Welcome back to Business English Pod for the first lesson in our new series on English for logistics. In this lesson, we’re going to focus on discussing modes of transport and shipping options.

In international business, products rarely stay in one place for long. They move between suppliers, warehouses, ports, and customers across different countries and time zones. To manage all this successfully, we need to learn the language of logistics.

Discussing logistics effectively starts with understanding and using key logistics vocabulary. This includes terms related to shipping schedules, transport arrangements, documentation, and responsibilities. If we’re comfortable with the language, we can discuss plans clearly and confidently in real business situations.

For starters, there are several basic logistics terms that everyone should know. From there, you can talk about different transport modes and incoterms, which define responsibilities of different players in the movement of goods. And as we plan and negotiate, it’s useful to be able to state your priorities.

In today’s dialog, we’ll join a conversation between Cam and Anna. Cam is a production manager with Boston Vintage, an American clothing company with manufacturing in eastern Europe. Anna is a logistics manager with Global Freight Express. Anna has been hired to help Boston Vintage with its complex logistics needs.

Listening Questions

1. What are the different “modes” of transport that Cam and Anna discuss?
2. In deciding on how to move products from Europe to the US, what is Cam’s priority consideration?
3. What abbreviations are used to talk about the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in shipping?

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