A rate from a city that is not a seaport to a foreign city, via another city that is a seaport, with the steamship line or NVOCC issuing a bill of lading from the original city and taking responsibility for the cargo all the way. Example: Phoenix to Tokyo via Los Angeles.

A cargo movement in which the water carrier provides a through service between an inland point and the port of load/discharge. The carrier is responsible for cargo and costs from origin on to destination. Also known as IPI or Through Service.

A landbridge movement in which cargo originating/destined to an inland point is railed or trucked to/from the water port for a shipment to/from a foreign country.

An intermodal movement of cargo which involves a vessel leg to a port and then a movement via another transportation mode, truck or rail, to an inland point where the movement terminates. In the reverse direction, the cargo is picked up at a point inland for transport via truck or rail to a port where a vessel loads the cargo and transports it to an overseas port. The land portion of the two intermodal moves described is the "microbridge".

a system of through rates and service offered by a carrier for cargo shipments from any inland u.s. location to a port by sea, to a foreign port, and finally overland to foreign inland destination.