Trucking Terminology

POD

Short for Proof of Delivery

LTL

Short for,Less Than Truckload. The general freight carriers in the US offer two types of service, Full Truckload (FTL) service or Less-Than-Truckload (LTL). While the FTL carrier moves full containers or trucks of one product from one customer, the LTL carrier moves goods from many different customers on one truck.

Pup Trailer

Short semitrailer, usually between 26 and 32 feet long, with a single axle.

Landing Gear

Retracting legs which support the trailer when it's not connected to a tractor.

EDI

(Electronic Data Interchange) The business-to-business interconnection of computers for the rapid exchange of a wide variety of documents, from bills of lading to build tickets at auto plants.

Fuel Surcharge

(FSC) Additional fee for travel used to cover increase in fuel cost for the type of transportation used. Collected on a per shipment basis and usually updated monthly. http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/

GVW

(Gross Vehicle Weight) The total weight of a vehicle; the vehicle's weight, and the contents of the trailer and tractor.

Freight Broker

A company that arranges for the truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation. However, the Broker does not assume responsibility for the cargo and usually does not take possession of the cargo.

Terminal

A dock or hub where freight originates, terminates, or is handled in the transportation process; or a location where motor carriers maintain operating facilities.

Manifest

A document that describes the contents of a shipment in greater detail than a bill of lading. Commonly used as a checklist during unloading.

Check Call

A driver calling by telephone, or using GPS or email to check in with your company/dispatcher, usually once a day, early in the morning. This informs them of your progress, and any other important information a company may require to update the client.

Beyond Point

A location that is not regularly serviced by a transport company. Usually remote areas are called beyond points.

Seal

A plastic or metal band (once it's broken, it cannot be reconnected) placed on the trailer door latch. An intact seal ensures that the trailer doors have not been opened, and the cargo is untouched.

Backhaul

A return load. Many companies, often ones who haul their own product, take a load from their home location to a certain area the country, then they need to go back to the original location to pick up another similar load. Instead of returning empty, they'll find another load (the "back haul") going back to the original location.

Quad Axle

A set of axles in a group of four.

Supply Chain

A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities involve the transformation of natural resources, raw materials, and components into a finished product that is delivered to the end customer.

Hiab or Crane truck

A truck mounted crane truck for lifting or placing items when no forklift is available.

Bill of Lading

Also known as "BOL" A bill of lading is a LEGAL document between the shipper of goods and the carrier detailing the type, quantity and destination of the goods being carried. The bill of lading also serves as a receipt of shipment when the goods are delivered at the predetermined destination. Most shipments move on a BOL and should be carefully reviewed if in your possession.

Dangerous Goods

Also known as DG.. Too Dangerous,, no thanks. Usually products that are flammable or hazardous to ones health.

Pallet

Also known as a " SKID" They are used to transport most products, makes products easy to handle with a pallet jack or forklift and made of wood. Standard dimensions are 40''x48''x6'' or 48''x48''x6''. 26-30 pallets can fit in a 53' foot dry van. (In a pricing environment, 1 pallet accounts for 2 feet of trailer space)

Low Boy

An open flatbed trailer, where the main body of the trailer is very low to the ground so that it can haul oversize or wide loads; often construction equipment, or other extremely bulky or heavy loads.

Fixed Tandem

Assembly of two axles and suspension that is attached to the chassis in one place, and cannot be moved fore and aft. The picture is a tandem with a drop axle, to make it a fixed tridem if weight requires.

A.C.E.

Automated Commerical Environment. ACE is the commercial trade processing system that has been developed by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection to facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen border security requiring every carrier or truck that enters through any and all border crossings to submit an e-manifest (electronic manifest). The carrier is responsible to submit this data to customs for every shipment.

Logbook

Book carried by truck drivers in which they record their hours of service and duty status for each 24-hour period. Required in interstate commercial trucking by the U.S. Department of Transportation so they can monitor the actions of drivers.

CBSA

Canada Border Services, otherwise knows as Canada Customs

Customs Broker

Provides customs clearance on behalf of an importer so that they do not have to deal directly with customs, be present, or pay duties or taxes to customs at the time when the shipment actually crosses the border.

Canada

Canada has 35.15 million people concentrated in large and medium-sized cities, many near the southern border making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific. One third of the population lives in the three largest cities: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Its capital is Ottawa, and other major urban areas include Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hamilton.

Waiting Time

Charged when trucks are are not unloaded within the allowable time frame. 15 minutes for LTL and 2 hours for truckload.

"TEAM" Driving

Common practice in the less-than-truckload industry, in which one driver takes a truck for 8 to 10 hours, then turns the truck over to another driver, pony express style.

Over Dimensional Shipment

Commonly called "OD" for when a shipment is outside the legal limits in terms of size. "OD" shipments are usually handled by flat beds.

Cartage Company

Company that provides local (within a town, city or municipality) pick-up and delivery.

Detention

Extra driver pay for time spent waiting at a customer facility. Most companies allow 15 mins for LTL and 2 hours free for a truckload. Overages are charged to the client.

Flat Deck

Flat or open decks do not have walls or a roof and can accept freight from the sides and top. Flat decks come in a variety of combinations and lengths.

Freight Insurance

Freight insurances varies from company to company. Typical insurance liability is $2.00 per pound of shipment. Extra Valuation insurance can usually be purchased.

Common Carrier

Freight transportation company which serves the general public. May be regular route service (over designated highways on a regular basis) or irregular route (between various points on an unscheduled basis). Usually charges by " Class" Any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare of charge is paid; travels according to a schedule. (Airlines, Trains)

Tri-Axle

Group of three axles on a truck, tractor or trailer. Tridems are most common on European semitrailers.

Tanker Trailer

Hauls any type of liquids, separate trailers are used for edible and non edible shipments.

Hazmat

Hazardous materials, as classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Any transportation of hazardous materials is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation. To haul hazardous materials, a driver needs a hazmat endorsement on his CDL, plus special training. We do not haul Hazmat or Dangerous Goods.

Container Ship

How most shipments from other countries arrive to ports.

Legal weights in the United States

In most states with a three axle tractor and two axle trailer, you can not exceed 80,000 lbs in gross vehicle weight.

Freight Class

In the United States, each commodity or type of product is assigned a National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) and corresponding class for less than truckload (LTL) freight shipments. The (NMFC) system is a standardized method designed to give consumers a uniform pricing structure when transporting freight. The freight class is calculated by weight and density. Classes range from 50 to Class 300.

L W H

Length, width, height. How dimensions are provided in the transport industry.

Just in time

Manufacturing system which depends on frequent, small deliveries of parts and supplies to keep on-site inventory to a minimum.

53 Foot Dry Van

Most commonly used piece of equipment used in the transport of non perishable goods, interior width is usually 100'' to 101'' inches wide inside, 110'' inches tall and 52'7 feet long inside 53' outside, commonly referred to as dry vans. No motor on the fronts of these trailers. Average payload in the US is 44,000 lbs, in Canada 48,000 lbs.

Dry Van

Mostly used in the transport of non perishable goods, interior width is usually 96-100'' inches wide inside, 100-110'' inches tall and can range from 28' to 52'7 feet long inside, commonly referred to as dry vans. Notice no motor on the fronts of these trailers.

Reefer Van

Notice this 53' reefer has a motor on the front to control the temperature of the goods it carries. It can heat, cool or freeze products.

Tailgate or Liftgate

Notice this short dry van has a tailgate or liftgate to take shipments from the trailer to ground level. This is usually an extra charge for most carriers. Lift capacity is usually 1500 lbs.

Dead-Heading

Operating a truck without cargo.

Tandem Axle (Tandems)

Pair of axles and associated suspension usually located close together.

P&D

Pickup and delivery shortened term.

Pilot Car

Pilot cars are used to guide over dimensional loads in terms of Navigation. Narrow roads, weight restricted bridges and low overpasses are all hazards to trucks carrying oversized loads.

Shipping Container

Standard-sized rectangular box used to transport freight mostly by ship, rail International shipping containers are 20 or 40 feet long, conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) standards and are designed to fit in ships' holds. Containers are transported on public roads atop a container chassis towed by a tractor. Domestic containers, up to 53 feet long and of lighter construction, are designed for rail and highway use only. A reusable container that can transport and store products and raw materials between locations or countries. Also called Intermodal Freight Container.

TL

TL is short for Truck Load and dedicates trailers to a single shipper's cargo, as opposed to an LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier which transports the consolidated cargo of several shippers and makes multiple deliveries, TL is one shipment from point A to point B only.

White Glove Service

Term used to describe specialized service required for pickup or delivery. Usually handled by moving companies, as the product being handled requires great care and the packaging to be disposed of.

ACI

The ACI program is about providing CBSA officers with electronic pre-arrival information so that they are equipped with the right information at the right time to identify health, safety and security threats related to commercial goods before the goods arrive in Canada. The carrier is responsible for submitting the data.

O,S,& D Department & Claims

The Department of your company which handles overage, shortage, and damaged cargo. From time to time freight falls under these categories and in some cases a freight claim is created.

PAPS

The Pre-arrival Processing System (PAPS) is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) system designed to provide CBP with advance information on goods entering the U.S. Carriers will attach a PAPS sticker in the form of a barcode that includes the truckers carrier code when submitting documents to a customs broker.

PARS

The Pre-arrival Review System (PARS) allows importers and brokers to submit release on minimum documentation (RMD) information to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for review and processing before their goods arrive in Canada. This speeds up the release or referral for examination process when the goods arrive in Canada. Carriers will attach a PARS sticker in the form of a barcode that includes the truckers carrier code when submitting documents to a customs broker.

Receiver

The customer who accepts your delivery/shipment; Also known as the consignee.

Consignee

The receiver, who accepts your delivery.

Shipper

The shipper sends out your shipment.

Air Ride Suspension

The suspension system supports the weight of the load giving it a smoother ride, (air filled rubber bags) better than the old system which used steel springs. The compressed air is supplied by the air compressor and reservoir tanks which provide air for the air brake system as well.

5 Ton / Straight Truck

These are used primarily in the city as they are smaller, box sizes vary from 20-28 feet in length, usually also carry a power tailgate or liftgate. Usually can handle about 10,000lbs of freight payload and 10 to 14 pallets.

Trombone Trailer

This flat deck extends in the middle to accommodate very long loads.

Step deck trailer

This trailer steps down after the tractor to get shipments lower to ground and not exceed height restrictions.

Cubic Feet from Inches

To determine the amount of cubic feet from inches follow this formula. L x W x Height in inches divided by 1728 will give you cubic feet. example: 40'' x 48'' x 96'' divided by 1728 = 106.66 cubic feet.

Payload weight in the US. Five axle.

To find out how much weight a tractor and trailer can haul, you first need to know the empty weight of the truck and trailer. Once this is known you can deduct the truck and trailer weight from 80,000 to get your payload weight.

Tractor

Truck designed primarily to pull a semitrailer by means of a fifth wheel mounted over the rear axle(s). Sometimes called a truck tractor or highway tractor to differentiate from it from a farm tractor.

Hours-Of-Service

U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations which govern the hours of service of commercial vehicle drivers engaged in interstate trucking operations can drive. Drivers are limited to about 11 hours of driving, 3 hours of on duty time per day and must rest for 10 hour per day.

Single Axle Tractor

Used for mostly in town work to make sharper turns, this one is hauling a 53 foot dry van.

Shrink Wrap

Used to hold the contents of a pallet together for shipping. Similar to clear food wrap.

Forklift

Used to load and unload trailers, average lifting capacity is about 4500 lbs. Runs on propane or electricity. They typically do not drive inside 5 tons or straight trucks.

Pallet Jack

Used to manually move pallets, typically used on smaller trucks to move freight to the back of the trailer.

Cubic Feet

Used to measure shipments in order to tell how much space is used. Length x Width x Height in feet will give you amount of cubic feet used.

Barge

Used to transport trucks and trailers across water. Common between Vancouver, BC and Vancouver Island.

Delivery Receipt

Usually provided to the consignee for the acceptance of good in place of a bill of lading.

Commercial Invoice

What the importer needs to provides customs if their shipment is crossing the border. This is usually provided by the importer or shipper. Commercial invoices provide the cost of goods and country of origin so that customs can apply the proper duties and or taxes. Commercial invoices are supplied to the customs broker for clearance in most cases by the carrier.

Blind Shipment

When a client or shipper does not want the consignee to see where the shipment came from. All paperwork is usually removed and the shipper details are usually changed for delivery purposes.

Residential Delivery or pick up.

When a shipment is to be picked up or delivered at a non commercial location like a house or apartment. This type of delivery or pick up usually requires special equipment like a smaller truck, extra man and power tailgate. This service usually comes at an extra charge.

Round Trip

When a truck is supplied with a head haul and a back haul to the point of origin.

Power Only / Tractor Service

When the trailer is already supplied by the client and they require a tractor only.

Rate Tariff

or Rate Sheet. Guidelines created to ensure a customer is billed correctly when shipping.