top of page
A
Accessorial Charge
Extra fee for services beyond standard shipping
Air-Ride
Suspension system that protects freight from bumps and vibration.
Axle Weight
Weight carried by each axle of a truck or trailer.
B
Back-haul
Return load carried after a delivery.
Bill of Lading
Legal shipping document detailing freight and shipment terms.
Bill To
Person or company responsible for a payment.
Blind Load
Shipment where parties involved are hidden from one another.
Block and Brace
Securing freight to prevent moment during transit.
Book/Match
Assigning a truck to a shipment.
Bounce
Moving a trailer or load between locations.
Brokerage License
Authorization to legally arrange freight transportation.
Bulk Freight
Loose freight shipped without packaging.
C
Cab
Driver compartment of a truck.
Cab Over
Truck design with cabinet position over the engine.
Carrier
Company or person transporting freight.
Claim
Request for compensation due to loss or damage.
Clean Bill of Lading
Delivery receipt showing freight arrived without damage.
Commodity
Product or goods being shipped.
Common Carrier
Carrier available to transport freight for the public.
ComCheck
Payment system commonly used for trucking expenses.
Consignee
Person or company receiving the shipment.
Contact Carrier
Carrier assigned to transport a load.
Cubic Dimensions
Measurement of freight volume.
Customer
Person or company purchasing transportation services.
D
Deadhead
Driving with an empty trailer.
Detention
Fee charged for excessive loading or unloading time.
Demurrage
Charge for keeping containers or railcars too long.
Dispatch
Coordinating drivers, trucks, and loads.
DOT
Department of Transportation regulating commercial transportation.
Drayage
Short-distance transport, often between ports and warehouses.
Driver Assist
When a driver helps load or unload freight.
Dunnage
Materials used to protect or secure freight.
E
En Route
Shipment currently in transit.
Exclusive Use of Truck
One shipment occupies the entire trailer.
F
Fifth Wheel
Coupling device connecting tractor and trailer.
FCFS
First Come, First Serve loading or unloading.
Flatbed
Open trailer used for oversized or irregular freight.
Full-Truckload (FTL)
Shipment using an entire trailer.
G
Gross Weight
Total weight of truck, trailer, and cargo.
H
Headhaul
Primary or outbound freight movement.
High Cube
Extra-tall shipping container or trailer.
Hopper
Trailer designed for transporting bulk materials.
I
Intermodal
Freight moved using multiple transportation methods.
Interstate
Transportation crossing state lines.
Intrastate
Transportation within a single state.
L
Layover
Driver downtime between loads or appointments.
Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)
Shipment sharing container space with others.
Liftgate
Hydraulic platform used to load or unload freight.
Line Haul
Long-distance transportation between cities or terminals.
Live Bounce
Immediate trailer swap without storing the load.
Load Locks
Bars used to secure cargo inside a trailer
Log Book
Driver record of hours and duty status.
Logistics
Planning and managing the movement of goods.
Lumper
Person hired to load or unload freight
Manifest
Document listing all freight in a shipment.
M
Mode
Type of transportation used (truck, rail, air)
N
Net Weight
Weight of cargo without packaging or equipment.
O
Owner Operator
Driver who owns and operates their truck.
P
Pallet
Platform used to stack and move freight.
Pallet Jack
Fork lift used to move pallets short distances.
Perishable Freight
Goods requiring temperature control or quick delivery.
Piggyback
Trailer transported on a railcar.
Placard
Hazard waning sign displayed on vehicles carrying dangerous goods.
Power Unit
Truck tractor used to pull trailers.
Proof of Delivery (POD)
Signed confirmation that freight was delivered.
Protective Service
Special handling to protect sensitive freight.
R
Reefer
Refrigerated trailer for temperature-controlled freight.
S
Scaling
Weighing a truck to confirm legal weight limits.
Scaling in Reverse
Reweighing after adjusting trailer or axle weight.
Seal
Security lock placed on a trailer door
Skid
Wooden platform similar to a pallet.
Sliding Fifth Wheel
Adjustable fifth wheel used to balance weight.
Sliding Tandems
Movable trailer axles used for weight distribution.
Straight Truck
Truck with cab and cargo area built together.
Straps
Tie-downs used to secure cargo.
T
Tailgate
Rear door or lift section of a trailer or truck.
Tarps
Covers used to protect freight from weather.
Tarriff
Published rates, rules, or fees for transportation services.
Terminal/Yard
Facility where trucks and trailers are stored or managed.
TONU
Truck Ordered Not Used fee for canceled loads.
Tractor
Powered truck unit that pulls a trailer.
Trailer
Non-powered unit used to transport freight.
TWIC Card
Security credential for accessing ports and secure facilities.
W
Weight Tickets
Certified documents showing vehicle weight measurements.
bottom of page