A-Z Glossary
Trucking glossary
Use the search box or jump by letter. Abbreviations and CB slang are included here, with separate indexes when you want a narrower view.
A
Accessorial Charge An extra charge for services beyond the basic linehaul move. Air Lines The service and emergency air hoses connecting tractor and trailer brakes. Air Ride A suspension system using air bags to help cushion freight and improve ride quality. All-In Rate A freight price that includes the agreed linehaul and expected charges unless exceptions are written separately. Alligator A piece of tire tread on the road. Appointment Freight Freight that requires scheduled pickup or delivery appointments rather than open shipping hours.
B
Back Door Traffic or conditions behind a driver or convoy. Backhaul A return or follow-up load that helps move a truck back toward a desired market. Bear CB slang for a police officer or highway patrol officer. Bear in the Air CB slang for aircraft-based speed enforcement or observation. Billable Miles Miles used for payment or customer billing, which may differ from actual miles driven. BOL Bill of lading, the key shipping document that describes the freight and shipment details. Brake Check A sudden slowdown or traffic condition that requires braking. Break-Even Rate The minimum rate needed to cover the truck operation cost for a load or mile. Breaker Breaker A radio call used to ask for the channel or start a CB conversation. Broker Packet The carrier information package a broker requests before tendering freight. Bulkhead A front barrier or wall used to help protect freight or separate cargo.
C
Carrier The trucking company or motor carrier legally responsible for hauling the freight. Carrier Packet A carrier setup packet containing authority, insurance, tax, payment, and contact details. Cash Price A posted price for cash or cash-equivalent purchases, which may differ from credit pricing. Chains and Binders Load securement equipment used to hold heavy freight on open-deck trailers. Chicken Coop CB slang for a weigh station. City Kitty CB slang for local police. Come Back A request for someone to respond on the radio. Company Driver A driver who operates company equipment as an employee or assigned driver rather than owning the truck. Consignee The party named to receive freight at delivery. Contract Rate A freight rate agreed for a longer period or recurring lane instead of one load at a time. Copy That A short reply meaning the message was heard and understood. County Mountie CB slang for a county law enforcement officer. CPM Cost per mile, a way to measure how much it costs to run the truck for each mile. Cross-Docking Moving freight from one inbound trailer or dock area to an outbound trailer with little or no storage time.
D
Day Cab A tractor without a sleeper compartment, often used for local or regional work. Deadhead Driving a truck without paying freight on board. Deadhead Miles Miles driven without a paying load on the truck. Dedicated Lane A recurring freight lane assigned to a carrier or truck on a planned basis. DEF Diesel exhaust fluid, a fluid used in many modern diesel emissions systems. Delivery Appointment A scheduled time for a receiver to take delivery of a load. Detention Compensation requested when a truck is held too long at pickup or delivery after free time expires. Dispatcher A person or service that helps assign loads, communicate details, and keep trucks moving. Double Nickel A CB phrase for 55 miles per hour. DPF Diesel particulate filter, an emissions component that captures soot from diesel exhaust. Dragon Wagon CB slang for a tow truck. Drayage A short truck move connected to ports, rail ramps, or containers. Drive Axle An axle powered by the drivetrain to move the tractor. Driver Assist A load requirement where the driver helps with loading, unloading, pallet jacks, or count checks. Drop and Hook A trailer exchange where the driver drops one trailer and hooks to another instead of waiting through live loading. Drop Trailer A trailer left at a shipper or receiver to be loaded, unloaded, or picked up later. Dry Van An enclosed non-refrigerated trailer used for many general freight loads.
E
E-Track A rail system inside some trailers for attaching straps and securement devices. Empty Miles Miles driven without freight, often used interchangeably with deadhead miles. ETA Estimated time of arrival, the projected arrival time at pickup or delivery. ETD Estimated time of departure, the projected departure time from a location.
F
Fifth Wheel The coupling plate on a tractor that connects to a trailer kingpin. Fixed Cost A cost that tends to stay due whether the truck runs many miles or sits, such as insurance or a truck payment. Flatbed An open-deck trailer used for freight that may be loaded from the top or sides. Four-Wheeler A passenger car or light vehicle. Freight Broker A licensed intermediary that arranges freight between shippers and motor carriers. Freight Class An LTL rating category tied to shipment characteristics such as density and handling. Front Door Traffic or conditions ahead of a driver or convoy. FTL Full truckload, freight that uses or is priced as a full trailer. Fuel Island The fueling area at a truck stop where commercial trucks buy diesel, DEF, and related products. Fuel Surcharge A charge meant to offset fuel cost changes, usually shown separately or built into the rate. Full Grown Bear CB slang for a state trooper or higher-profile patrol officer. Full Truckload A shipment that uses a full trailer or is priced as a full trailer move.
G
GAWR Gross axle weight rating, the maximum weight rating for a specific axle. GCWR Gross combined weight rating, the maximum rating for the power unit and trailer combination. Glad Hands Air-line connectors that link the tractor’s air system to the trailer. Granny Lane The right or slower lane on a highway. Gross Revenue Total money earned before expenses are subtracted. GVWR Gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight rating for a vehicle.
H
I
K
L
Landing Gear The retractable trailer legs that support a trailer when it is not connected to a tractor. Lane A regular origin-and-destination pair, such as Dallas to Atlanta. Layover Pay for a driver or truck delayed overnight or for a substantial period because the load cannot move as planned. Less Than Truckload Freight that shares trailer space with other shipments and moves through an LTL network. Liftgate A platform lift on a truck or trailer used to raise or lower freight at locations without a dock. Linehaul The base charge for moving freight between origin and destination, before many extra fees. Live Load A pickup where the driver waits while freight is loaded onto the trailer. Live Unload A delivery where the driver waits while the receiver unloads the trailer. Load Bar An adjustable bar used inside trailers to help keep freight from shifting. Load Board A marketplace where brokers, shippers, and carriers post available freight or truck capacity. Load Tender A formal offer or assignment of a load with the shipment details and requirements. Loaded Miles Miles driven while hauling the paying load. Long Haul Freight that moves over a long distance and usually requires one or more overnight periods. Lowboy A very low deck trailer used for tall or heavy equipment loads. LTL Less than truckload, freight that shares trailer space with other shipments. Lumper Fee A fee paid to a third-party unloading service, often at grocery or warehouse receivers.
N
O
P
Pallet Exchange A requirement to swap equal pallets at pickup or delivery rather than leave pallets behind. Parking Lot A traffic jam or stopped highway. Partial Truckload Freight that uses part of a trailer but is usually larger than standard LTL freight. Pickup Window A time range when the truck is allowed or expected to arrive for pickup. Plain Wrapper An unmarked police vehicle. POD Proof of delivery, the signed or recorded evidence that freight was delivered. Power Only A trucking move where the carrier provides the tractor and hauls someone else’s trailer. Practical Miles Route miles based on reasonable truck routing rather than straight-line distance. PTO Power take-off, a system that transfers engine power to auxiliary equipment. Pump Price The posted retail price shown at the fuel island before any account discount.
R
Rate Confirmation A broker or shipper document that confirms the agreed rate, pickup and delivery details, and load requirements. Rate Per Mile The freight rate divided by miles, used to compare load revenue against the distance moved. Reefer A refrigerated trailer used for temperature-controlled freight. Reefer Fuel Diesel used by a refrigerated trailer unit rather than the tractor engine. Reefer Unit The refrigeration system mounted on a reefer trailer. Rolling Roadblock Slow moving traffic across multiple lanes. RPM Revenue per mile, a way to compare how much money a truck earns per mile.
S
Shipper The party that sends freight from the pickup location. Short Haul Freight that moves a relatively short distance, often within a region or same day market. Sleeper Cab A tractor cab with a sleeping compartment behind the driver seats. Smokey Another CB term for law enforcement, especially highway patrol. Solo Driver One driver assigned to a truck, with trip planning limited by that driver’s available hours. Spot Rate A one-time freight price based on current market conditions. Steer Axle The front axle that supports the cab area and steers the tractor. Step Deck An open-deck trailer with a lower main deck for taller freight.
T
Tandem Axle Two axles grouped close together to support weight on a tractor or trailer. Tarp A heavy cover used to protect flatbed freight from weather and road debris. Team Driving A setup where two drivers operate one truck so freight can keep moving with shorter stops. TL Truckload, a freight move using a full trailer or priced like one. TMS Transportation management system, software used to manage freight moves and records. TONU Truck ordered not used, a charge requested when a truck is booked but the load is canceled after dispatch. Tractor The powered truck unit that pulls a semi-trailer. Trailer The unpowered freight-carrying unit pulled by a tractor. Transloading Moving freight from one mode or trailer type into another during the shipment journey.