Understanding Last Free Day (LFD) sources in Terminal49

Last updated: October 9, 2026

Terminal49 helps your team reduce demurrage risk by showing the best LFD information available for each container. Depending on the container and the sources available, LFD may come from the shipping line, terminal, rail, a T49-estimated calculation, or a manual date entered by your team.

When multiple LFD sources are available, Terminal49 shows all the sources so you can understand where each date came from and make the safest operating decision. A carrier or estimated LFD may be earlier than a terminal LFD.

How to read LFD sources

Terminal49 may show LFD with a compact source label. Common source labels include:

  • S / Shipping Line — LFD provided by or calculated from shipping-line information.

  • T / Terminal — LFD provided by the terminal.

  • R / Rail — LFD provided by a rail source for inland destination workflows.

  • Est. — a Terminal49-estimated shipping-line LFD. This is not a carrier-published date.

  • Manual — a date entered by your team.

If sources differ, Terminal49 may show more than one date, for example a shipping-line LFD and a terminal LFD. Use the source labels to decide which deadline governs your workflow, and when in doubt plan to the earliest relevant date or confirm directly with the carrier, terminal, or rail provider.

Why LFD sources may differ

  • Different providers publish different deadlines. A shipping line, terminal, and rail carrier may each calculate or publish LFD differently.

  • Operational timing can differ. A carrier may calculate LFD from discharge or tariff rules while a terminal may publish after the container is in yard or available.

  • Coverage varies by provider and location. Some terminals, carriers, or rail providers do not publish LFD, or do not publish it consistently for every container.

  • Account setup matters. Some carrier data may require credentials or account-level configuration.

Where LFD appears in Terminal49

LFD can appear in container rows, shipment details, container views, and operational views that highlight containers approaching or past their LFD. The exact label and source display may vary by page.

Frequently asked questions

Do you always show all LFD sources?

No. Terminal49 shows the LFD sources that are available for that container and enabled for your account. Not every carrier, terminal, or rail provider publishes LFD for every container.

Which LFD should my team act on?

Use the source labels and your workflow to decide. For demurrage risk, teams often plan to the earliest relevant date and confirm with the provider if the difference is material.

What if I need the terminal LFD specifically?

Check whether a terminal-sourced LFD is present for that container. If it is not present, Terminal49 may still show another LFD source, such as shipping line, rail, estimated, or manual. Contact support if you expected a terminal LFD for a specific terminal.

What if I know the correct LFD?

Where supported, you can manually set the date so your team can act on the known deadline.

If you have questions about LFD for a specific carrier, terminal, rail provider, or container, the fastest way to get assistance is through our in-app chat. You can also reach us at support@terminal49.com.