Typical Trucking Terms

Appointment: When it is necessary to call ahead to arrange a specific day for delivery, A.M or P.M is usually stipulated. Additional charges may apply.
Back-Haul: A lane in which a carrier may frequently have partial or empty trailers running.
Bay or Dock: Used to describe place in warehouse trailer will be taken, to be loaded/un-loaded.
Bill of Lading (BOL): Legal document filled out by shipper stating type, weight and quantity of freight.
Claim: Form filled out when freight is damaged or lost.
Classification: Guidelines to assign characteristics to describe freight primarily for billing purposes. (See NMFC)
Common Carrier: (See LTL)
Density: Determined by measuring, Length x Width x Height divided by 1728 = cubic feet. Divide the weight by the cubic feel to give the density.
Discount: The percentage taken off the carrier's basic rates for billing.
Dock: See Bay
Double: Two trailers pulled by one tractor.
FAK: (Freight All Kinds) Specialized rates where several similar commodities may fall under one classification. Usually only given to very high volume customers.
Freight Broker: A person or organization you contact to make shipping arrangements for you. They will add charges over what they pay and bill you.
Freight Forwarder: Similar to a freight broker but generally specialize in over-seas and/or air freight. They consolidate many individual shipments together for shipping in a single container and arrange delivery upon arrival at destination port. They are also specialists in customs paperwork and duties.
Head-Haul: A lane that regularly has trailers running full or at capacity.
Hub: A large terminal where freight from regional terminals is organized for transit.
Inside delivery: Charges assessed by a trucking company for delivery within an establishment or home. Charges are in addition to normal freight chages. Appointment many be needed as well as liftgate delivery.
Inspector: Person from independent company who will evaluate freight for damage and estimate loss.
Interline: Term used when freight is given to smaller usually rural regional carriers.
Inter-state: Freight originating in one state, going to another.
Intra-state: Freight whose origin and destination are withing the same state.
Lane: Specific routes trucks are dispatched (usually on daily basis).
Liftgate: The use of a special truck which can load, un-load without a loading dock. An attached movable ramp can be lowered from trailer to raise heavy items or fork lift. Additional charges usually apply. Appointment usually needed.
Line-Haul: The group within the carrier responsible for proper allocation of equipment thoughout service area.
LTL: Less Than Truck Load freight carrier.
NMFC: National Motor Freight Classification, assigned independently by the NMFTA.
Pro: Tracking number assigned to freight.
Pup: Term used for 28 foot trailers. Typically used by LTL carriers.
Rail: The use of freight trains to move goods.
Reefer: A refrigerated trailer.
Release Value: The maximum a carrier will pay on a claim per pound for a certain classification or commodity.
Set: (See Double)
Tarriff: A published set of guidelines established by the carrier that designates their legal liabilities.
Terminal: Regional location where freight is organized for local delivery, transit to other terminals or hubs.
Terminal Manager: Person responsible for running a regional dock complex where freight is transferred to other trailers for delivery or transit to other areas.
TL: Truck Load
Top-Freight: Light weight, usually sturdy freight packed in boxes that can be stacked on top of other fright to fill a trailer.
Tractor: The motorized portion of the truck.
Transit Time: The normal amount of time it takes for freight to go from one point to another. Not generally guaranteed.
Triple: Three trailers pulled by one tractor. Illegal in some states.
Weigh & Inspection (W&I): When freight is inspected for mis-classification, weight and packaging by a trucking company.