Postident

Identity check of the recipient using one of three preselected methods: by the retail outlet, by the mail carrier or through signatures on original documents.

Preferred periodical

A press product of which more than 30% consists of journalistic reporting.

Price-cap procedure

Procedure whereby the Federal Network Agency approves prices for certain mail products. The agency approves prices on the basis of parameters it stipulates in advance, which set the average changes in these prices within baskets of services defined by the agency.

Repair and Return

Goods are picked up from the end user at variable addresses, transported to the pre-defined repair vendor, collected after repair and returned to the end user.

Same Day

Same-day delivery of shipments.

Standard periodical

A press product of which no more than 30% consists of journalistic reporting. 

Standard letter

Letter measuring max. 235 × 125 × 5 mm and weighing up to 20 g.

Supply chain

A series of connected resources and processes from sourcing materials to delivering goods to consumers.

TEU

Twenty-foot equivalent unit. Standardised container unit measuring 20 feet in length (1 foot = approximately 30 cm).

Time Definite

Shipments in which the day or time of delivery has been specified or guaranteed.

Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA)

A forum that unites manufacturers, logistics providers, freight carriers, law enforcement authorities and other stakeholders with the common aim of reducing losses from international supply chains.