Freight Glossary
Booking – Meaning & Examples
A reservation for cargo space on a vessel, aircraft, or truck. Meaning and examples of Booking in freight and logistics.
- Related terms
- cargo booking, shipment booking, freight booking
A reservation for cargo space on a vessel, aircraft, or truck.
A booking is a reservation to transport cargo on a specific vessel, flight, or transport service. Bookings specify the shipper, cargo details, origin, destination, and dates. For ocean freight, booking confirmation provides vessel name, voyage number, and container pickup instructions. Bookings may be subject to space allocation and can be cancelled with penalties. Booking cut-off times determine when bookings must be confirmed before vessel departure.
Booking examples
- The forwarder confirms booking for 2×40' HC on Maersk vessel sailing November 15th.
How Booking is used in freight operations
Booking appears in quotations, bookings, shipping documents, and tracking updates. Confirm how it applies to your shipment with your carrier, forwarder, or customs representative, because practice can differ by country and contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Booking?
A reservation for cargo space on a vessel, aircraft, or truck.
What is an example of Booking?
The forwarder confirms booking for 2×40' HC on Maersk vessel sailing November 15th.