T&M — An abbreviation of a form of billing through labor costs (time) and materials.

TL — Truckload.

TLO — Total Loss Only.

TSEA — See TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION.

Table Skirt ––- Any fabric used to skirt a display table.

Table Top Display — Exhibit designed for use on top of a table.

Talent — Outside personnel stationed in a trade show exhibit to demonstrate a product, provide attraction to booth or greet visitors. Includes magicians and similar attractions. See MODELS, PRESENTERS.

Tape Blip — An audible impulse that activates an electric mechanism.

Tapered Edge — Any material that is reduced in thickness at its outer edge.

Tapping — Technique of threading hole in metal to receive machine screw.

Tare Weight — The weight of a container and/or packing materials without the weight of the goods it contains. Compare GROSS WEIGHT.

Target Date — A date set by show management and/or general service contractor for the arrival of freight at a trade show. Usually shipments received before or after this date are assessed a penalty charge.

Tariff — Rules and rates of a specific carrier.

Teardown — Dismantle.

Telescopic Pipe — Drape support where one section slides inside another for use at various lengths.

Tempered Pressed Wood — A hardwood product generally used in backwall paneling.

Template — Pattern or guide for various repetitive shop functions.

Temporary Import –– Exhibition material whose temporary import status exempts payment of duties and taxes on arrival.

Temporary Import Bond – The surety covering articles imported into a country on a temporary basis. This is generally done in lieu of paying import duties and/or taxes. The fee for the bond is non-refundable in most cases.

Terminal —The carrier’s facility for transferring freight

Theatrical Case — A telescoping fiber case with canvas straps.

Thin Wall Conduit — Lightweight electrical conduit.

Three Dimensional (3-D) — A flat image having the effect of three dimensions.

Three Wire — Term describing electrical cable with one continuous ground wire in addition to one positive and one negative wire.

Through Bill of Lading — A single bill of lading covering both the domestic and international carriage of an export shipment. An air waybill, for instance, is essentially a through bill of lading used for air shipments. Ocean shipments, on the other hand, usually require two separate documents—an inland bill of lading for domestic carriage and an ocean bill of lading for international carriage. Through bills of lading, therefore, cannot be used. Compare AIR WAYBILL, BILL OF LADING, INLAND BILL OF LADING, OCEAN BILL OF LADING.

Tie-Off — A method of securing shipment by use of nylon belts and block latches.

Time and Materials — A method of billing for work done. Similar to cost plus, but without any extra fee or mark up.

TIR Carnet –– Similar to an ATA Carnet, but used for trucks from non-

EC countries to EC countries or for transit between non-EC countries. Can be used for different unloading locations. Trucks must be sealed by Customs.

T-Nut –––Recessed, threaded fastening device.

Toggle Switch — A lever moved back and forth to open or close an electric circuit.

Ton — Freight rates for liner cargo generally are quoted on the basis of a certain rate per ton, depending on the nature of the commodity. This ton, however, may be a weight ton or a measurement ton. Short ton = 2000 lbs. Long ton = 2200 Lbs.

Tongue and Groove — Construction technique of assembling two wood elements, one having a protrusion, the other having a recess.

Top Hat –– A metal tube that fits in the front of a lighting fixture to reduce the spill of stray light without reshaping the beam or creating hard edges.

Touch Up — Paints accompanying an exhibit, in the necessary colors, for the purpose of painting nicks and scratches.

Tow Motor — See FORKLIFT.

Tractor Trailer — Tractor is the driving unit of a large truck; trailer is the container unit.

Trade Fair — Broadly, the commonly used international term for an exposition.

Trade Out — A type of barter. For example, a show manager might do a trade out with a publishing company, giving the publisher a free booth in exchange for free advertising.

Trade Show — An exposition held for members of a common or related industry. Not open to the general public.

Trade Show Exhibitors Association — Trade association for organizations that use exhibits as a marketing, promotional or communications medium. Also designated by the acronym TSEA. Formerly known as the International Exhibitors Association (IEA).

Traffic Flow — A supposed or directed path the audience will take through an exposition or exhibit.

Tramp Steamer — A ship not operating on regular routes or schedules. Calls at any point where cargo is available.

Translite — A defused transparency, usually mounted between rigid plastic panels.

Transparency — A black and white or color translucent (see-through) photograph or artwork.

Traveler — A heavy duty traverse rod for drapery.

Trouble Box —SEE GANG BOX or JOB BOX.

Truckload — Truckload rates apply where the tariff shows a truckload minimum weight. Charges will be at the truckload minimum weight unless weight is higher.

Turnbuckle — Hardware installed between stretched cable to adjust tension.

Turnkey Exhibit — A system whereby the exhibit manager turns responsibility of the display over to an exhibit services company. In essence, the exhibitor simply "turns the key" upon arrival at the show and opens the booth.

Turntable — Electrically or manually rotating platform.

Turret Projector — General term for slide projector that stores slides in rotating cylinder, dropping or passing slides one at a time between light source and lens.

TV Monitor — A cathode ray tube (CRT) used to show a video image , also refers to LED (light emitting diode) monitors, plasma monitors, liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, and rear projection monitors.

Twinkle Lights — Flickering or intermittent lights.

Twist Lock — Type of electrical plugs that are connected by twisting them together, as opposed to standard male and female plugs.

Typeset Copy — Text whose type has been mechanically set prior to reproduction.

Tyrex Cord — A type of cord that, within proper specifications, makes an acceptable electrical cord for exhibits.