Guide
How does a purchaser pay for transportation in a Foreign Military Sale?
It depends on who moves the materiel and what the materiel is. When the moves it, the purchaser usually pays a percentage of the line value set by the , charged below the line on the , or a separate case line for dedicated or special transportation. Stock from the Defense Working Capital Fund carries its first leg inside the item's price, and a contractor may deliver at a price that includes transportation. When the purchaser moves the materiel itself, it pays its own carrier or . A code with no percentage does not mean free transportation.
Transportation on an FMS case is paid in one of five ways: inside a Working Capital Fund item's price, on its own LOA line, as a Delivery Term Code percentage or an estimate of actual cost below the line, or directly to the purchaser's own carrier. Where the rate table shows zero, the cost has moved to one of the others. The rates are in SAMM Table C9.T4A.
How does a purchaser pay for transportation in a Foreign Military Sale?
When customers use the , a percentage is applied to the line to compute an estimated amount for these costs on the . percentages are based on the transportation provided (e.g., port-to-port or depot-to-in-country destination) and the rate area where articles are being delivered. may also be billed as an above-the-line charge where an estimated amount is placed above-the-line to pay for transportation services. The price of Working Capital Funded () materiel (e.g., most -managed secondary and consumable items) includes the cost of transportation to the purchaser’s or to the . The transportation document is a commercial or government bill of lading (/GBL). Collect commercial bills of lading (CCBLs) are occasionally used for non- items shipped to the . The 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation () Volume 15, Chapter 7, states that, when transportation of materiel is accomplished through the use of /GBLs, normal commercial rates, not U.S. Government () rates, shall be used. The purchaser remains responsible for onward transportation.
The case transportation charges document the estimated cost to the of transporting and materiel using the including Government Bills of Lading (GBLs). Those case transportation costs include costs for labor, materiel, or services at ports of embarkation or debarkation. standard pricing includes transportation costs (for the first leg of transportation) within . If the first destination transportation is accomplished through GBLs, it must contain the funds cite. Shipping activities must clearly identify materiel as or non- to ensure the appropriate fund cite is issued for inland transportation.
If a case line item’s vendor/contractor is providing transportation services per the contract, the transportation costs may be included in the applicable case line item’s unit and total price.
The purchasing country must also determine its financial arrangements with the , particularly in the payment of freight bills and the provision of funds for the to pay CCBLs.
References
SAMM
- SAMM C7.1.1
- SAMM C7.12.1 — Defense Transportation System Costs.
- SAMM C9.T4A — Table of Delivery Term Codes and Percentage
- SAMM C9.4.9.1.5 — Transportation.
- SAMM C7.12.2.1 — Commercial Bill of Lading.
- SAMM C7.12.2.2 — Pre-Paid Arrangements.
- SAMM C9.T4 — Table of Charges
- SAMM C15.3.11.2 — Transportation Charges.
Related
Defense Transportation System (DTS)
The portion of the worldwide transportation infrastructure that supports DoD transportation needs in peace and war. DTS consists of two major elements: military and commercial resources. These resources include aircraft, assets, services, and systems organic to, contracted for, or controlled by the DoD. DoD's infrastructure, including ports, airlift, sealift, railway, highway, in-transit visibility, information management systems, customs, and traffic management that the DoD maintains and exercises in peacetime, is a vital element of the DoD's capability to project power worldwide. It provides for responsive force projection and a seamless transition between peacetime and wartime operations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Delivery Term Code (DTC)
A single character code that represents how far the USG is responsible for arranging transportation of defense articles going to an international customer.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA)
The legal instrument used by the USG to transfer itemized defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services to foreign partners.
When used under the authorities provided in the Arms Export Control Act for Foreign Military Sales, the LOA is a binding agreement signed by the USG and the foreign partner to transfer such articles and services.
When used under Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) authorities, the BPC LOA is not signed by the Benefitting Partner.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Freight Forwarder
A commercial import/export company registered with the Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and under contract to the Foreign Military Sales customer which arranges transportation of materiel from a point specified in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance to the final destination.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Continental United States (CONUS)
U.S. territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within the North American continent between Canada and Mexico. Does not include Hawaii or Alaska.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Security Cooperation
Activities undertaken by the DoD to encourage and enable international partners to work with the United States to achieve strategic objectives. It includes all DoD interactions with foreign defense and security establishments, including all DoD-administered security assistance programs, that: build defense and security relationships that promote specific U.S. security interests, including all international armaments cooperation activities and security assistance activities; develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations; and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access to host nations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Building Partner Capacity (BPC) Programs
Security cooperation and security assistance activities funded with USG appropriations (not including Foreign Military Sales Credit and Military Assistance Program/Merger).
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DTS — Defense Transportation System
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DTC — Delivery Term Code
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
CONUS — Continental United States
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
POE — Port of Embarkation
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Trust Fund
A single account that is authorized to be credited with receipts that may be obligated and expended in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Trust Fund receipts must be apportioned prior to obligation and expenditure; however, an official, designated under 31 U.S.C. 1513 (as per 31 U.S.C. 1516), may exempt trust funds from apportionment. The FMS Trust Fund is managed as a single cash entity, regardless of the source of the deposits. All FMS Trust Fund deposits are accounted for at purchaser and FMS case level by source of financing. Examples of funds include Foreign Military Financing (FMF) (FMS Credit and FMS Credit (nonrepayable)) and the Military Assistance Program (MAP) Merger. Examples of other types of funds are a purchaser's national funds, which include third-party funds, and other DoD appropriated funds.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Cost Clearing Account
An account used when standard rates are employed. The actual expenses are debited to the cost clearing account and the amounts billed to customers are credited to the account. At the end of the fiscal year, the account is closed with analysis performed to determine if rates require adjustment.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Special Assignment Airlift Mission (SAAM)
A dedicated U.S. military aircraft, chartered to deliver sensitive, classified or explosive defense articles to a specific customer location when no commercial delivery capability exists.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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SAAM — Special Assignment Airlift Mission
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Service Contract
A contract that calls directly for a contractor's time and effort rather than for a physical end product.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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SAMM — Security Assistance Management Manual
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) →
Accessorial Cost
The costs of Packing, Crating, and Handling, and transportation which are incidental to issues, sales, and transfers of materiel and are not included in the standard price or contract cost of materiel. An exception to this is Working Capital Fund items.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Implementing Agency (IA)
The military department or defense agency responsible for the execution of military assistance programs. With respect to FMS, the military department or defense agency assigned responsibility by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to prepare an LOA and to implement an FMS case. The implementing agency is responsible for the overall management of the actions that will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA that was accepted by a foreign country or international organization.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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DSAMS — Defense Security Assistance Management System
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Assistance Management Systems (DSAMS) →
Notice of Availability (NOA)
The method by which the U.S. shipping installation will provide advance notification to the designated Foreign Military Sales (FMS) country representative or freight forwarder that the materiel is ready for shipment and, where appropriate, that the shipment requires an export release.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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