For a glossary and dictionary of trucking terms click here.

 

Addendum to the Glossary of terms:

 

NATO Alphabet or international alphabet: used to spell out information using phrase, A as in alpha etc.

Alpha-A	November-N
Bravo-B	Oscar-O
Charlie-C	Papa-P
Delta-D	Quebec-Q
Echo-E	Romeo-R
Foxtrot-F	Sierra-S
Golf-G	Tango-T
Hotel-H	Uniform-U
India-I	Victor-V
Juliet-J	Whiskey-W
Kilo-K	X-ray-X
Lima-L	Yankee-Y
Mike-M	Zulu-Z

 

Gen Sets – Engines that are connected to a generator that produces 3.5 to 8.0 kilowatts of power for accessory units, which are self contained and often remotely located.

 

APU’s – Auxillary power unit that uses the trucks existing components and a diesel engine of their own.

Cd -Coefficient of drag: that is the aerodynamic shape of the truck.

 

C-TPAT – Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: Joint government-business initiatives to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security.

 

3PL – Third party Logistics: The management of the transportation needs of a company by an outside source that may include inventory, warehousing, document control, brokering etc.

 

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification:  A method of identifying unique items using radio waves.  Typically, a reader communicates with a tag, which holds digital information in a microchip.  It is a tracking device placed on loads or trailers, trucks, pallets etc.  

 

NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement:  an agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico to allow access to all U.S. roads.  Previously Canadian and Mexican trucks were confined to a 20-mile commercial border zone. 

 

TWIC: Transportation Workers Identification Card is a proposed separate card issued to transportation workers in place of the drivers’ license for identification.

 

Acronyms:

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DHS – Department of Homeland Security

HM-232 – Security requirements for Offerors and Transporters of Hazardous Materials, a rule making issued by RSPA.

HM – Hazardous Material

HMR – Hazardous material regulations

HRCQ – Highway Route-Controlled Quantity (of RAM)

HSAS – Homeland Security Advisory System (with 5 color-coded levels)

PIH – Poisonous by Inhalation (synonymous with Toxic by Inhalation)

RAM – Radio Active Material

TSA – Transportation Security Administration (in DHS)

VBIEDs – Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive devices (car bombs often suicide bombers)

VOC – Volatile Organic Compound- The principle components in the chemical and physical atmospheric reactions that form ozone and other photo-chemical oxidants. 

DIHF – Driver Information History File