Resources
Freight glossary
- Accessorials
- Charges for services beyond standard pickup and delivery, such as liftgate, detention or inside delivery.
- BOL (Bill of Lading)
- Legal document between shipper and carrier describing the freight, quantities and destination.
- Broker
- A company that arranges transportation by connecting shippers with motor carriers, without operating trucks itself.
- Consignee
- The party receiving the shipment.
- Cross-dock
- Transferring freight directly from inbound to outbound trucks with little or no storage.
- Deadhead
- Miles a truck drives empty, without a paying load.
- Detention
- Charges when a truck is held at a facility beyond the agreed free time.
- Drop trailer
- A trailer left at a facility for loading or unloading while the driver leaves.
- Dry Van
- An enclosed, non-temperature-controlled trailer, most commonly 53 ft long.
- Flatbed
- An open trailer with no sides or roof, used for freight loaded from the side or top.
- Freight Class
- LTL classification based on density, handling, stowability and liability that affects pricing.
- FTL (Full Truckload)
- A shipment that uses an entire trailer for one shipper.
- FTL Rate
- The price for moving a full truckload, typically quoted per load or per mile.
- Layover
- Compensation when a driver must wait overnight or longer before loading or unloading.
- LTL (Less Than Truckload)
- A shipment that shares trailer space with other shippers' freight.
- Lumper
- A third-party worker hired to load or unload freight at a facility.
- MC Number
- Motor carrier operating authority number issued by FMCSA for for-hire interstate operations.
- POD (Proof of Delivery)
- Signed document confirming the freight was delivered.
- Rate Confirmation
- Agreement between broker and carrier detailing load information and pay.
- Reefer
- A refrigerated trailer used for temperature-controlled freight.
- Shipper
- The party sending the freight.
- TONU (Truck Order Not Used)
- A fee paid when a truck is dispatched but the load is cancelled.
- USDOT Number
- Unique identifier issued by FMCSA to track a company's safety information.