GLOSSARY
Review our glossary of trucking terms
Bobtail: Truck in transit without trailer attached.
BOL: Bill of lading. Legal document provided by shipper displaying where the freight originates from, where it is delivering to, amount of product, commodity, weight and billing party.
Cartage Company: Company that provides local (within a town, city, or municipality
Consignee: AKA receiver. Destination/delivery location.
Container: Standard-sized rectangular box used to transport freight by ship, rail and highway.
Day Cab: Tractor without an area for driver to sleep. Cannot be used for any overnight trips.
Deadhead: Miles traveled by driver to pickup or reach ultimate destination with an empty trailer. Also called empty miles.
Delivered: Freight has been delivered to destination.
Detention: Delay time getting loaded or unloaded. Detention begins 2 hours after driver’s arrival to shipper or consignee.
Doubles (Twins, Twin Trailers): Combination of a tractor and two semitrailers connected in tandem by a converter dolly.
DOT: Department of Transportation.
Driver Assist: Physical assistance required by driver loading or unloading.
Equipment Type: Refers to type of trailer needed for a load. Can also refer to type of tractor required ie: day cab or sleeper.
Exclusive Use: Our freight must be the only product loaded on to carrier’s trailer. Carrier cannot load any other freight from another source on to their trailer.
FMCSA: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Hazmat: Hazardous materials, as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Transport of hazardous materials is strictly regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
HOS: Hours of service. Department of Transportation has established regulations relating to the amount of hours a driver can be on the road.
Intermodal Transportation: The transportation movement involving more than one mode (e.g., rail/motor, motor/air, rail/water).
In Transit: A load has picked up from shipping location and is en route to consignee.
Layover: Driver delayed overnight by shipper or consignee after arriving on time.
Loaded: Trailer is loaded at shipping location.
Load Locks: AKA load bars. Extendable or retractable bars used to hold product in place on trailer.
Lumper: Unloading service that requires payment for services rendered.
Mode: Type of service offered by a carrier. (ie. truckload, partial, intermodal)
NOA: Notice of assignment.
OS&D: Over, short or damaged freight.
Origin: Location where freight is being picked up.
Partial: Load that requires less than full trailer length.
Wooden Pallet: Reusable wooden objects that product is loaded onto. Typically made from 2×4’s. Product is loaded directly on to the pallet as a means to safely load onto or unload off trailers. A standard pallet is 48″ x 40″; however they come in a wide variety of sizes.
POD: Proof of delivery. This is proof from carrier that a load has been delivered. A verbal POD may be requested (person who signed for the load); however hard copy proof (signed BOL) is always required for carrier to receive payment on a load.
Reefer: Refrigerated trailer with insulated walls, and a self-powered refrigeration unit. Most commonly used for transporting food.
Shipper: Company where freight is being picked up.
Sleeper: Portion of tractor designated for driver to sleep.
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure.
Stop Off: Any additional locations between origin pickup and final destination
Straight Truck: Vehicle which carries cargo in a body mounted to its chassis, rather than on a trailer towed by a vehicle.
Tarp: Material used to cover freight on an open trailer such as flatbed or step deck.
TONU: Truck ordered, not used. This means a driver arrived at pickup location then the load was cancelled.
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