Fork-lift truck (FLT)

1) Mechanical handling equipment with forks to lift and carry pallets. Used for stacking, etc in warehouses and for vehicle loading/unloading. Mainly electrically powered (by rechargeable battery) for warehouse operations but often gas or diesel powered for external operations.

Forecast demand

1) The prediction, projection or estimation of expected demand over a specified future time period. (Source: ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

FOR

1) Free on rail. Term used in quoting for the transport of goods (ie price includes free delivery onto rail system).

Fodex

1) Remote vehicle information retrieval system from Foden Trucks which removes the need for periodic downloading of diagnostic information with a laptop computer every time the truck returns home.

FOC

1) Flag of convenience. Shipping practice where vessels are registered in states such as Liberia and Panama where taxes and duties are lower than in the ship owner’s home state and where standards of safety and hygiene, for example, are not so strict.

FO

1) Free overside. Term used in quoting for shipping movements (ie price includes discharging from ship).