Cloff is a traditional commercial weight allowance granted to buyers of bulk cargo to cover minor losses during transit, such as dust, spillage, or scale inaccuracies. It was calculated after subtracting the weight of the packaging and any other standard deductions. While the specific mathematical formula is historic, the term survives in some general cargo trades to describe small, customary weight write-offs.
Heard on the job
The receiver is claiming a customary cloff on the grain shipment due to handling losses at the terminal.