| ABS |
Anti-lock Braking System, a safety system that prevents the wheels from locking up during braking.
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| Accessorial Charges |
Charges assessed by a carrier for services provided in addition to basic transportation, such as extra pickups, loading, and unloading.
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| Air-ride |
Trailers built to reduce road shock and designed to carry fragile items; the suspension system supports the load on air-filled rubber bags rather than steel springs.
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| Appointment Number |
A unique identifier assigned to schedule pickup or delivery at a specific time and location.
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| Axle Load |
The amount of weight carried by one axle of a truck.
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| Backhaul |
A return trip made by a truck after delivering a load, often with a new load of goods.
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| Bill of Lading |
A legal document between a shipper and carrier detailing the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being shipped.
Check out our bill of lading generator
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| Bill to Party |
The entity responsible for paying freight charges.
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| Blind Shipment |
A shipment where the consignee and shipper are unaware of each other’s identity.
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| Bobtail |
A tractor unit operating without a trailer attached.
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| Break-bulk |
The separation of a load into smaller shipments for delivery to ultimate consignees.
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| Broker |
A person or company that arranges transportation of goods but does not operate the vehicles. Freight SideKick is a broker agent.
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| CB Radio |
Citizens Band Radio, a system used by truckers to communicate with each other on the road.
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| Cargo Insurance |
Insurance that covers loss or damage to goods during transit.
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| Carrier |
A company that transports goods via truck.
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| Chassis |
The framework of a truck, including the axles, engine, transmission, and body.
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| Commercial Zone |
The area surrounding a city or town to which rates quoted for that city or town also apply.
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| Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) |
A program by FMCSA to improve safety compliance and reduce accidents in the trucking industry.
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| Consignee |
The person or company to whom the goods are being delivered.
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| Crossdocking |
A logistics practice where products from a supplier or manufacturing facility are distributed directly to a customer or retail chain with marginal to no storage time.
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| Cubic Capacity |
The total volume of a truck’s cargo space, measured in cubic feet or meters.
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| DOT |
Department of Transportation, the U.S. federal agency responsible for the safe and efficient transportation of goods and passengers.
Check out our state DOT regulations pages
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| DVIR |
Driver Vehicle Inspection Report, a mandatory document that must be completed by commercial drivers to report vehicle defects and verify repairs.
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| Deadhead |
Driving a truck without a trailer or load, usually to pick up a new load.
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| Detention Time |
The time a driver spends waiting at a shipper or consignee beyond the scheduled appointment time.
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| Dispatcher |
A person who schedules and routes trucks for delivery and pickup, coordinating between the carrier and driver.
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| Dock Plate |
A metal plate used to bridge the gap between a loading dock and a truck for safe loading and unloading.
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| Drop and Hook |
A situation where a driver drops off a trailer at a location and picks up another loaded trailer to continue the trip.
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| Dry Van |
A standard, non-refrigerated trailer used to transport goods that do not require temperature control.
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| EDI |
Electronic Data Interchange, the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format between business partners.
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| ELD |
Electronic Logging Device, or EOBR (Electronic On-Board Recorder), a device that records a driver’s hours of service.
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| Earnings Per Mile (EPM) |
A metric used by drivers and carriers to measure profitability, calculated by dividing earnings by the number of miles driven.
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| Expedited Freight |
A shipment that requires faster delivery than standard transit times.
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| FHWA |
Federal Highway Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation.
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| FMCSA |
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates the trucking industry.
Check out our FMCSA Carrier Search
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| FTL |
Full Truckload, a shipment that fills an entire truck.
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| Flatbed |
A type of truck trailer with an open, flat platform used to transport oversized or irregularly shaped goods.
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| Force Majeure |
A common freight contract clause that frees both parties from liability when extraordinary events prevent either party from fulfilling their obligations.
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| Freight Bill |
An invoice for the transportation charges of a shipment.
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| Freight Class |
A classification system for shipped goods, based on density, stowability, handling, and liability.
Check out our freight class tool
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| Freight Forwarder |
A company that arranges the transportation of goods on behalf of the shipper, often coordinating multiple modes of transportation.
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| Freight Quote |
An estimated price provided by a carrier or freight broker for transporting goods from one location to another. The quote typically includes factors like distance, weight, type of freight, and any additional services required (e.g., expedited shipping, special handling).
Click here to get a freight quote
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| Fuel Surcharge |
An additional charge to cover the fluctuating costs of fuel.
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| GVWR |
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the maximum allowable total weight of a vehicle when fully loaded.
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| Gross Weight |
The total weight of the truck, trailer, and cargo.
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| HOS |
Hours of Service, regulations governing the working hours of truck drivers.
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| HOS Violation |
A breach of Hours of Service regulations, which can result in fines and penalties.
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| Hazmat |
Hazardous materials that require special handling and documentation.
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| Hot Shot |
A small truck and trailer combo used to deliver time-sensitive loads.
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| Hours of Service (HOS) |
Regulations that dictate the maximum amount of time a truck driver can be on duty.
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| IFTA |
International Fuel Tax Agreement, a tax collection agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces for fuel usage by motor carriers.
Check out our affiliate permit service
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| Incentive Rate |
Rate designed to encourage shippers to ship heavier volumes per shipment.
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| Intermodal |
The use of more than one mode of transportation to move goods, such as combining truck and rail transport.
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| Jake Brake |
An engine compression release brake that slows the vehicle by releasing compressed air from the cylinders.
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| Joint Rate |
Rate over a route that involves two or more carriers transporting the shipment.
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| Kingpin |
The main pivot in the coupling mechanism between the tractor and the trailer.
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| LTL |
Less Than Truckload, a shipment that does not fill an entire truck and is combined with other shipments.
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| Layover |
A period when a driver is waiting for a new load or for the delivery time.
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| Linehaul |
The transport of goods over long distances, typically between cities.
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| Log Book |
A record kept by drivers that details their hours of service and duty status.
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| Logistics |
The planning, implementation, and control of the movement and storage of goods, services, or information within a supply chain.
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| Lumper Fee |
A charge for hiring third-party loading or unloading services at a warehouse or dock.
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| Manifest |
A document listing all the cargo on board a truck, including descriptions and quantities.
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| Mileage Rate |
The rate charged for transporting goods, typically expressed in dollars per mile.
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| No Touch Freight |
Freight that the driver does not have to load or unload.
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| OS&D |
Over, Short, and Damaged - a report documenting discrepancies in freight deliveries including overages, shortages, or damages.
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| Oversize Load |
A load that exceeds the standard legal size and requires special permits.
Check out our permit service
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| Overweight |
A load that exceeds the legal weight limits set by federal or state regulations.
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| P&D |
Pick-up and Delivery, the process of collecting goods from a shipper and delivering them to a consignee.
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| PRO Number |
Progressive Rotating Order number, a unique tracking number assigned to shipments by carriers.
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| Pallet Jack |
A manual or electric device used to move pallets within a truck or warehouse.
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| Payload |
The weight of the cargo being transported by a truck.
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| Peddle Run |
Truck route with frequent delivery stops.
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| Permits |
Special authorizations required for transporting certain types of freight, such as oversize loads.
Check out our permit service
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| Placard |
A sign displayed on a truck indicating the type of hazardous materials being transported.
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| Pre-trip Inspection |
A thorough inspection of the truck and trailer before starting a trip to ensure everything is in working order.
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| Proof of Delivery (POD) |
A document signed by the consignee to confirm receipt of the goods.
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| Pup Trailer |
Short semi trailer, usually 26-32 feet long, with a single axle; often used as doubles or triples.
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| Ragtop |
Box-like trailer open at the top, on which a large canvas is spread to protect cargo from the elements; primarily used for large, bulky bales or boxes, loose materials, and sometimes for nursery stock shipments.
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| Reefer |
A refrigerated trailer used to transport perishable goods.
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| Retarder |
A device used to supplement the truck’s braking system, helping to slow down the vehicle without relying solely on the service brakes.
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| Route Optimization |
The process of determining the most efficient route for a truck to take, considering factors like distance, fuel consumption, and delivery times.
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| Scale House |
A location where trucks are weighed to ensure they meet legal weight requirements.
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| Seal |
A tamper-evident device used to secure the doors of a trailer, ensuring that the contents are not accessed during transit.
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| Shag Driver |
A driver who moves trailers around a yard or terminal, similar to a Yard Jockey.
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| Shipper |
The person or company that sends goods to the consignee.
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| Short-haul Discrimination |
Charging more for a shorter haul than a longer haul over the same route, in the same direction, and for the same commodity; this is an accepted industry practice since certain fixed costs apply no matter how long the trip is.
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| Side Kit |
A removable framework and tarp system used on flatbed trailers to protect cargo from the elements.
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| Sleeper Berth |
The sleeping compartment of a truck, located behind the cab.
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| Spot Market |
A market where freight is booked for immediate or near-term transport, often with fluctuating rates based on supply and demand.
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| Straight Truck |
A truck where the cab and cargo area are built on the same chassis, typically used for local deliveries.
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| TMS |
Transportation Management System, software designed to manage and optimize transportation operations.
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| Tandem Axle |
A set of two axles placed close together to increase the weight capacity of the vehicle.
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| Tare Weight |
The weight of the empty truck and trailer without any cargo.
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| Tarping |
The process of covering a load on a flatbed trailer with tarps to protect it from weather and road debris.
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| Team Drivers |
Two drivers who share the driving responsibilities on a long-haul trip, allowing the truck to operate continuously without extended breaks.
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| Terminal |
A facility where trucks are loaded, unloaded, and stored, often serving as a hub for regional or national operations.
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| Ton Mile Taxes |
Taxes based on the weight (tonnage) of the shipment and the number of miles it travels (tax per ton, per mile).
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| Trailer |
A non-motorized vehicle that is pulled by a tractor and used to transport goods.
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| Transloading |
The process of transferring cargo from one mode of transportation to another, such as from a truck to a railcar.
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| Trip Sheet |
A record that details the driver’s route, stops, and mileage for a trip.
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| Trucking Authority |
A license that allows a carrier to operate legally on U.S. roads and transport goods for hire.
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| Twic Card |
Transportation Worker Identification Credential, a security card required for workers who need unescorted access to secure areas of ports and vessels.
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| Under-Ride Guard |
A safety device mounted on the rear of a trailer to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath in a collision.
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| VIN |
Vehicle Identification Number, a unique code used to identify individual motor vehicles.
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| WMS |
Warehouse Management System, software used to control and manage warehouse operations.
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| Waybill |
A document issued by a carrier that details the route, conditions, and charges for transporting goods.
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| Weigh Station |
A checkpoint along a highway where trucks are required to stop and be weighed.
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| Yard Jockey |
A driver who moves trailers within a truck yard or terminal.
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| Yield Management |
A strategy used by carriers to optimize pricing and capacity utilization based on demand and market conditions.
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