Trucking Glossary

Ad Valorem Tax

A charge levied on persons or organizations based on the value of transaction. It is normally a given percentage of the price of the retail or manufacturing stage and is a common form of sales tax; e.g. Federal excise tax on new trucks and trailers

Backhaul

Refers to a load of freight which permits a trucker to return to his home with a loaded truck, rather than an empty one.

Bill of Lading

An itemized list of goods contained in a shipment

Billing

Preparation of the freight bill, the primary document for a common carrier shipment including a description of the freight, number of pieces and charges

Bogie

An auxiliary axle assembly having a fifth wheel used for purpose of converting a semitrailer to a full trailer. Dollies can be used to haul multiple trailers behind a single power unit. (Also referred to as dolly)

Break Bulk

To separate a composite load into individual shipments and route to different destinations;

Break Bulk Terminal

A terminal designed to act as an intermediate sorting point for interregional freight. Freight from various end-of-line terminals is sent to a regional break bulk terminal to be combined into full trailers that the carrier then routes to a subsequent end-of-line terminals. Example: freight destined for Texas from a Binghamton, NY terminal might go to Stroudsburg, PA to be combined with other freight destined for Texas from other Eastern cities.

Carload

Single shipment of freight required to fill a rail car

CWT

Hundred weight, or one hundred pounds

Claim

(a) A demand made upon a transportation company for payment, due to loss or damage of freight alleged to have occurred while shipment was in possession of carrier.

(b) A demand upon a transportation company for refund of an overcharges from the erroneous application of rates, weights, and assessment of freight charges

Class I Motor Carriers *

Common or contract motor carriers of property that have average gross operating revenues of $5,000,000 or more annually from motor carrier operations

Class II Motor Carriers *

Common or contract motor carriers of property that have average gross operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more , but under $5,000,000 annually from motor carrier operations

Class III Motor Carriers *

Common or contract motor carriers of property that have average gross operating revenues of less than $1,000,000 annually from motor carrier operations

Class I Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 6,000 lbs or less

Class II Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 6,001-10,000 lbs

Class III Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 10,001-14,000 lbs

Class IV Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 14,001-16,000 lbs

Class V Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 16,001-19,500 lbs

Class VI Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 19,501-26,000 lbs

Class VII Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 26,001-33,000 lbs

Class VIII Truck

Truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 33,001-10,000 or more lbs

COFC

Container on (rail) flat car. A form of intermodal movement of freight using a box suitable for use on rail cars, trailer frames, and container ships

Containers come in many sizes. International containers which are used on ships usually have height and width of eight feet. Length can vary, but 20 and 40 foot lengths are the most common. US domestic containers are generally taller than international containers and may not always be suitable for ocean transportation.

Combination Vehicle

An equipment configuration which includes separate power unit (tractor) and at least one trailer

Commercial Trailer

A trailer used to handle freight in the transportation of goods for others; excludes house trailers, light farm trailers and car trailers

Commodity

Any article of commerce. Goods shipped

Common Carrier *

A transportation business that offers service to the general public. Interstate common carriers must hold a franchise issued by the ICC which limits service to a specific geographical area.

Recent changes in regulation have blurred the distinction between common, private, and contract carriers. Term may be meaningless in the near future.

Competitive Rate *

A charge established to meet the competition of another transportation line

Connecting Carrier

A carrier which interchanges trailers with another for completion of shipments.

Contract Carrier *

For hire carriers which proved transportation under specific contracts or agreements that do not fall within the legal boundaries of common carriage. Recent changes in regulation have blurred the distinction between common, private, and contract carriers. Term may be meaningless in the near future.

Dispatching

The scheduling and control of truck pickup and delivery. Critical link in dispatching process is communication with driver which may be accomplished by phone, pager, radio, satellite communication, and cellular phone.

Dock

A platform where trucks are loaded and unloaded

Dolly

Domestic Intercity Trucking

Trucking operations within the territory of the United States, including intra-Hawaiian and intra-Alaskan, which carry freight beyond the local areas and commercial zones

Double

A combination of two trailers pulled by a power unit. Usually refers to a power unit pulling two 28' trailers. See also Rocky Mountain Double and Turnpike Double

End-of-Line Terminal

A terminal used for pick-up and delivery of freight. Freight collected is sorted and routed to other end-of-line terminals or break bulk terminals for eventual delivery. Freight received from other terminals is sorted and allocated to drivers for delivery.

Enroute

On the way

Exempt Carrier *

Motor carriers who are exempt from regulation by the type of commodity hauled (agricultural, newspapers) or the type of service provides (in conjunction with air, local in nature)

Recent changes in regulation have blurred the distinction between common, private, and contract carriers. Term may be meaningless in the near future.

Expenses

The cost of doing business, generally excludes current obligations on long term debt

Fifth Wheel

A device used to connect a semi-trailer and tractor

Freight

Any commodity being transported

Freight Bill

Document for a common carrier shipment. Gives description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether collect or prepaid. Charges paid in advance are called prepaid freight bills. charges collected at the destination are called destination or collect freight bills

Freight Broker

Any person who sells transportation without actually providing it. Usually refers to agent for TL shipments, matching small shippers with carriers. Freight brokers often do not accept any responsibility for their shipments. (Also see Freight Forwarder and Shipper's Agent)

Freight Forwarder

An individual or company that accepts less-than-truckload (LTL) or less-than-carload (LCL) shipments from shippers and combines then into carload or truckload lots. Designated as a common carrier under the Interstate Commerce Act. Freight forwarders issue a bill of lading for shipments and accept responsibility for cargo. Sometimes refers to company which fills railroad trains with trailers. (Also see Broker and Shipper's Agent)

GCW

Gross Combination Weight

see Gross Vehicle Weight

General Freight Carrier

A carrier which handles a wide variety of commodities in standard trailers. Such carriers can provide truckload or less-than-truckload service.

Gross Combination Weight (GCW)

See Gross Vehicle Weight

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

The maximum allowable fully laden weight of a truck and its payload. the most common classification scheme used by manufacturers and by states.

GVW

Gross Vehicle Weight

The maximum allowable fully laden weight of a truck and its payload. the most common classification scheme used by manufacturers and by states

Heavy Duty Truck

Truck with a gross vehicle weight generally in excess of 19,500 pounds (class 6-8). Other minimum weights are used by various laws or government agencies

Highway User Fee or Tax

A charge levied on persons or organizations based on the use of public roads. Funds collected are usually applied toward highway construction, reconstruction, and maintenance. Examples includes vehicle registration fees, fuel taxes, and weight distance taxes.

ICC *

Interstate Commerce Commission

The federal body charged with enforcing Acts of Congress affecting interstate commerce. Because of recent changes in regulation, this body may be obsolete.

ICC Authorized or Regulated Motor Carriers *

A carrier licensed and regulated by the Interstate Commerce Commission to carry freight. With deregulation, the meaning of this term is historical.

Intercity Trucking

Trucking operations which carry freight beyond the local areas and commercial zones

Intermodal Transportation

Transportation movement involving more than one mode, e.g. rail-motor, motor-air, or rail-water

Interline Freight

Freight which moves from point of origin to destination over the lines of two or more transportation companies

Interstate Commerce Act *

n act of Congress regulating the practices, rates, and rules of transportation lines engaged in hauling interstate traffic. Because of changes to regulation, this agency may be obsolete.

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) *

The federal body charged with enforcing Acts of Congress affecting interstate commerce

Intrastate Traffic

Traffic having origin, destination, and entire transportation within the same state

ISTA

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.

LCV

Longer combination vehicle

Less Than Truckload (LTL) *

A quantity of freight less than that required for the application of a truckload rate. The historical definition for LTL freight is shipments under 10,000 pounds. LTL carriers are carriers which specialize in shipments under 10,000 pounds. However, competition from other freight carriers restricts shipments for most LTL carriers to the range between 300 and 3000 pounds.

LTL Motor Carrier

. LTL carriers are carriers which specialize in shipments under 10,000 pounds. However, competition from other freight carriers restricts shipments for most LTL carriers to the range between 300 and 3000 pounds

LTL *

Less Than Truckload

Line Haul

Movement of freight between cities, excluding pickup and delivery service

Modal Share

The percentage of total freight moved by a particular type of transportation

Nation's Freight Bill

The amount spent annually on freight transportation by the Nation's shippers; also represents the total revenue of all carriers operating in the Nation. This includes private carriers as well as common and contract carriers. The total bill was around $330 Billion in 1992.

Net Profit Margin

A measure of profitability based on the ratio of net income to total operating revenues

Non-Regulated Trucking *

A carrier which is exempt from economic regulation, e.g.exempt agricultural shipments and private trucking operations

Recent changes in regulation have blurred the distinction between common, private, and contract carriers. Term may be meaningless in the near future

Operating expenses

The costs of handling traffic including both direct costs, e.g. driver wages and fuel; and indirect cots, e.g. computer expenses and advertising; but excludes interest expense.

Operating Ratio

A measure of profitability based on operating expenses as a percentage of gross revenues

Piggyback

The transportation of highway trailers or removable trailer bodies on rail cars specifically equipped for the service. It is essentially a joint carrier movement in which the motor carrier forms a pickup and delivery operations to a rail terminal, as well as a delivery operation at the terminating rail head

Power Units

The control and pulling vehicle for trailers or semitrailers

Overage

Excess freight over the quantity believed to have been shipped, or more service

Point of Origin

The terminal at which freight is received from the shipper

Private Carrier *

A company which maintains its own trucks to transport its own freight

Rate

The charge for transporting freight

Rating

Determination of the correct legal rate for a shipment

Regular Common Carrier *

Any company authorized to serve the public and to transport general commodities over set routes

Regulated Motor carrier *

A carrier subject to economic by the Interstate Commerce Commission

Recent changes in regulation have made this term obsolete.

Revenue

Moneys paid to carriers as compensation for the movement of freight

Rocky Mountain Double

A combination vehicle consisting of a tractor, a 45 to 48 foot semitrailer and a shorter 28 foot semitrailer

Semitrailer

Truck trailer equipped with one or more axles and constructed so that the front end rests upon a truck tractor

Shipper's Agent

Company which coordinates all aspects of an intermodal move, hiring drayage at both ends, and providing shippers with a single invoice. (See also Freight Forwarder and Broker)

SIC Code

Standard Industrial Classification Code

A classification of establishments by type of activity in which they are engaged; for the purpose of facilitating the collection, tabulation, presentation and analysis of data relating to establishments, e.g. SIC 42 Motor Freight Transportation and Warehousing SIC 421 Trucking,, Local and Long distance

Specialized Carrier *

A trucking company franchised to transport articles which, because of size, shape, weight, or other inherent characteristics, require special equipment for lading, unloading or transporting.

The regulatory meaning of this term is obsolete, but many carriers continue to specialize because specialty items continue to require special equipment and skills.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code

State of Domicile

Companies - The state in which the carrier maintains its headquarters.

Drivers - the state in which a driver resides.

Straight Truck

A vehicle with the cargo body and tractor mounted on the same chassis

Terminal

A building for the handling and temporary storage of freight pending transfer between locations

Third Structure Tax

Any tax on road users other than registration fees or fuel taxes. See, for example, ton-mile tax and weight-distance tax.

TL *

Truckload

(a) Quantity of freight required to fill a truck.

(b) When used in connection with freight rates, the quantity of freight necessary to qualify a shipment for a truckload rate

TOFC

Trailer on (rail) flat car. A form of piggyback movement of freight

Ton-Mile

The movement of one ton of freight a distance of one mile. Ton-miles are computed by multiplying the weight in tons of each shipment transported by the distance hauled for each movement. Total ton-miles for a carrier are calculated by adding the figure for all movements.

Ton-Mile Tax

A tax calculated by measuring the weight of each truck for each trip. The gross weight is assigned a tax rate which is multiplied by the miles of travel

Tracer

A request that a carrier locate a shipment to speed its movement or to establish proof of delivery, or a request for an answer to a previously filed claim

Tractor Semitrailer

A combination vehicle consisting of a power unit (tractor) and a semi-trailer

Trailer

A vehicle designed without motive power, to be drawn by another vehicle

Truck

A motor vehicle designed to carry an entire load. It may consist of a chassis and body; a chassis, cab and body; or it may be of integral construction so that the body and chassis from a single unit

Truck Tonnage

The weight of freight in tons transported by truck

Truckload (TL) *

(a) Quantity of freight required to fill a truck.

(b) When used in connection with freight rates, the quantity of freight necessary to qualify a shipment for a truckload rate.

Turnpike Double

A combination vehicle consisting of a tractor and two trailers of 45 to 48 feet.

Twin Trailer

A short semitrailer (under 29;) designed to be operated as part of a combination vehicle with a tandem trailer of similar length

Uniform System of Accounts *

A code prescribing the reporting procedure and specified accounts for motor carriers described by the ICC.

This accounting system is no longer in use.

Vehicle-Mile

A measurement of the total miles traveled by all vehicles in an area. Generally applies to intercity movements only

Waybill

Description of goods with a common carrier freight shipment

Weight-distance Tax

A tax basing the fee per mile on the registered gross weight of the vehicle. Total tax liability is calculated by multiplying this rate times miles traveled