Truck Driving Terminology

This is how many miles a company’s average distance is between pick-up and delivery points.

An individual, partnership, or corporation engaged in the business of transporting goods or persons.

Two-way radio for which no license is required by the FCC.

Commercial Driver’s License

Refers to type of commercial driver’s license allowing an individual to drive tractor trailers.

Freight transportation company which serves the general public. May be a regular or irregular route.

This refers to a driver pulling freight for one specific customer, usually the same pick up and drop off points.

The scheduling and control of intercity traffic and intracity pick-up and delivery.

Department of Transportation

This is a term used to refer to when a driver simply “drops” his trailer at a customer location and “hooks” to another trailer.

This is a small area of land that trucking companies own and allows for drivers to park their trucks and trailers on it.

Non-liquid

This is a term used to define that a driver does NOT have the ability to accept or decline load assignments.

These are the common areas where trucking companies run in and around delivering freight.

These are bonuses given by trucking companies to drivers who can exceed a pre-set MPG average.

Global Positioning System

Hazardous Materials, as classified by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Transport of hazardous materials is strictly regulated by the US Department of Transportation.

U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations which govern the hours of service of commercial vehicle drivers engaged in interstate trucking operations.

Refers to the actual amount of miles a driver runs as per the odometer.

Between states.

Within a state.

A phrase used to describe a carrier that will haul freight from anywhere to anywhere with no set routes.

To place the trailer at a very sharp angle to the tractor.

Paid to a driver who is available for dispatch, but has no load assignment.

The non-working time that a road driver spends away from his home terminal before being dispatched to some other destination.

Method of purchasing a rig from a regulated carrier, whereby rent (paid to the carrier for the privilege of using the cab) is applied to the principle owed.

This is the freight that the driver is pulling in the trailer.

Distance traveled with a loaded trailer.

Process of systematizing information to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective flows of goods and services to produce customer satisfaction.

A quantity of freight less than that required for the application of a truckload (TL) rate; usually less than 10,000 pounds.

Trucking company which consolidates less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle.

Person who can load/unload the truck.

An acronym for Motor Vehicle Report. These are used to determine a drivers history and hiring eligibility.

A term used to refer to how much freight a driver is responsible to load or unload themselves.

Over-the-Road

This is an electronic system in trucks that allows for drivers to bypass scales (weigh stations).

This is a word that often refers to Satellite Communications. Qualcomm is considered the largest supplier of these systems.

This refers to a type of driving position when a driver is kept with in a region, such as the southeast.

The course or direction that a shipment moves.

These are on board computers that help with mapping, two-way communication with dispatch and even e-mail.

A facility including building structures, and equipment for the storage transfer, handling, delivery, and reception of vehicles and materials.

The quantity of freight required to fill a trailer; usually more than 10,000 pounds.

Trucking company which dedicates trailers to a single shipper’s cargo, as opposed to an LTL carrier.

Person who operates a yard tractor.

Special tractor used to move trailers around a terminal, warehouse, distribution center, etc.