Trucking Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms every owner-operator needs to know — from MC authority to TONU, IFTA to HOS. Written by dispatchers, not lawyers.
B
Backhaul
A backhaul is a return load picked up near a delivery destination to avoid driving empty on the way back to a carrier's home base or next pickup location.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
A Bill of Lading is a legal document issued by a carrier or shipper that details the type, quantity, and destination of freight being transported.
Box Truck
A box truck is a medium-duty truck with an integrated enclosed cargo area, typically used for local and regional deliveries, multi-stop routes, and smaller shipments.
C
Cross-Dock
Cross-docking is a logistics practice where freight is transferred directly from an inbound truck to an outbound truck at a facility with minimal or no warehousing time.
CSA Score
A CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score is a safety rating system used by the FMCSA to evaluate and rank motor carriers and drivers based on inspection and crash data.
D
Deadhead Miles
Deadhead miles are the miles a truck drives empty without any freight, generating zero revenue while still costing fuel and wear.
Detention
Detention pay is additional compensation paid to a carrier when loading or unloading takes longer than the agreed-upon free time, typically after a 2-hour window.
Dispatch Service
A dispatch service is a company that finds loads, negotiates rates, handles paperwork, and manages logistics for owner-operators in exchange for a percentage of the load revenue.
DOT Number
A Department of Transportation number is a unique identifier assigned to commercial motor carriers for safety tracking, inspections, and compliance monitoring.
Drayage
Drayage is the short-distance transport of shipping containers between ports, rail terminals, and nearby warehouses or distribution centers.
Drop Trailer
Drop trailer (drop and hook) is a loading method where a carrier drops off a pre-loaded trailer and hooks up to a different trailer, avoiding wait time for loading or unloading.
Dry Van
A dry van is the most common type of enclosed semi-trailer used for transporting non-perishable, non-temperature-sensitive freight.
F
Factoring
Factoring is a financial service where a factoring company pays the carrier immediately for delivered loads (minus a small fee) instead of waiting 30-90 days for broker payment.
Flatbed
A flatbed is an open trailer with no sides, roof, or doors, used to transport oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped freight that cannot fit in an enclosed trailer.
FMCSA
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the US government agency that regulates the trucking industry, issues operating authority, and enforces safety standards.
Freight Broker
A freight broker is a licensed intermediary that connects shippers who need freight moved with carriers who have available trucks, earning a commission on each transaction.
Freight Lane
A freight lane is a specific origin-to-destination route that carriers regularly run, with predictable freight volumes, rates, and demand patterns.
Fuel Surcharge
A fuel surcharge is an additional per-mile charge added to the freight rate that adjusts for fluctuations in diesel fuel prices, protecting carriers from volatile fuel costs.
H
Hazmat Endorsement
A hazmat endorsement is a CDL qualification required to transport hazardous materials, involving a written test, TSA background check, and fingerprinting.
Hotshot
Hotshot trucking uses medium-duty trucks (typically Class 3-5) with smaller trailers to haul time-sensitive or smaller loads that do not require a full semi-truck.
Hours of Service (HOS)
Hours of Service are federal regulations that limit how many hours a commercial truck driver can drive and work before mandatory rest periods.
I
IFTA
IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) is a tax agreement between US states and Canadian provinces that simplifies fuel tax reporting for carriers operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Intermodal
Intermodal freight transport uses multiple modes of transportation (truck, rail, ship) with standardized containers that transfer between modes without unloading the cargo.
L
Layover
Layover pay is compensation for a carrier when they are forced to wait overnight or an extended period between pickup and delivery due to scheduling issues.
Live Load/Unload
Live loading and unloading means the driver waits at the facility while freight is physically loaded onto or removed from their trailer in real-time.
Load Board
A load board is an online marketplace where freight brokers and shippers post available loads and carriers search for freight to haul.
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
LTL is a shipping method where multiple shippers share space on a single truck, each paying only for the portion of the trailer their freight occupies.
Lumper Fee
A lumper fee is a charge for third-party labor used to load or unload freight at a warehouse or distribution center, separate from the carrier's transportation rate.
O
Operating Authority
Operating authority is the federal permission granted by the FMCSA that allows a company to operate as a for-hire carrier, broker, or freight forwarder in interstate commerce.
Oversize Load
An oversize load is any shipment that exceeds the standard legal dimensions or weight limits for highway travel, requiring special permits, equipment, and often escort vehicles.
Owner-Operator
An owner-operator is a truck driver who owns or leases their own commercial vehicle and operates as an independent business rather than being employed by a trucking company.
P
Per Mile Rate
The per mile rate is the amount a carrier is paid for each mile driven on a load, and is the primary measure of load profitability in trucking.
Power Only
Power only is a trucking arrangement where a carrier provides just the truck (tractor) to pull a pre-loaded trailer owned by the shipper, broker, or another carrier.
Proof of Delivery (POD)
A Proof of Delivery is a signed document confirming that freight was delivered to the correct receiver at the correct location in acceptable condition.
R
Rate Confirmation
A rate confirmation is a written agreement between a carrier and broker that specifies the load details, pay rate, pickup/delivery requirements, and terms of the haul.
Receiver
A receiver is the company or person who accepts delivery of freight at the destination — they are the end point of the shipment and sign the Proof of Delivery.
Reefer
A reefer (refrigerated trailer) is a temperature-controlled semi-trailer used to transport perishable goods like produce, meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals.
S
Shipper
A shipper is the company or person who sends freight — they are the origin point of the supply chain and the entity that needs goods transported from one location to another.
Step Deck
A step deck (also called a drop deck) is a flatbed trailer with a lower rear deck that provides extra vertical clearance for hauling taller freight while staying within legal height limits.
T
Tanker Endorsement
A tanker endorsement is an additional CDL qualification required to drive a commercial vehicle transporting liquid or gaseous cargo in bulk tanks.
TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)
TONU is a fee charged to the broker or shipper when a carrier arrives at a pickup location and the load is cancelled, not ready, or significantly different than booked.
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We're adding new terms regularly. If you need a definition, our dispatchers are happy to explain anything during a free 15-minute call.