Trucking glossary

169 trucking and dispatch terms in plain English. Tap a letter to jump.

0–9

10-hour break

The 10 consecutive hours off duty (or in the sleeper berth) a property-carrying driver needs before a new 14-hour window starts.

11-hour limit

A property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

14-hour window

Once a driver comes on duty, all driving must happen within the next 14 hours. Breaks don't stop the clock.

30-minute break

Required after 8 cumulative hours of driving without a 30-minute interruption. On-duty not driving, off-duty or sleeper time all count.

34-hour restart

Taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty resets a driver's 60/70-hour cycle to zero.

60/70-hour limit

A driver can't drive after 60 on-duty hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days if the carrier runs every day of the week.

A

Accessorial charges

Extra pay on top of the line haul for extra work or time: detention, layover, lumper, TONU, stop-off, tarping and similar.

Accident register

A list every motor carrier must keep of DOT-recordable crashes for 3 years, with date, place, driver, injuries and fatalities.

Adverse driving conditions

An exception that lets a driver extend the 11-hour limit and the 14-hour window by up to 2 hours for unexpected snow, fog or traffic from a crash.

Agent (freight agent)

A salesperson who books freight under a broker's or carrier's authority and shares the margin.

Air-mile radius

Distance measured in a straight line (1 air mile = 6,076 feet). Used for the 150 air-mile short-haul exception.

Apportioned plates

IRP license plates that let a truck run in every member state, with registration fees split by miles in each state.

Appointment

A set pickup or delivery time at a shipper or receiver. Missing it can mean a reschedule or a fine.

Authority (operating authority)

FMCSA permission to haul regulated freight for pay across state lines, shown by an MC number.

Axle weight

The weight on one axle or axle group. Federal interstate limits are 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem.

B

Backhaul

A load that brings the truck back toward home or out of a market after delivering. Often pays less than the headhaul.

Bill of lading (BOL)

The shipping document that lists the freight, shipper and receiver. The signed copy at delivery becomes proof of delivery.

Blind shipment

A load where the shipper and receiver don't see each other's names on the paperwork.

BOC-3

The FMCSA form that names a process agent in every state to accept legal papers for a carrier or broker. Required before authority goes active.

Bobtail

A tractor driving without a trailer.

Box truck

A straight truck with an enclosed cargo box, often 26 feet long. Many are under 26,001 lb GVWR and don't need a CDL.

Bridge formula

The federal formula that limits weight on groups of axles based on how many axles there are and how far apart they are.

Broker

A company licensed by FMCSA to arrange transportation between shippers and carriers. Brokers need a $75,000 bond or trust.

Broker bond (BMC-84/BMC-85)

The $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) a broker must keep on file with FMCSA.

Broker-carrier agreement

The master contract a carrier signs during setup with a broker. It sets payment terms, claims rules and what's not allowed, like re-brokering.

C

Cab card

The IRP registration document kept in the truck that shows the states and weights the truck is registered for.

Cargo insurance

Covers the freight you haul if it's damaged or lost. Many brokers ask for $100,000 or more.

Cargo securement

Federal rules for tying down cargo (49 CFR 393 Subpart I): number of tie-downs, working load limits and blocking.

Cargo van

A van such as a Sprinter or Transit used for small, fast loads. It doesn't need a CDL.

Carrier packet

The documents a broker asks for before your first load: authority letter, W-9, certificate of insurance and often a notice of assignment.

CDL

Commercial driver's license. Needed for vehicles over 26,000 lb GVWR, combinations over 26,000 lb towing over 10,000 lb, 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazmat.

CDLIS driver record

The CDL driving record each state keeps in the national Commercial Driver's License Information System. For CDL and CLP holders it now shows medical certification status. Read the guide

Chain law

State rules that require trucks to carry or put on tire chains on certain roads in winter, such as in Colorado and California.

Chassis

The wheeled frame a shipping container sits on for drayage.

Check call

An update the driver or dispatcher gives the broker on the load's location and status.

Claim (cargo claim)

A request for payment when freight is damaged, short or lost.

Clearinghouse

FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, the database of CDL drivers' testing violations. Employers must query it before hiring and once a year.

Certificate of insurance (COI)

A one-page proof of your coverage that brokers ask for, usually listing them as certificate holder.

Conestoga

A flatbed or step deck with a sliding tarp system, so freight is covered but can load from the side or top.

Consignee

The person or company receiving the freight.

Consortium (C/TPA)

A third-party administrator that runs drug and alcohol testing and random selections for small carriers and owner-operators.

Contract freight

Freight moved at agreed rates over a period of time, as opposed to one-time spot loads.

Cost per mile (CPM)

Everything it costs to run the truck divided by miles driven. The floor for any rate you accept.

Credit check

Checking how fast and how reliably a broker pays before booking its load.

Cross-dock

A facility where freight is moved straight from inbound trucks to outbound trucks with little or no storage.

CSA

FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program. It scores carriers in seven areas (BASICs) from inspections and crashes.

Cubed out

A trailer that's full by space before it reaches its weight limit.

CVSA inspection levels

Roadside inspection types. Level I is a full driver and vehicle inspection, Level II a walk-around, Level III checks the driver and paperwork only.

D

Days to pay

How many days a broker usually takes to pay an invoice. Shown by credit services and factoring companies.

Deadhead

Miles driven empty, such as to the next pickup. Unpaid miles that still cost fuel and time.

Detention

Pay for waiting at a shipper or receiver past the free time, often after 2 hours. The rate must be on the rate confirmation.

Dispatcher

The person who finds loads, negotiates rates and handles paperwork and broker calls for a carrier. Works for the carrier, not the broker.

Double brokering

Re-brokering a load to another carrier without permission, or brokering without broker authority. It's illegal and a common fraud.

Drayage

Short hauls of containers between ports, rail yards and nearby warehouses.

Driver qualification file (DQ file)

The file a carrier must keep for each driver: application, MVR, road test or CDL copy, medical card and past employer checks.

Drop and hook

Dropping a trailer and picking up a preloaded one instead of waiting for a live load or unload.

Dry van

An enclosed, non-refrigerated trailer, usually 53 feet. The most common trailer type.

Dunnage

Wood, airbags or other material used to block and brace freight.

DVIR

Driver vehicle inspection report. Drivers must list defects found; carriers must repair and certify them.

E

EIN

Employer identification number from the IRS. Needed to open business accounts and fill out a W-9.

ELD

Electronic logging device. Records driving time from the engine and is required for most drivers who keep hours-of-service logs.

ELDT (entry-level driver training)

FMCSA training required since Feb. 7, 2022 before a first Class A or B CDL, a B-to-A upgrade, or a first S, P or H endorsement. Theory plus behind-the-wheel, from a provider on the Training Provider Registry. Read the guide

Endorsement (CDL)

An extra CDL permission after a test, such as H (hazmat), N (tank), T (doubles/triples) and X (tank + hazmat).

ETA

Estimated time of arrival.

F

Factoring

Selling your freight invoices to a factoring company to get paid in a day or two instead of waiting 30+ days, for a fee.

FCFS

First come, first served: no appointment, loaded or unloaded in order of arrival during open hours.

Fifth wheel

The coupling plate on the tractor that locks onto the trailer's kingpin.

Flatbed

An open trailer with no sides or roof for freight loaded from the side or top, like steel and lumber.

FMCSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the part of the U.S. DOT that regulates trucking companies, brokers and drivers.

Force dispatch

Being required to take the loads you're given. Fleetorica never force-dispatches: you approve every load.

Form 2290 (HVUT)

The IRS heavy vehicle use tax return for trucks with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lb or more. Filed each year for the July–June period.

Freight class (NMFC)

An LTL pricing class from 50 to 500 based on the item's density and handling. Higher classes cost more to ship.

FTL (full truckload)

One shipment that uses the whole trailer or its full weight, going from one shipper to one receiver.

Fuel card

A card for diesel purchases that often gives discounts at truck stops and records fuel for IFTA.

Fuel surcharge (FSC)

Extra pay per mile to cover diesel prices above an agreed base price. Common in contract freight.

G

General liability

Insurance for injuries or damage that happen outside of driving, such as at a dock. Some shippers ask for it.

Gooseneck

A trailer hitch that connects in the pickup bed, or a trailer built that way. Common in hotshot.

Gross (load gross)

What a load pays before any costs. Fleetorica's fee is a percentage of the gross of loads we book.

Gross weight

The weight of the truck, trailer and cargo together. The federal interstate limit is usually 80,000 lb.

GVWR

Gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight the manufacturer rates a vehicle for.

H

Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP)

An FMCSA permit needed on top of PHMSA registration to haul certain high-risk hazmat, such as large amounts of explosives or some inhalation hazards. It requires a Satisfactory safety rating. Read the guide

Hazmat

Hazardous materials. Needs a hazmat endorsement, placards when required, special insurance and, for some materials, a hazmat safety permit.

Headhaul

The better-paying direction on a lane, usually out of a strong freight market.

Hotshot

A heavy-duty pickup pulling a flatbed or gooseneck trailer for smaller, urgent loads.

Hours of service (HOS)

Federal rules that limit how long a commercial driver can drive and work (49 CFR 395).

I

IFTA

International Fuel Tax Agreement. Carriers file one quarterly return that splits fuel tax among the states by miles driven.

Intermodal

Freight that moves in a container by more than one mode, such as rail and truck.

Interstate commerce

Hauling that crosses state lines, or is part of a trip that does. Regulated by FMCSA.

Intrastate commerce

Hauling that stays within one state. Many states have their own authority and rules for it.

IRP

International Registration Plan. Registers a truck in all member states with one set of apportioned plates.

K

Kingpin

The steel pin under the front of a trailer that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel.

L

Lane

A route between two markets, like Dallas to Atlanta.

Layover

Pay when a truck has to wait overnight or longer because a pickup or delivery was pushed back.

Lease-on

An owner-operator running under another carrier's authority and insurance instead of their own.

Letter of release (LOR)

A letter from your old factoring company telling brokers it no longer collects your invoices.

Line haul

The base pay for moving a load from origin to destination, before accessorials and fuel surcharge.

Live load / live unload

The driver waits while the freight is loaded or unloaded.

Load board

An online marketplace where brokers post loads and carriers post trucks, such as DAT and Truckstop.

Load tracking

Sharing the truck's location with a broker through an app or the ELD during a load.

Lowboy

A very low trailer for tall, heavy equipment like excavators.

LTL

Less than truckload: smaller shipments from several shippers sharing one trailer.

Lumper

A worker paid to unload a truck at a warehouse. Get a receipt; the broker usually reimburses it.

M

MC number

The docket number FMCSA gives a for-hire carrier or broker with operating authority.

MCS-150

The form to register or update a USDOT number. Carriers must update it every 2 years even if nothing changed.

MCS-90

An endorsement on the liability policy that guarantees payment to the public up to the federal minimum.

Medical card

The DOT medical examiner's certificate an interstate driver of a commercial vehicle over 10,000 lb must have, with or without a CDL. It's valid for up to 24 months. CDL and CLP holders no longer carry it: their status is on the state driving record. Read the guide

Motor carrier

A company that hauls freight with its own trucks, for pay (for-hire) or for its own goods (private).

Motus

FMCSA's registration system since May 2026. It replaced URS, the L&I filing site and the FMCSA Portal for USDOT and MC registration, insurance and process agent records. Read the guide

N

National Registry (medical examiners)

FMCSA's list of medical examiners certified to do DOT physicals. Examiners report each result to FMCSA by midnight of the next day. Read the guide

New entrant

A new carrier in FMCSA's 18-month monitoring program. It must pass a safety audit, usually within the first 12 months.

Non-recourse factoring

The factor takes the loss if a broker can't pay because it went out of business. Costs more than recourse.

Non-trucking liability

Covers a leased owner-operator when driving the truck for personal use, outside of dispatch.

Notice of assignment (NOA)

A letter from your factoring company telling a broker to pay the factor, not you.

O

Occupational accident insurance

Covers medical costs and lost income for an owner-operator hurt on the job. Often used instead of workers' comp.

OS&D

Over, short and damaged: a note on the delivery paperwork that the freight didn't arrive as shipped.

Out-of-service (OOS)

An order from an inspector that stops a driver or truck until a violation is fixed.

Oversize / overweight permit

A state permit to haul a load that's wider, taller, longer or heavier than legal limits.

Owner-operator

A driver who owns (or leases) the truck and runs it as a business, under their own authority or leased on.

P

Pallet exchange

When a receiver swaps empty pallets for the loaded ones. Should be spelled out before you book.

Partial

A load that uses only part of the trailer, so another load can ride along.

Per diem

A daily meal allowance. For drivers under DOT hours rules, 80% of the IRS transportation rate is deductible for days away from home.

Personal conveyance

Moving the truck off duty for personal reasons, like going from a shipper to a nearby rest area. It can't advance a load.

PHMSA hazmat registration

The yearly registration (July 1 to June 30) a company needs from PHMSA to haul hazmat that requires placards, among other amounts. Read the guide

Physical damage insurance

Covers damage to your own truck and trailer. Usually required by the lender if the truck is financed.

Placard

The diamond-shaped sign on a truck that shows the class of hazardous material on board.

POD

Proof of delivery: the bill of lading signed by the receiver. Needed to get paid.

Power only

A carrier provides only the tractor and driver and pulls a trailer owned by the shipper or broker.

Pre-trip inspection

The check a driver does before driving: brakes, tires, lights, coupling, fluids and cargo.

Primary liability insurance

Covers damage and injuries you cause to others while driving. Federal minimum for most general freight is $750,000; brokers usually want $1,000,000.

PRO number

A tracking number assigned to a shipment, often used as the reference on invoices.

Process agent

A person or company that accepts legal papers for a carrier in a state. Filed through a BOC-3.

Pulp temperature

The temperature inside produce. Reefer drivers check it at pickup to prove the load was loaded at the right temperature.

Q

Quick pay

A broker's option to pay you within a few days for a fee, instead of normal terms.

R

Rate confirmation

The broker's written load agreement: pay, stops, times, accessorials and terms. Read it before you sign.

Rate per mile (RPM)

A load's pay divided by its miles. Compare loads by pay per total mile, including deadhead.

Recourse factoring

If a broker never pays, you owe the advance back to the factor. Cheaper than non-recourse.

Reefer

A refrigerated trailer for food and other temperature-controlled freight.

Reload

The next load booked out of the area where the truck delivers.

RGN

Removable gooseneck: a heavy-haul trailer whose front detaches so equipment can drive on.

S

Safety audit

FMCSA's review of a new carrier's records: drug testing, driver files, HOS, maintenance and insurance.

Safety rating

FMCSA's rating after a compliance review: Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory. Most carriers are unrated.

SAFER

FMCSA's public website to look up a carrier or broker's USDOT, MC, authority status and inspection summary.

Scale ticket

The printed weight from a certified scale, showing axle and gross weights.

Seal

A numbered tag that locks the trailer doors. The number goes on the BOL and must match at delivery.

Shipper

The company sending the freight.

Short-haul exception

Drivers who stay within 150 air miles, return to their work location and finish within 14 hours can use time records instead of logs.

Sleeper berth

The bed area in a truck cab. Sleeper time can be split (7/3 or 8/2) to meet the 10-hour break.

Spot market

One-time loads priced at today's market rate, usually booked through load boards and brokers.

Sprinter van

A large cargo van used for expedited freight. It doesn't need a CDL.

Step deck

A flatbed with a lower rear deck for taller freight that won't fit on a standard flatbed.

Stop-off pay

Extra pay for each additional pickup or delivery stop on a load.

Straight truck

A truck where the cab and cargo box are on one frame, like a box truck.

T

Tandem

Two axles close together. On a semi, the drive axles and the trailer axles are each a tandem.

Tarp pay

Extra pay for covering a flatbed load with tarps.

Team drivers

Two drivers sharing one truck so it can keep moving while one rests.

TONU

Truck ordered, not used: a fee paid when a load is canceled after the truck was dispatched.

Tractor

The truck that pulls a semi-trailer.

Trailer interchange

An agreement to pull someone else's trailer, plus the insurance that covers damage to it.

Training Provider Registry (TPR)

FMCSA's list of schools and programs allowed to give ELDT. The provider reports your completion there, and the state checks it before the CDL skills test. Read the guide

Transload

Moving freight from one container or trailer into another, such as from an ocean container into a 53-foot trailer.

TWIC

Transportation Worker Identification Credential from TSA. Needed for unescorted access to secure areas of ports.

U

UCR

Unified Carrier Registration, a yearly federal registration fee for interstate carriers and brokers, based on fleet size.

UIIA

The standard agreement a carrier signs to pull intermodal containers and chassis owned by ocean or rail carriers.

USDOT number

The ID FMCSA gives to every company that runs commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. Must be shown on both sides of the truck.

W

W-9

The IRS form with your legal name and EIN that brokers need before paying you.

Weigh station

A roadside station where trucks are weighed and may be inspected.

Weight-distance tax

A state tax per mile based on weight. Kentucky, New Mexico, New York and Oregon have one, and Connecticut has a highway use fee.

Working load limit (WLL)

The most weight a tie-down is rated to hold. Total WLL must be at least half the cargo's weight.

Y

Yard move

Moving a truck within a yard or terminal, logged as on-duty not driving.

Questions carriers ask