| 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. |
| AFV | Alternative Fueled Vehicle |
| APU's | Auxillary power unit that uses the trucks existing components and a diesel engine of their own. |
| Berth | Sleeping compartment behind the cab |
| Bill of Lading | Itemized list of goods contained in a shipment |
| Bobtail | Tractor operating without a trailer |
| C-TPAT | Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: Joint government-business initiatives to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security. |
| Cabover | Cab-Over-Engine (COE) |
| CB | Citizens Band Radio |
| Cd | Coefficient of drag: that is the aerodynamic shape of the truck. |
| CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CDL | Commercial Drivers License |
| CPM | Cents per mile |
| Deadhead | Truck with no cargo |
| DER | Designated Employer Representative |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DIHF | Driver Information History File |
| DOT | Department of Transportation |
| No terms starting with "E" |
| FMCSA | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
| 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. |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GVW | Gross Vehicle Weight |
| GVWR | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating |
| Hazmat | Hazardous material |
| HM | Hazardous Material |
| HM-232 | Security requirements for Offerors and Transporters of Hazardous Materials, a rule making issued by RSPA. |
| HMR | Hazardous material regulations |
| HOS | Hours of Service |
| HRCQ | Highway Route-Controlled Quantity (of RAM) |
| HSAS | Homeland Security Advisory System (with 5 color-coded levels) |
| IFTA | International Fuel Tax Agreement |
| Jackknife | Tractor and trailer are in different directions |
| No terms starting with "K" |
| LCV | Long Combination Vehicle |
| MRO | Medical Review Officer |
| 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. |
| OTR | Over-the-Road |
| PIH | Poisonous by Inhalation (synonymous with Toxic by Inhalation) |
| No terms starting with "Q" |
| RAM | Radio Active Material |
| Reefer | Refrigerated trailer that has a cooling unit in the front and insulated walls. |
| 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. |
| No terms starting with "S" |
| TSA | Transportation Security Administration |
| TWIC | Transportation Workers Identification Card is a proposed separate card issued to transportation workers in place of the drivers’ license for identification. |
| No terms starting with "U" |
| VBIEDs | Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive devices (car bombs often suicide bombers) |
| VIN | Vehicle Identification Number |
| VOC | Volatile Organic Compound- The principle components in the chemical and physical atmospheric reactions that form ozone and other photo-chemical oxidants. |
| No terms starting with "W" |
| No terms starting with "X" |
| No terms starting with "Y" |
| No terms starting with "Z" |