Glossary and Dictionary of Trucking Terms
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| AAMVA | The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. |
| ABS (Antilock Brake System) | Computer, sensors and solenoid valves which together, monitor wheel speed and modulate braking force if wheel lockup is sensed during braking. Helps the driver retain control of the vehicle during heavy braking on slippery roads. |
| AD VALOREM | An additional tax levied by certain states, such as Property Tax, Vehicle Gross Receipts Tax, Corporate Franchise Tax, etc. |
| ADDENDUM | Supplement to an existing lease, not effective until signed by both lessor and lessee; can also be used in reference to other legal documents. (An add on) |
| AFV (Alternative Fueled Vehicle) | Vehicle powered by a fuel other than gasoline or diesel. |
| AGGREGRATED SHIPMENTS | Consolidated shipments from various shippers enroute to a single consignee or receiver and treated as one shipment. |
| AGITATOR BODY | Truck body designed and equipped to mix concrete in transit. |
| AGRICULTURAL EXEMPTION | An exemption from route and rate regulation in motor carriage when the carrier is hauling basically raw/unprocessed agricultural products. |
| AIR FREIGHT | Cheapest method of air shipment; shipper delivers goods to the airport and they are carried by scheduled passenger airlines or cargo carriers; costs about twice as much as truck shipments. |
| AIR RIDE SUSPENSION | Suspension that supports the load on air-filled rubber bags rather than, or in conjunction with, steel springs. |
| APPORTIONABLE FLEET | Under the IRP agreement, one or more commercial vehicles identified as a fleet used in two or more member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles used for the transportation of persons or property for-hire. |
| APPORTIONABLE VEHICLE | Under the IRP agreement: (1) is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds; or (2) is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or (3) is used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. |
| APPORTIONMENT | Registration based on a proportional payment of registration fees, whether determined by a quotient of miles traveled, revenue received, or any other similar method. |
| APU | Authorized pick-up. |
| ASPEN | Software used at roadside inspection sites to collect data on the results of driver/vehicle inspections and electronically transfer the data to State and National information systems. Includes the Inspection Selection System (ISS). |
| ATC (Automatic Traction Control) | Usually an optional feature based on ABS. It prevents spinning of the drive wheels under power on slippery surfaces by braking individual wheel and/or reducing engine throttle. Also called ASR, an acronym sometimes loosely translated from German as anti-spin regulation. |
| ATTORNEY-IN-FACT | Person authorized to act in another’s behalf, not necessarily a member of the bar. (Also referred to as power of attorney POA) |
| AUDIT | see Compliance Review |
| AUTHORITY | Operating rights granted a motor carrier by the U.S. Department of Transportation. |
| AUTHORIZED CARRIER | Person/company authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation to engage in the transportation of property as a common or contract carrier. |
| AUTO CARRIER | Specialized trailer for hauling automobiles. |
| AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER | Company authorized to transport motor vehicles on special vehicles or by driving them. |
| AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER BODY | Truck body designed for the transportation of other vehicles. |
| AUXILIARY TRANSMISSION | Second transmission coupled with the main transmission. |
| AXLE | Supporting shaft or member upon which a wheel or wheels
revolve. ¨ Drive axles are those with powered wheels. |
| AXLE LOAD | 1) Weight existing on a motor vehicle’s axle. 2) A maximum allowable axle weight limit on a roadway or highway. |
| AXLE RATING | The amount of carrying capacity as indicated by the axle manufacturer. |
| AXLE WEIGHT | The total weight of an axle. |
| BACKHAUL | A load that returns a vehicle to the driver’s and/or carrier’s home base. |
| BASE JURISDICTION | State or governing body where a registrant has an established place of business and where operational records are retained. |
| BASE PLATE | License plate issued by the base jurisdiction. |
| BBC | Distance from front bumper of a truck or truck-tractor to the back of its cab. |
| BED BUGGER | A household goods mover. |
| BELLY DUMP | Trailer that unloads through gates on the underside of its bed; bulk materials like sand, grain, coal or other dry products are usually belly-dumped. |
| BILATERAL AGREEMENT | An agreement between two jurisdictions. |
| BILL OF LADING (B/L) | Principal transportation document describing the contents of a shipment and setting forth a contract of carriage, by which a carrier acknowledges receipt of freight. Terms and conditions, responsibilities and liabilities vary with manner and place of use. Bills of lading may be negotiable or non-negotiable. |
| BILL OF LADING ACT | A 1917 Act of Congress pertaining to the preparation and negotiability of bills of lading. |
| BILL OF SALE | Formal document issued by a seller to a buyer as evidence of transfer of title to an item of property. |
| BINDER, INSURANCE | A temporary memorandum of contract in effect, pending execution of the final contract (certificate of insurance). |
| BINDER | 1) Device used to apply tension to chains used to secure a load. 2) Slang term for brakes. |
| BLACK ICE | A very dangerous, nearly invisible patch of ice formed when temperatures drop very rapidly when the road surface is wet. |
| BLANKET BOND | A bond covering a group of persons, articles or properties. |
| BLANKET PERMIT | A master permit issued to a carrier by a state or province authorizing the operation of all of the carrier’s applicable vehicles. The permit may be photocopied, with a copy placed in each of the carrier’s vehicles. |
| BLIND SIDE | Right side of a truck or combination unit that the driver cannot see without the use of mirrors. |
| BLOCK | see Cylinder Block |
| BLOCKING, BLOCKS OR BRACING | Pieces of wood or other material used to prevent movement of load in rail, vessel or truck shipments. |
| BLUE LABEL | Atomic material shipment. |
| BOBTAIL | Slang term for a tractor driven without its trailer. Also, a straight truck. |
| BOGIE | 1) An assembly of two or more axles. 2) Removable set of trailer axles and wheels. |
| BOGIE TRUCK | Low skeleton platform mounted on two centrally located load-carrying wheels and fitted with two or four smaller diameter stabilizing wheels; also known as a restless dolly. |
| BOND | 1) Obligation made binding by payment of a fee, which is lost if the contract is violated. 2) A binding agreement. |
| BOND OF INDEMNITY | Certificate filed with a carrier to relieve the carrier from liability/charges that could result from an action it might otherwise be liable for a second time. |
| BOND, SURETY | Guarantee of performance of an expressed obligation, usually given in writing. |
| BONDED WAREHOUSE | A warehouse approved by the Treasury Department, used for storing goods until duties are paid or goods are otherwise properly released. |
| BOOMER | see Binder |
| BOOSTER AXLES | An axle generally having an air or hydraulic cylinder suspension system that can be actuated independently to assume a portion of the load that would otherwise be carried by adjacent axles. |
| BOTTLERS BODY | Truck body designed for hauling cased, bottled beverages. |
| BOTTOM DUMP | seeBelly Dump |
| BOX | 1) Slang term for a van trailer. 2) Slang term for a transmission. |
| BRAKE CHAMBER | Air chamber mounted near each wheel and connected to the brake itself by a push rod and slack adjuster (cam brake) or a push rod (wedge brake). |
| BRAKE DRUM | Metal, drum-shaped compartment that revolves with the wheel. When the brakes are applied the brake shoes press against the brake drum to slow and/or stop the vehicle. |
| BRAKE HORSEPOWER (BHP) | Engine horsepower rating as determined by brake dynamometer testing. |
| BRAKE LINING | Strong friction material (asbestos, fine copper wire, cotton, etc.) fastened to the brake shoe that contacts the brake drum during the braking process. |
| BREAK BULK | To separate a composite load into individual shipments and route to different destinations. |
| BREAKAWAY VALVE | Valve positioned between the tractor and trailer; automatically cuts off air going to trailers if pressure drops below 60 pounds, causing trailer brakes to activate. |
| BRIDGE FORMULA | Formula used to determine the maximum allowable weight that can be carried on groups of axles in order to reduce the risk of damage to highways and bridges. |
| BROKER | 1) Agent who arranges interstate movement of goods by other carriers. 2) Arranger of exempt loads for owner-operators and/or carriers. 3) One who arranges the buying/selling of goods for a fee. 4) Person who leases owned equipment to a carrier. 5) Solicitor of insurance who places orders for coverage with companies designated by the insured or with companies of his choosing. |
| BROKER AUTHORITY | Granted by the US Department of Transportation to allow licensee to arrange for transportation in interstate commerce. |
| BULK CARGO CONTAINER | Shipping container employed in handling/hauling dry fluid materials. |
| BULK CARRIER | Vessel engaged in carriage of bulk commodities like petroleum, grain, or ore which are not packaged, bundled, bottled, or otherwise packed. |
| BULK FREIGHT | Dry or liquid freight not in packages/containers and tendered for transportation in bulk form. |
| BULK WAREHOUSES | Public warehouses that provide tank storage of liquids and open or sheltered storage of dry products like coal sand, salt, stone and chemicals. |
| BULL HAULER | One who hauls livestock. |
| BUNK | see Sleeper |
| CAB | Driver compartment of a truck or tractor. |
| CABOTAGE | Point-to-point transportation of property or passengers. |
| CAB CARD | Registration document issued by a base jurisdiction for a vehicle in an apportioned/prorated fleet which identifies vehicle, base plate, registered weight by jurisdiction (if IRP); also shows jurisdictions where vehicle is registered. |
| CAB-OVER (Cab-Over-Engine, COE) | A vehicle with its engine located under the cab. |
| CAMBER | Inward or outward tilt of wheels on vertical axis of truck or other motor vehicle; proper camber affects tire wear. |
| CAMELBACK BODY | Truck body with floor curving downward at the rear. |
| CAMSHAFT | Long, straight shaft covered with elliptical knobs called cams; as the camshaft turns, cams push the push rods and open the cylinder valves. |
| CANADIAN PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY NUMBER | A unique number assigned to a motor carrier authorized to conduct highway transportation operations within the boundary of the Canadian Province issuing the number. |
| CAPRI | Software used by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Safety Investigators to conduct a motor carrier compliance review. |
| CAR DUMPER | Mechanical installation for transferring bulk materials from open-top cars into cargo space of vessels. Also used at industrial plants for unloading materials and at terminals for transferring materials from open-tops into other cars. |
| CARBURETOR | Device in an engine to mix air with gasoline spray; mixture is then distributed to cylinders by intake manifold so it can be exploded by a spark. |
| CARGO | The freight carried by a vehicle. |
| CARGO INSURANCE | Protection against loss of or damage to cargo while in transit. |
| CARGO MANIFEST | Document listing all consignments on a truck, vessel or aircraft and giving quantity, identifying marks, consignor/consignee of each item. |
| CARGO WEIGHT | Combined weight of all loads, gear and supplies on a vehicle. |
| CARRIER | see Motor Carrier |
| CARRIER’S LIABILITY | Liability begins when goods are picked-up and ends when the goods have been delivered to the consignee or when the carrier’s duty has been discharged according to the terms of the freight contract. |
| CARTAGE (Local) | Hauling between locations in the same town, city or suburb. |
| CARTAGE COMPANY | Company that provides local (with a town, city or municipality) pick-up and delivery. |
| CAST SPOKE WHEEL | Wheel with five or six spokes originating from a center hub. The spoked portion, usually made of cast steel, is bolted to a multiple-piece steel rim (see Demountable Rim; Disc Wheel). |
| CAVR | Canadian Agreement on Vehicle Registration. |
| CB (Citizens Band Radio) | Two-way radio for which no license is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Long beyond its heyday in the ‘70’s, CB’s are still used by truckers and motorist for everything from traffic condition reports to emergency calls to idle chatter. |
| CCMTA | Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators |
| CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) | License which authorizes an individual to operate commercial motor vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR over 26,000 pounds, buses designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver, and/or for the transportation of hazardous materials in an amount requiring placarding. |
| CDLIS (Commercial Driver’s License Information System) | A data system that serves as a pointer to the complete record kept by the State issuing the license. The system is intended to provide States with the ability to check a nationwide information system for possible duplicates and to determine the status of a driver’s commercial driver’s license. |
| CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE | A document certifying that one has met specified requirements. Issued (usually on Form E or Form H) by an officer of an insurance company to a state agency or other party, stating the fact that the party named has insurance coverage in amounts/types named; not a binding agreement. |
| CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN | Indicates country producing goods listed on it, required by customs officials; used to secure “most favored nation” treatment in foreign markets and for correct assessment of import duties. |
| CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY (CPC&N) | Document granting authority to operate in interstate commerce issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to common and contract carriers by motor vehicle pursuant to the needs of the public and according to terms of the Certificate. |
| CERTIFIED CHECK | Check that has been validated by an official of establishment upon which it is drawn as a guarantee of payment; usual method is for cashier/teller to indicate on the face of the check over signature that the check is good when properly endorsed. |
| CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) | Any of various compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, once used widely as aerosol propellants and refrigerants. |
| CFR | see Code of Federal Regulations |
| CG (Center of Gravity) | Weight center or balance point of an object, such as a truck body. Calculated to help determine optimum placement of truck bodies on chassis. |
| CHASSIS | Frame of a motor vehicle; on a trailer it includes axles, wheels and suspension; on a tractor/truck it includes all of those plus engine parts. |
| CHASSIS WEIGHT (Curb Weight, Tare Weight) | Weight of the empty truck, without occupants or load. |
| CHOCKS | Block or stop barriers placed behind/in front of wheels to keep vehicle from rolling. Also used on loads to prevent shifting. |
| CHOKE | Plate in carburetor which shuts off air supply to engine. |
| CIRCUS WAGON | Low sided trailer with high bow tarp. |
| CLAIM | (1) Demand on transportation company for payment, due to loss/damage of freight that occurred during transit. (2) Demand on transportation company for refund of overcharge. (3) Demand by individual/corporation to recover for loss under a policy of insurance. |
| CLASS I MOTOR CARRIERS | Common or contract motor carriers of property that have average gross operating revenues of $5 million or more. |
| CLASS II MOTOR CARRIERS | Common or contract motor carriers that have annual gross average carrier revenues of at least $1 million but less than $5 million. |
| CLASS III MOTOR CARRIERS | Common or contract motor carriers that have annual gross average carrier revenues of less than $1 million. |
| CLASS TARIFF | A published schedule of class rates. |
| CLASSIFICATION RATING | The class to which an article is assigned for the purpose of applying transportation charges. |
| CLEAN BORE | A single tank without compartments inside. |
| CLEAR RECORD | A record which shows that a shipment was handled without loss or damage. |
| CNG | Compressed natural gas. |
| CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) | Regulations created/promulgated by various federal agencies. |
| COE | seeCabover |
| COFC (Container On Flat Car) | Method of moving shipping containers which involves transporting them on railroad flat cars. |
| COMBINATION | Truck/truck-tractor coupled to one or more trailers, including semitrailers. |
| COMBINATION RATE | A rate made by combining two or more rates published in different tariffs. |
| COMBINED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT | The total unladen weight of a combination of vehicles plus the weight of the load carried on that combination of vehicles. |
| COMBUSTABLE LIQUID | As defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR, any liquid that does not meet any other classification of hazardous materials and has a flash point at or above 100 degrees F, except when it is part of a mixture where other components with flash points of 200 degrees F or higher make up 99% of the volume. |
| COMMERCIAL CARRIER | Any motor carrier transporting persons or property for-hire on the public highways. |
| COMMERCIAL ZONE | (Intra-city Zone) Municipality and the area adjacent to it that is commercially a part of it where exemptions from certain operating and safety regulations may apply. |
| COMMINGLING | Mixing types of goods from separate shipments and sending them as a combined shipment. Interstate and intrastate goods can mover together in such a shipment. |
| COMMODITY | Any article of commerce (articles, goods, merchandise). Goods shipped. |
| COMMODITY, EXEMPT | Goods that may be transported in interstate commerce without operating authority. |
| COMMON CARRIER | Any carrier engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property on a regular schedule and whose services are available to the general public on a for-hire basis. |
| COMPLIANCE REVIEW | An on-site examination of motor carrier operations, such as driver’s hours-of-service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, commercial drivers license requirements, financial responsibility, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety and transportation records to determine whether a motor carrier meets the safety fitness standard. A compliance review may be conducted in response to a high Safestat score, a request to change a safety rating, to investigate potential violations of safety regulations by motor carriers, or to investigate complaints, or other evidence of safety violations. The compliance review may result in the initiation of an enforcement action. |
| COMPRESSED GASES | Defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR, any material/mixture having (in the container) a pressure exceeding 40 psia at 70 degrees F or 104 psia at 130 degrees F; further subdivided into flammable and non-flammable compressed gases. |
| COMPRESSION PIN | Hardware used to join two 20-foot containers into a single 40-foot unit. |
| CONCEALED DAMAGE | Damage to the contents of a package which is apparently in good condition externally. |
| CONCEALED LOSS | Loss or damage that cannot be determined until the package is opened. |
| CONCENTRATION POINT | A place where small shipments are consolidated into larger shipments. |
| CONCRETE MIXER | Truck body designed to mix concrete. |
| CONNECTING CARRIER | Carrier that interchanges trailers/freight with another carrier to complete shipments. |
| CONSIGNEE | Person who receives goods shipped from producer (consignor). |
| CONSOLIDATION | Practice of combining less-than-carload (LCL) or less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments to make carload/truckload movements. |
| CONTAINER | Anything in which articles are packed. |
| CONTAINER (Shipping Container) | Standard-sized rectangular box used to transport freight by ship, rail and highway. Containers are transported on public roads atop a container chassis or flatbed trailer towed by a tractor. |
| CONTAINER CAR | Flat or open-top (gondola) on which freight containers are loaded. |
| CONTAINER CHASSIS | Single-purpose semitrailer designed to carry a shipping container. |
| CONTAINERIZATION | Shipping system based upon large cargo-carrying containers that can be easily interchanged between trucks, trains, and ships, without rehandling of contents. |
| CONTRACT CARRIER | Carrier engaged in interstate transportation of persons or property by motor vehicle on a for-hire basis but under continuing contract with one or a limited number of customers to meet specific needs of each customer. |
| CONVENTIONAL | Power unit with engine in front of driver compartment (tractor with a long nose). |
| CONVERTER DOLLY (Dolly) | Auxiliary axle assembly equipped with a tow barand fifth wheel, towed buy a semitrailer and supporting the front of, and towing, another semitrailer. (Used in doubles and triples combinations.) |
| CONVERTIBLE HOPPER | A hopper that has a removable floor. |
| CORROSIVE MATERIAL | As defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR, any liquid/solid that causes visible destruction in human skin tissue at site of contact or irreversible alterations or that has a severe corrosion rate on steel when leaking from its package. |
| COUPLING | Act of connecting a truck or tractor and trailer or semitrailer. |
| COUPLING DEVICE (Coupler) | Any mechanical means for connecting a trailer or semitrailer to a truck or truck-tractor, e.g., fifth wheel. |
| COVERED WAGON | A flatbed trailer with tarps. |
| CRAMP ANGLE | Maximum amount of turn in steering wheel of truck, measured in degrees. |
| CREEPER GEAR | Lowest gear/combination of gears on a tractor used when extra power is needed. |
| CUBE (Cubic Capacity) | Interior volume of a truck body, semitrailer or trailer, measured in cubic feet. |
| CUBIC FOOT | A common measure of the capacity of a truck or trailer/semitrailer. |
| CURB WEIGHT | seeChassis Weight |
| CUSTOMS (Duties) | Taxes or duties levied on goods which cross a foreign border, generally on goods imported. |
| CUSTOMS BROKERS | Specialists in customs procedures who act for importers for a fee, licensed by the Treasury Department. |
| CUSTOMS TARIFF | Schedule of charges assessed by the government on imported/exported goods. |
| CVISN (Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks) | A collection of state, Federal, and private sector information systems and communications networks that support commercial vehicle operations (CVO). |
| CVO (Commercial Vehicle Operations) | Includes all the operations associated with moving goods and passengers via commercial vehicles over the North American highway system and the activities necessary to regulate these operations. |
| CVSA | Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. |
| CYLINDER BLOCK | Strong metal housing with all of the engine’s principal parts either contained within it or attached to it. |
| DAC SERVICES | Company that collects data and issues reports about commercial drivers. The report falls into five main categories: MVR’s from the state that issues the individual’s CDL; employment history; credit report; results of past drug and alcohol tests; and criminal records. |
| DEAD AXLE | Non-powered axle (usually rear) on tandem truck or tractor, often present on commercial vehicles to increase weight-carrying capacity of unit. |
| DEAD HEADING | Operating a commercial vehicle without a load to return home or to pick up the next load. |
| DECLARED COMBINED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT | The total unladen weight of any combination of vehicles plus the maximum load to be carried on that combination of vehicles for which registration fees have been paid. |
| DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) | 1) Federal agency lead by the Secretary of Transportation, a politically appointed, Cabinet level position. The Office of the Secretary (OST) formulates federal transportation policy and oversees transportation activities through its key organizations and modal administrations. These include: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), the Surface Transportation Board, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). 2) State agency that oversees highway and road design, construction, maintenance and safety. |
| DISC WHEEL | Single-piece rim/wheel assembly of stamped and welded steel or forged aluminum, anchored by 8 or 10 nuts to a hub. A “Budd Wheel” is a ten-hole, stud-piloted disc wheel; a design originated by the Budd Corporation. |
| DISPATCHING | The scheduling and control of truck pickup and delivery. |
| DISPLACEMENT (Piston Displacement) | Sum of the volumes swept by an engine’s pistons as they travel up and down in their cylinders. Based upon bore (diameter of cylinder) and stroke (distance traveled by piston). Expressed in liters or cubic inches. |
| DIVISIBLE LOAD | Any load consisting of a product, material or equipment which can be reduced to meet the specified regulatory limits for size and/or weight. |
| DOCK | A platform where trucks are loaded and unloaded. |
| DOCK PLATE | Removable ramp used between dock and trailer/railcar so forklift can drive into unit for loading and unloading. |
| DOG TRACKS | Unit or straight truck that runs out of line. |
| DOLLY | 1) Stand consisting of legs and a crank that can be raised or lowered to support to the front of an uncoupled semitrailer. 2) Small square or rectangular platform on rollers/wheels used to handle freight in warehouse. (see also, Converter Dolly) |
| DOUBLE BOTTOM | see Doubles |
| DOUBLE-CLUTCHING | Shifting the gears of a truck transmission without clashing them. |
| DOUBLES (Twins, Twin Trailers) | Combination of a tractor and two semitrailers connected in tandem by a converter dolly. |
| DRIVEAWAY OPERATION | Transportation of new/used motor vehicles where units being transported are loaded with front axles resting on back of power unit being driven and wheels of rear axles on roadway, one or more units can be transported in tandem, or power units can be driven on their own. |
| DRIVERS (Drives) | Rear axles and wheels of a truck or truck-tractor. |
| DRIVER’S DAILY LOG | Daily record required to be kept by driver which shows driving, on-duty/not driving, off-duty time and sleeper berth time; also known as Record of Duty Status. |
| DRIVELINE (Drivetrain) | All the components which together transmit power from the transmission to the drive axle(s). |
| DROMEDARY (Drom-box, Drom-plate) | Unit mounted behind the cab of a truck-tractor capable of carrying freight. |
| DROP FRAME TRAILER | Trailer with one or more floor levels designed for minimum frame-to-highway distance and maximum cargo carrying capacity. |
| DUMP BODY | Truck body of any type which can be tilted to discharge its load. |
| 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. |
| ELECTRONIC CLEARANCE | The process that allows commercial vehicles to pass a check point (e.g., weigh station) at mainline speeds without stopping to be checked for proper credentials, weight, and safety status. |
| ELECTRONIC ONBOARD RECORDER (EOBR) | Electronic device that automatically monitors and records information on the performance of the vehicle and/or driver. |
| ENDORSEMENT | All changes made to a written policy. |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival. |
| EXCISE TAX | Generally, duty/tax on certain articles produced/consumed within a country, e.g., alcohol and spirits. (see also, Federal Excise Tax) |
| EXEMPT CARRIER | Motor carrier engaged in for-hire transportation of commodities exempt from authority requirements of the FMCSA, generally unprocessed agricultural commodities or seafood. |
| EXEMPT COMMODITIES | Articles/goods/services exempt from certain tariff provisions or from application of lawful rule or provision. |
| EXPANDABLE TRAILER (Stretch Trailer) | Flatbed trailer which can be expanded beyond its regular length to carry larger shipments. |
| EXPEDITING | To accelerate transportation. Expedited freight service is usually faster than normal service. An example is dispatching less than truckload quantities, on a singe truck, for quick delivery. |
| EXTRAPROVINCIAL OPERATION | Freight or passengers carried across any Canadian provincial or territorial boundary. Also refers to the International Boundary between Canada and the United States. |
| FACTORING AGENT | Someone hired by an owner-operator to handle the billing between shipper and owner-operator. |
| FEDERAL EXCISE TAX (FET) | Commonly in trucking, tax paid on the purchase of a commercial vehicle and certain add-on components, such as tires. |
| FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) | Division of the US Department of Transportation responsible for the nation’s federal highway system. Administers federal aid for highway design, construction and maintenance. |
| FEDERAL HEAVY VEHICLE USE TAX (HVUT) | Tax levied by federal government (Internal Revenue Service) on all highway motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 55,000 pounds or more. Tax period begins on July 1st and ends the following June 30th. |
| FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (FMCSA) | Division of the US Department of Transportation responsible for the implementation and enforcement of commercial motor vehicle safety regulations. |
| FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS (FMCSR) | Federal regulations implemented and enforced by the FMCSA. |
| FEDERAL REGISTER | Government publication that prints official notices and regulations of federal agencies on a daily basis; rules and regulations must be published to become legal in most cases. |
| FET | see Federal Excise Tax |
| FIFTH WHEEL | Horseshoe-shaped coupling device for connecting semitrailer to truck-tractor or converter dolly, consists of circular lower half with locking bar mounted and attached to truck-tractor and circular upper half and kingpin mounted and attached to semitrailer. |
| FISCAL YEAR | Annual period established for accounting purposes in business or government, may start at any time in calendar year. |
| FIXED CHARGES | Carrier costs that do not vary with an increase or decrease in traffic. An accounting classification. |
| FIXED TANDEM | Assembly of two axles and suspension that is attached to the chassis in one place, and cannot be moved fore and aft. (see Sliding Tandem) |
| FLATBED | Trailer with level bed and no sides or top. |
| FMCSA | see Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
| FMCSR | see Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations |
| FOR-HIRE CARRIAGE | Motor carrier services in which charge is made to cover cost of transportation, generally provided by common carrier or contract carrier. |
| FOR-HIRE CARRIER | Company in the business of transporting freight belonging to others for compensation. (see Private Carrier) |
| FORK LIFT | A machine used to move goods loaded on pallets or skids. |
| FOUR-BANGER | Four cylinder engines. |
| FOUR BY FOUR | 4-speed transmission and 4-speed auxiliary transmission. |
| FREIGHT | Any commodity being transported. |
| FREIGHT BILL | Document for a freight shipment. Gives description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether collect or prepaid. |
| FREIGHT FORWARDER | A company that assembles small shipments, from various shippers, into larger shipments to form a full truck or car load. Forwarders send the consolidated freight to a station where it is disassembled and routed to the proper destinations. |
| FREIGHT TARIFF | Carrier’s schedule of charges/price list, expressed in cost per weight, miles, trip, etc., for transportation or handling freight between points named, under conditions in conformity with the bill of lading. |
| FUEL TAXES | Use taxes on gasoline, diesel and other fuels. |
| FULL TRAILER (FT) | 1) Truck trailer with wheels on both ends (as compared to a semitrailer in which the front rests on the rear of the power unit). 2) A vehicle without motive power, designed for carrying property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle. |
| FURNITURE VAN BODY | Truck body designed for the transportation of household goods; usually a van of drop-frame construction. |
| GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) | Maximum weight an axle is rated to carry by the manufacturer. Includes both the weight of the axle and the portion of a vehicle’s weight carried by the axle. |
| GBL | Government Bill of Lading |
| GCW (Gross Combination Weight) | Total weight of a loaded combination vehicle, such as a tractor-semitrailer or truck and full trailer(s). |
| GEARED SPEED | Calculated vehicle speed at the engine’s governed rpm in each transmission gear, or (commonly) in top gear. |
| GEAR RATIO | Number, usually expressed as a decimal fraction, representing how many turns of the input shaft cause exactly one revolution of the output shaft. Applies to transmissions, power takeoffs, power dividers and rear axles. Example: If 2.5 revolutions of an input shaft cause one revolution of the output shaft, the gear ration is 2.5:1. |
| GENERAL COMMODITY AUTHORITY | Type of operating authority to transport any/all goods except those specifically named. |
| GLAD HANDS | Air hose connectors between tractor and trailer. |
| GLIDER KIT | Slang term for cab/frame of tractor into which purchaser installs his own powertrain and rear axles. |
| GOOSENECK | Trailer coupling device that extends up from the trailer deck to attach to a fifth wheel. |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) | A system which locates vehicles using trilateration from multiple satellite-based transmitters. |
| GRADE | Steepness of a grade, expressed as a percentage. Example: A vehicle climbing a 5% grade rises 5 feet for every 100 feet of forward travel. |
| GRADEABILITY | Vehicle’s ability to climb a grade at a given speed. Example: A truck with a gradeability of 5% at 60 mph can maintain 60 mph on a 5% grade. |
| GRAIN BODY | Low side, open-top truck body designed to transport dry fluid commodities. |
| GRANDFATHER CLAUSE | 1)Commonly in trucking, states may allow commercial vehicle sizes and weights in excess of the maximum federal limits on certain routes under certain conditions; 2) Allows firm that has been doing business in an area to continue, despite new regulations that might ordinarily preclude operation. |
| GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR) | Combined total weight a combination of vehicles is rated to carry by the manufacturer of each of the units in the combination. Example: In a tractor/semitrailer combination, add the GVWR of the tractor and the GVWR of the semitrailer together. |
| GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT (GCW) | Weight of tractor, trailer/semitrailer and load. |
| GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW) | Weight of straight truck or combination unit including body, equipment and load. |
| GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) | Total weight a vehicle is rated to carry by the manufacturer, including its own weight and the weight of its load. |
| GROSS WEIGHT | The vehicle(s) weight together with the weight of the load. |
| GVWR | see Gross Vehicle Weight Rating |
| HAZARDOUS MATERIAL | Substance/material determined and designated by Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce. |
| HAZMAT | Abbreviation for HAZARDOUS MATERIAL |
| HEADACHE RACK | Heavy protective barrier mounted behind a tractor cab designed to prevent penetration of the cab due to load shifting forward. |
| HEADER BOARD | Heavy protective barrier mounted at front of flatbed trailer to prevent freight from shifting forward. |
| HEAVY HAULER | A trucking company that transports articles requiring special equipment for loading/unloading/transporting due to size/shape/weight/other inherent characteristics. |
| HEAVY SPECIALIZED CARRIER | see Heavy Hauler |
| HEAVY VEHICLE USE TAX (HVUT) | see Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax |
| HIGH-CUBE | A truck body or trailer/semitrailer with above-average cubic content. Usually constructed with low floors and thin walls. |
| HIGHWAY-USE TAX | Tax levied in several ways on principal users of highways with revenues generally being used for highway maintenance/construction. Principal highway-use taxes are those on fuels, license plates and permits. |
| HOPPER BODY | Truck body capable of discharging its load through bottom opening(s) without tilting. HORSEPOWER (hp) – Measure of power (the amount of work that can be done over a given amount of time). One horsepower is defined at 33,000 foot-pounds of work in one minute. Example: Lifting 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute, or lifting 3,300 pounds ten feet in one minute. |
| HORSE VAN BODY | Truck designed for the transportation of valuable horses (livestock). |
| HORSES | see Horsepower |
| HOT LOAD | Rush shipment of cargo. |
| HOT-SHOTS | Pick-up trucks used for commercial freight hauling, generally in conjunction with a trailer towed via a ball hitch or fifth-wheel mounted in the bed. |
| HOURS-OF-SERVICE | Regulations which govern the number of hours commercial vehicle drivers work and rest. |
| HOUSEHOLD GOODS CARRIER | Motor carrier authorized to transport furniture, household goods and other properties involved in change of location. |
| HUNTER PLATE (Hunter Permit) | A temporary registration used for moving a vehicle from point “A” to point “B” one time only. |
| HVUT | see Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax |
| ICING CHARGE | A charge made for cooling perishable freight. |
| IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) | One of the “One Permit, One Tax Report Through Base State” agreements. |
| IMPLEMENT OF HUSBANDRY | A vehicle which is designed for agricultural purposes and exclusively used by the owner thereof in the conduct of his agricultural operations. |
| IN BOND | Storage of goods in custody of government/bonded warehouse or carrier from whom goods can be taken only upon payment of taxes/duties to appropriate government agency. |
| IN-JURISDICTION MILES | The total number of miles operated by a fleet of proportionally registered vehicles in a jurisdiction during the preceding year. In those cases where the registrant operated a fleet of proportionally registered vehicles in jurisdictions that require no apportionment and grant reciprocity (assessing no fees in lieu of registration) the Base Jurisdiction may add such miles. |
| INDIVISIBLE LOAD | Any vehicle or load which cannot be dismantled, disassembled, or loaded to meet specific regulatory limits for size and/or weight. |
| INSULATED BODY | Truck or trailer designed for transportation of commodities at controlled temperatures. It may be equipped for refrigeration or heating. |
| INTERCORPORATE HAULING | Private truck operation in which fleet handles traffic for other subsidiaries of parent company, for compensation. |
| INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION | Using more than one mode to deliver shipment, e.g., trailer on flatcar (TOFC) or container on flatcar (COFC). |
| INTERPROVINCIAL VEHICLE | A vehicle used to provide transportation service in more than one Canadian province. |
| INTERSTATE | Literally means between states, applies to transportation of goods/persons from point in one state to point in another, between points in same state but passing within/through another state enroute, between points in United States and foreign countries. |
| INTERSTATE COMMERCE | Business of exchanging goods between buyers and sellers of two or more states. |
| INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT | Act of Congress (1877) that authorized regulation of practices, rates and rules of transportation lines engaged in handling interstate shipments/passengers; recodified in 1978 to Revised Interstate Commerce Act. |
| INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION (ICC) | Federal body charged with duty of enforcing acts of Congress affecting common carriers like railroads, trucks, buses, inland water carriers and pipelines in interstate commerce. Abolished in 1995. |
| INTRAPROVINCIAL VEHICLE | A vehicle used to provide transportation services solely within one Canadian province. |
| INTRASTATE | From point within state to another point within same state. |
| INTRASTATE COMMERCE | When all business between buyers/sellers is carried on within one state. |
| INTRASTATE TRAFFIC | Traffic originating and terminating within given state and not moving out of state at any point. |
| IRP (International Registration Plan) | A type of prorate agreement whereby the vehicle/carrier’s base state, if a signatory to this agreement, issues one plate and one cab card which is honored by the other states also in the agreement, provided fees have been paid to each of those states on an apportioned basis. |
| IRREGULAR ROUTE CARRIER | Common carrier authorized to haul to points in given area but not always on same route/schedule. |
| ISS (Inspection Selection System) | Provides an easy means of selecting vehicles for roadside inspection based on SafeStat indicators and the carrier’s history of past inspections. ISS-2 was introduced in 1999. |
| ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) | Transportation systems which integrate advanced computer information processing, communications, sensors, electronic technologies, and management strategies to increase the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system. |
| ITS/CVO (Intelligent Transportation Systems/Commercial Vehicle Operations) | A voluntary effort involving public and private partnerships focused on improving highway safety and motor carrier productivity through the use of ITS technology. |
| IVMR (Individual Vehicle Mileage Record) | Is the original record generated in the course of actual vehicle operation and is used as a source document to verify vehicle registration applications (mileage figures) for accuracy. |
| JACK-KNIFING | Condition where trailer of tractor/semitrailer combination is thrown to the side forming sharp angle with tractor, usually result of sudden stopping action or loss of control on slippery surfaces. |
| JAKE BRAKE | see Retarder |
| JIT (Just In Time) | Manufacturing system which depends on frequent, small deliveries of parts and supplies to keep on-site inventory to a minimum. |
| JURISDICTION | 1) Extent or power of exercising judicial authority; 2) power of court/other tribunal to entertain/decide any question. |
| KINGPIN (Axle) | Pin around which a steer axle’s wheels pivot. |
| KINGPIN (Trailer) | Anchor pin at the center of a semitrailer’s upper coupler which is captured by the locking jaws of a tractor or converter dolly fifth wheel to attach the tractor to the semitrailer. |
| LADING | That which constitutes a load; the freight in a vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LADEN WEIGHT | Weight of vehicle and its load. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LANDING GEAR (Dolly) | Retracting legs which support the front of a semitrailer when it is not coupled to a tractor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEASE | 1) Contract/arrangement in which use of equipment, with or without driver is granted for compensation by owner to authorized carrier for use in regulated transportation of property during specified period; 2) written document vesting exclusive possession/control of responsibility for operation of the vehicle to the lessee for a specific period of time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT | Similar to conditional sale, but lessee has option to purchase vehicle at end of lease term. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LESS THAN TRUCKLOAD (LTL) | Term refers to less than quantity of freight required to apply truckload (TL) rate charged by motor carriers for transportation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LESSEE | Party, firm or corporation with legal possession/control of vehicle (with/without driver) or other equipment owned by another under terms of a lease agreement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LESSOR | Party, firm or corporation granting legal use of vehicle (with/without driver) or other equipment to another party under terms of lease agreement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIABILITY INSURANCE, BODILY INJURY | Business insurance against loss due to claims for damages because of bodily injury (including death) to persons who are not employees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIFT AXLE | Extra, unpowered axle needed only when the vehicle is loaded, allowing it to meet federal and state vehicle weight standards. The lift axle is mounted to an air spring suspension that raises the axle when it is not required. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LINEHAUL | Movement of freight between cities, usually more than 1,000 miles, not including pickup and delivery service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIVE FLOOR | Also referred to as a WALKING FLOOR. A trailer that has the capability of unloading cargo my mechanical means. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIVESTOCK BODY | Truck or trailer designed for the transportation of farm animals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOAD RANGE (Tires) | Letter code system for the weight carrying capacity of tires. Comparable ply ratings are shown below:
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| LOG BODY | Truck or trailer designed for the transportation of logs or other loads which may be boomed or chained in place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOG BOOK | 1) A book carried by truck drivers, which contains daily records of hours, route, etc. They are required by the DOT regulations. 2) Record of duty status required for any interstate driver operating a vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds and over 100 miles from terminal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LONG-TERM LEASE | Lease that exceeds 29 days in duration. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOWBOY | 1) Trailer built low and flat to facilitate hauling equipment/other heavy machinery. 2) Open flat-bed trailer with a deck height very low to the ground, used to haul construction equipment or bulky or heavy loads. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LPG | Propane gas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LUMBER BODY | Platform truck or trailer body with traverse rollers designed for the transportation of sawed lumber. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LUMPER | Person hired on site to unload cargo; casual labor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LTL CARRIER | Trucking company which consolidates less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MASTER LEASE | Agreement for leasing certain equipment with option for lessee to lease additional equipment as necessary at predetermined rate without new contract. |
| MCMIS (Motor Carrier Management Information Systems) | A central repository of comprehensive safety data maintained by the FMCSA. |
| MCSIP (Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Process) | Part of the PRISM project, which is used to monitor the safety improvement of a motor carrier. |
| MIXED TRUCKLOAD | A truckload of different articles combined into a single shipment. |
| MOTOR CARRIER | The entity (an individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any other organized group of individuals) responsible for the safety fitness of a commercial motor vehicle engaged in commerce on roads and highways. |
| MOTOR CARRIER ACT OF 1980 | Act of Congress that initiated deregulation of for-hire trucking. |
| MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | A Federal program, administered by the FMCSA, providing funds to U.S. States and territories for activities in support of commercial motor vehicle safety. To receive MCSAP funds, States must adopt interstate and intrastate regulations which are compatible with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). |
| MOTOR VEHICLE | Vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or combination propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used on highway in transportation or passengers or property. |
| MOVER (Household Goods Carrier) | A company that transports household goods by motor vehicle. |
| MUNITIONS CARRIER | A company that transports munitions by motor vehicle. |
| MVR | Motor vehicle record; driver’s license. |
| NON-DIVISIBLE LOAD | A unit load which cannot be broken down into smaller, more convenient units for transportation. |
| NS OR N/S | Not specified. |
| OD (Over Dimensional) | Term which denotes a vehicle that exceeds a state’s maximum, allowable length, width, height, and/or weight. |
| ODOMETER | An instrument attached to a power vehicle to measure the distance traversed. |
| OILFIELD BODY | Heavily constructed platform-type truck body equipped with instruments for oil drilling. |
| OILFIELD CARRIER | Any company authorized to transport oil field equipment. |
| ON-BOARD COMPUTER | see Trip Recorder |
| OPEN TOP | Trailer with sides but without permanent top; often used for heavy equipment that must be lowered into place by crane. |
| OPERATING AUTHORITY | Routes, points and types of traffic that may be served by carrier, authority is granted by state or federal regulatory agencies. |
| OPERATIONAL RECORDS | Documents supporting miles traveled in each jurisdiction and total miles traveled such as fuel reports, trip sheets, logs or computer runs that can be supported by source documents when requested by the base jurisdiction. |
| OUT RIGGERS | Devices used for increasing width of trailers. |
| OVER DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT | The movement or transportation of property which is over the legal restrictions of height, width, length or weight. |
| OVERAGE | Excess freight over the quantity believed to have been shipped, or more than the quantity shown on a shipping document. |
| OVERDRIVE | Gearing in which less than one revolution of a transmission’s input shaft causes one turn of the output shaft. The purpose of overdrive is to reduce engine rpm in high gear for better fuel economy. Example: A transmission with an overdrive top gear has a ratio of 0.70 to one. Turning the input shaft 0.7 revolutions causes 1.0 revolution of the output shaft. |
| OWNER-OPERATOR | Driver who owns and operates his/her own truck. May be leased to a carrier or possess his/her own operating authority. |
| P & D | Pickup and delivery of freight. |
| PACKING LIST | A detailed inventory of items contained in shipment. |
| PANCAKE | Brake diaphram housing. |
| PANEL BODY | Small, fully enclosed truck body often used for small package delivery. |
| PAYLOAD | Weight of the cargo being hauled. |
| PEDDLE RUN | Truck route with frequent delivery stops. |
| PERISHABLE FREIGHT | Freight subject to decay or deterioration. |
| PERMANENT LEASE | Lease with minimum term of 30 days where an owner-operator leases his/her equipment to a motor carrier. Can also mean lease of equipment only for similar term; also known as long-term lease. |
| PIG | Trailer transported on a railcar. |
| PIGGYBACK | Intermodal transportation system where trailers/containers are carried on railcars. Essentially joint carrier movement in which motor carrier performs pickup/delivery operation to and from a rail terminal. |
| PIGTAIL | Cable used to transmit electrical power from the tractor to the trailer. |
| PIKE | Turnpike. |
| PINTLE HOOK | Coupling device used in double trailer, triple trailer and truck-trailer combinations. It has a curved, fixed towing horn and an upper latch that opens to accept the drawbar eye of a trailer or dolly. |
| PISTON DISPLACEMENT | see Displacement |
| PL | see Public Liability |
| PLACARD | Diamond shaped sign attached to a vehicle hauling hazardous material indicating the class/type of hazardous material being hauled. |
| PLACARDING | Marking of motor vehicles used in transportation of hazardous materials in accordance with US Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations. |
| PLATFORM BODY | Truck or trailer body with a floor, but no sides or roof. |
| PLY RATING (PR) | Relative measure of tire casing strength. (see Load Range) |
| POINT OF ORIGIN | The location at which freight is received from the shipper. |
| POLE TRAILER | Truck trailer which uses a rigid pole as a structural member connecting the axle unit to the truck pulling it. They are used to haul long, rigid loads such as logs, and pipe. |
| PORT-OF-ENTRY | 1) Point where foreign goods/persons are admitted legally into receiving country, officially designated by government, with custom facilities located there to collect duties on imports. 2) Stations in US states that check trucks for compliance and also used by some states as a permit pickup center and weigh station facilities. |
| POSSOM BELLY | Livestock trailer with a drop frame. |
| POWER BRAKE | Accelerate while applying the brakes. |
| POWER OF ATTORNEY | A written instrument in which the principal (the person giving the power of attorney) authorizes another to act on his/her behalf. The instrument may be a blanket authorization, but more commonly it authorizes the agent to represent the principal in one specific transaction, as the closing of a real estate deal, or to do a certain act continuously, as the signing of checks. |
| PRISM (Performance and Registration Information Systems Management) | A federal program administered by the FMCSA that links safety fitness to state vehicle registration. |
| PRIVATE CARRIER | A company which maintains its own trucks or leased trucks to transport its own freight. |
| PRIVATE CARRIER BY MOTOR VEHICLE | Any person not included in the terms “common carrier by motor vehicle” or “contract carrier by motor vehicle” who transports in interstate or foreign commerce by motor vehicle, property of which such person is owner, lessee or bailee, when such transportation is for the purpose of sale, lease, rent or bailment or in furtherance of any commercial enterprise. |
| PROOF OF DELIVERY | Delivery receipt copy of freight bill signed by receiver at time of delivery. |
| PROPERTY DAMAGE | In insurance, generally refers to damage to physical property of others as distinct from personal injuries to others, commonly written in conjunction with such public liability or personal injury insurance. |
| PRORATE | To pay registration fees to a jurisdiction based on the percentage of miles operated in that jurisdiction. “Apportion” is a synonymous term. |
| PTDI | Professional Truck Driver Institute |
| PUBLIC LIABILITY | Insurance against loss from legal liability of the insured for injury or damage to persons or property. |
| PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION | Semi-independent state commission, operating under general legislative power controlling rates and services of public utilities (including motor carriers) within a state. |
| PULL THE PIN | Release the fifth wheel lock. |
| PUP (Pup Trailer) | A short semitrailer used in combination with a converter dolly and another semitrailer to create a twin-trailer combination. |
| PUSHER AXLE | Dead axle (non-powered), mounted in conjunction with a powered axle, single or tandem, to increase the weight-carrying capacity of the vehicle. |
| PUT ON THE AIR | Apply the brakes. |
| PUT ON THE IRON | Put on tire chains. |
| RAGTOP | Open-trailer covered with a tarpaulin. |
| RATE | The charge for transporting freight. |
| RECIPROCITY | 1) An exchange of rights. In motor transportation, may involve granting equal rights to vehicles of several states in which reciprocity agreements are in effect. 2) To give preference in buying to vendors who are customers of buying company. |
| RECIPROCITY MILES | Miles operated by a vehicle in jurisdictions that grant reciprocity and require no payment of registration fees. |
| REEFER | Refrigerated truck or trailer designed for hauling perishables. |
| REFUSE BODY | Truck body designed for loading and hauling rubbish. |
| REGULAR COMMON CARRIER | Any company authorized to serve the public and to transport general commodities over set routes. |
| REGULAR ROUTE COMMON CARRIER | Motor carrier operating over definite routes between specified points with fixed terminal on regular schedule. |
| RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION | Division of the US Department of Transportation responsible for the implementation and enforcement of hazardous materials regulations. (RSPA) |
| RESTRICTED ARTICLES | Commodities that can be handled only under certain specific conditions. |
| RESTRICTED PLATE | A plate that has time (less than a registration year); geographic area, mileage or commodity restriction, such as “Farm” or “Local”. |
| RIG | Truck; tractor-semitrailer; truck and full trailer, or other combination. |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN DOUBLE | A tractor pulling a 48-foot semi-trailer and a 28.5 –foot full trailer. Overall lengths range from 75 feet to 98 feet. |
| SADDLE TANK | Fuel storage area on a tractor. |
| SAFER (Safety and Electronic Fitness Record) | A federal system that facilitates the electronic exchange of carrier, vehicle, and driver safety and credential information among users and State and Federal systems. |
| SAFESTAT | An algorithm used by the FMCSA to prioritize carriers for compliance reviews. Uses census and safety data. |
| SAFETYNET | A distributed system, developed by the US Department of Transportation, used by State and Federal motor carrier safety enforcement offices, for managing roadside safety inspection data on both interstate and intrastate motor carriers and for electronically exchanging that data nationally. |
| SEA (Safety Evaluation Area) | The areas included in the SafeStat algorithm; driver SEA, vehicle SEA, safety management SEA, and accident SEA. |
| SEDAN DELIVERY BODY | Small panel truck body used on a passenger car chassis. |
| SELF-INSURANCE | Assumption of risk without insurance coverage through systematic provision of fund to provide for loss which individual/firm may suffer. |
| SEMI | Semitrailer; used loosely in referring to tractor and semitrailer combination. |
| SEMITRAILER | Truck trailer equipped with one or more axles and constructed so that the front end rests upon a truck tractor. |
| SETBACK AXLE | Front steering axle moved rearward from the generally accepted standard position. Advantages: Shorter turning radius and more of a vehicle’s weight shifted to front axle. |
| SHIPPING ORDER | Instructions to carrier for transportation of a shipment, usually a copy of the bill of lading. |
| SHIPPING WEIGHT | “Dry” weight of a truck, including all standard equipment, but excluding fuel and coolant. |
| SHORT TERM LEASE | A lease/contract, covering a period of 29 days or less, between two parties, wherein the owner (lessor) of the vehicle gives control of that vehicle to the other party (lessee). |
| SINGLE AXLE | Term commonly used to refer to a power unit having only one rear axle, thus, actually a two axle unit (1 steering axle and 1 powered axle at the rear), or a trailer having one axle only. |
| SINGLE-SOURCE LEASE | Contract/arrangement in which use of equipment, with or without driver is granted for compensation by owner to a private carrier. |
| SINGLE STATE REGISTRATION SYSTEM | A system of registering and filing proof of insurance with various states through a carrier’s base state. |
| SLEEPER | Sleeping compartment mounted behind a truck cab; sometimes attached to the cab or even designed to be an integral part of it. |
| SLEEPER TEAM | see Team |
| SLIDING FIFTH WHEEL | Fifth wheel mounted to a mechanism that allows it to be moved back and forth for the purpose of adjusting the distribution of weight on the tractor’s axles. Also provides the capability to vary vehicle combination lengths. |
| SLIDING TANDEM (SLIDER) | Mechanism that allows a tandem axle suspension to be moved back and forth at the rear of a semitrailer, for the purpose of adjusting the distribution of weight between the axles and fifth wheel. |
| SLIP-SEAT | Relay operation where drivers are changed periodically, but the truck continues from origin to destination. |
| SPEEDABILITY | Measure of top speed a vehicle can attain as determined by engine power, engine governed speed, gross weight, driveline, air resistance, grade and load. |
| SPECIAL FUEL | Term used to denote fuel OTHER THAN gasoline, such as diesel and LPG. |
| SPEEDOMETER | An instrument that indicates the speed of a vehicle; usually combined with an “odometer” which records the distance traveled. |
| SPLIT-SHIFTING | Simultaneous shifting of the gears in the main and auxiliary transmissions. |
| SPOKE WHEEL | see Cast Spoke Wheel |
| SPOTTER | Terminal yard driver who parks vehicles and backs trailers into a dock. |
| SPREAD AXLE (SPREAD TANDEM) | Tandem axle assembly spaced further apart than the standard spacing of 54 inches. The US federal bridge formula favors trailer axles with an extended spread by allowing higher weight than on tandems with standard spacing. |
| SSRS | see Single State Registration System |
| STAA | Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. |
| STACK | Vertical exhaust pipe. |
| STAKE BODY | Truck or trailer platform body with readily removable stakes which may be joined by chains, slats, or panels. |
| STEERING AXLE | An axle through which directional control of the vehicle is applied. It may be powered or non-powered and there may be more than one steering axle on a single unit. |
| STRAIGHT TRUCK | A truck with the body and engine mounted on the same chassis. |
| SURETY BOND | Contract between principle and responsible third party (surety) which makes surety monetarily responsible for principal’s fulfillment of obligation to obligee (party who is protected). |
| SUV | Sport Utility Vehicle. |
| SYNCHRONIZED TRANSMISSION | Transmission with built-in mechanisms to automatically “equalize” the speed of it’s gears to allow smooth shifting without the need to double clutch. |
| TACHOGRAPH | A device used in a cab to automatically record miles driven, number of stops, speed, and other factors during a trip. |
| TAG AXLE | see Axle |
| TANDEM | Semi-trailer or tractor with two rear axles. |
| TANDEM AXLE | An assembly of two axles, either of which may be powered. |
| TANKER | Truck, semi-trailer, or trailer with a tank body for hauling liquids. |
| TANK TRUCK CARRIER | Any for-hire carrier that serves the general public and is authorized to carry petroleum, chemical, liquid, or dry commodities in bulk, by means of specialized tank truck units. |
| TARE WEIGHT | see Chassis Weight |
| TATTLE-TALE | Tachograph. |
| TEAM | Pair of drivers who alternate driving and resting. |
| TEMPORARY PERMIT | A certificate issued by a State agency to a motor carrier as evidence of authority and/or payment of applicable fees to engage in the transportation of property within and/or through a state on a temporary or one-time basis. |
| TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) | Standardized unit for measuring container capacity on ships, railcars, etc. |
| THIRD STRUCTURE TAX | First two levels of tax on motor vehicles are registration and fuel tax; any other tax (axle, ton-mile, etc.) is third structure tax. |
| TL (Truckload) | The quantity of freight required to fill a trailer; usually more than 10,000 pounds. |
| TRUCK LOAD CARRIER | Trucking company which 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. |
| TOFC (Trailer on Flatcar) | Method of moving cargo which involves transporting semi-trailers on railroad flatcars. |
| TOLL | A charge made for the use of a facility such as a bridge or turnpike. |
| TRACER | A request that a carrier locate a shipment to speed its movement or to establish proof of delivery, or a request for an answer to a previously filled claim. |
| TRACTOR | see Truck-tractor |
| TRAILER | Vehicle designed without motive power to be drawn by another vehicle. Can be used to describe a full trailer or semitrailer. |
| TRANSPONDER | An electronic tag mounted in a motor vehicle that contains electronically stored information that can be retrieved by a roadside reader. |
| TRANSPORT | To move freight from one place to another. |
| TRI-AXLE | Three axle tractor or trailer. |
| TRIDEM | Group of 3 axles on a truck, tractor, or trailer. |
| TRIP LEASING | Leasing a company’s vehicle to another transportation provider for a single trip. |
| TRIPLE BOTTOM | see Triples |
| TRIPLES | Tractor pulling 3 pup trailers, each connected with a fifth wheel, the last 2 connected with converter dollies. |
| TRIP PERMIT | Temporary permit issued to commercial vehicle in lieu of regular apportioned credentials for a single trip through or within a State. |
| TRIP RECORDER | On-Board Computer, mounted in cab, which electronically or mechanically records data such as truck speed, engine rpm, idle time, and other information useful to trucking management. |
| TROLLY BRAKE | A hand valve used to operate the trailer brakes independently of the tractor brakes. |
| TRUCK | Vehicle which carries cargo in a body mounted to its chassis. |
| TRUCKER’S BIBLE | The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations handbook. |
| TRUCK-TRACTOR | Motor vehicle designed primarily for pulling semi-trailers; constructed to carry part of the weight and load of a semitrailer. |
| TURNPIKE DOUBLE | A tractor pulling two 48 foot or longer trailers. Lengths range from 105 ft to 118 ft. |
| TWINS (Twin Trailers) | see Doubles |
| TWIN SCREW | A truck or tractor with 2 rear axles, both driven by the engine. |
| UCR (Unified Carrier Register) | A National system that will serve as a clearing house and depository of information on and identification of all foreign and domestic motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders, and others required to register with the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as information on safety fitness and compliance with required levels of financial responsibility. |
| UNLADEN WEIGHT | The weight of the vehicle fully equipped for service excluding the weight of any load. |
| UPPER COUPLER | Load bearing surface on the underside of the front of a semitrailer. It rests on the fifth wheel of a tractor or dolly and has a downward protruding kingpin which is captured by the locking jaws of the fifth wheel. |
| U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION | see DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION |
| VALUATION, ACTUAL | True value of goods required to be shown on bill of lading, when rate to be applied is dependent on that fact. |
| VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) | Assigned by the manufacturer, this number is unique to each vehicle and appears on the vehicle’s registration and title. |
| WALKING FLOOR | Also referred to as a LIVE FLOOR. A trailer that has the capability of unloading cargo by mechanical means. |
| WAYBILL | Description of goods sent with a common carrier freight shipment. |
| WEIGH STATION | Permanent station equipped with scales at which motor vehicles transporting property on public highways are required to stop for checking of gross vehicle and/or axle weights; many states also use portable scales to check compliance’s with the State’s weight limits; also often combined with port of entry facilities. |
| WESTERN DOUBLE | A tractor pulling a 28 ½ ft. semitrailer and a 28 ½ ft. full trailer. Length may be 65 ft. or greater. |
| WHEEL BASE | The distance in inches between the center of the front axle and the center of the rearmost axle of a motor vehicle. |
| WIM (Weigh-In-Motion) | A scale for determining a vehicle’s weight without requiring it to come to a complete stop. |
| WINCH RIG | Straight truck or tractor with a hoist. |
| WRECKER | Truck designed for hoisting and towing disabled vehicles. |
| YARD JOCKEY | Person who operates a yard tractor. |
| YARD MULE | Small tractor used to move semi-trailers around the terminal yard. |