Trucking Terms
The license that is required to drive any truck with a GVWR of more than 26,000
Commerical Drivers License (CDL)
Fully enclosed shipping trailers typically measuring 53’ in length. Dry Vans are the most common type of trailer, used to transport most consumer goods and commodities.
Dry Van
A cost that factors into the overall cost of moving freight based on the US National Average Fuel Index which is published weekly.
Fuel Surcharge (FSC)
A charge applied when a truck driver has to wait to be loaded or unloaded after arriving at the pick-up or delivery site.
Detention
A receipt of freight services that serves as a record of the chain of custody for a shipment. A legally binding document providing the driver, carrier, shipper and receiver all details needed to process the freight shipment and invoice it correctly.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
A common industry term referring to the truck/semi carrying the trailer.
Tractor
A special trailer that is used to transport ocean containers over the road. These are typically used in rail yards or shipping ports.
Chassis
The collection of payment on the freight being shipped upon its arrival. Usually outlined in a shipment's BOL.
Collect on Delivery (COD)
An accessorial charge assessed when the third-party, responsible for moving the shipment, is instructed by one stakeholder to withhold sensitive information about who they are from the other. ($100-$200)
Blind Shipment Charge
A load that will get the carrier back to where they want to be, the process of getting a truck “back” from its ending point.
Back-haul
The plate located at the back of a semi which is used to attach the truck to the trailer it will be hauling.
5th Wheel
The traditional open deck trailer, free of frills and complexity. Flatbeds provide continuous open loading space typically ranging between 48 feet and 53 feet in length.
Flatbed
Trucking industry jargon regarding the pricing of a shipment on a per-mile basis.
Rate per mile (RPM)
A fee charged to the customer in charge of paying for the freight to cover all of the permits and fees associated with shipping any cargo that exceeds legal size limits. (Varies)
Over-Dimensional Cargo
Two drivers who work in tandem to haul freight for an extended distance when time is of the essence. Using a team of drivers, although more efficient, comes at a heightened price point for a shipper.
Team of Drivers
Belts made of canvas that are used to secure a load onto the deck of a trailer.
Load Straps
A special trailer that is used to transport ocean containers over the road. These are typically used in rail yards or shipping ports
Conestoga
The calculation of a shipment’s cost per mile.
Cents Per Mile (CPM)
A charge applied to every stop a driver has to make to fulfill a freight's delivery requirements. (Typically around $75-$100 per stop)
Stop Charge
A vehicle that accompanies a Heavy Haul shipment moving over the road. These cars often utilize flashing lights and signage to indicate their presence.
Pilot Cars
The number that carriers must possess to cross state lines. This number also functions as a way for the government to track carriers in their systems.
Motor Carrier Number (MC#)
An open deck trailer that is commonly used as an alternative to the flatbed trailer when the height of a load is a factor. The trailer is comprised of an upper deck and a lower to the ground rear section. The lower section provides up to an additional 19” of available loaded height, allowing taller pieces to travel within legal height restrictions.
Stepdeck/Drop deck
The rate that a transportation provider agrees to charge for a set lane over a period of time.
Contract Rates
Third-party unloading services that charge a rate that is separate from the price quoted by a carrier ($50-$500+).
Lumper
The stipulation in shipping contracts that removes a party's liability if they are unable to perform due to an unpredictable disruption (i.e., natural disaster, extreme weather, acts of terror, etc.).
Force Majeure