Freight tariff

A freight tariff is a carrier’s published schedule of rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices for the transport it offers. In US liner trades, 46 CFR Part 520 requires every common carrier and conference to keep its tariff open for public inspection in an automated system and to give at least 30 days between publishing a rate increase and its effective date. The tariff sets the base ocean freight by commodity or as a box rate, plus the surcharges that attach (bunker adjustment factor, terminal handling charge, peak season), and governs any move not covered by an individually negotiated service contract.