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Trucking Terms
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- A -
{Antilock Braking System}
Sensors and valves that monitor wheel speed and modulate braking force if a wheel lockup is sensed during braking. Having an Anti Lock Braking system helps the driver retain control of the vehicle during heavy braking on slippery roads.
{Air Ride Suspension}
Suspension which supports the loaded trailer on air-filled rubber bags that makes the ride less bumpy. Compressed air is supplied by the same compressor which provides air to the air brake system.
{Axle}
The structural component located on the tractor and semi-trailer to which the wheels, brakes, and suspension.
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- B -
{Backhaul}
This refers to a load that is picked up after an outbound shipment has been unloaded and the truck needs a new shipment or backhaul to load to ensure he’s not running his truck empty.
{Bill of Lading}
Itemized list or bill that states all goods contained in a shipment along with all product codes located on the shipment.
{Blind Spot}
Areas surrounding the vehicle that aren’t visible to a driver either through the windshield, the side windows or the mirrors located on the vehicle.
{Bobtail}
A tractor operating solo over-the-road without a semi-trailer hooked to it. (Note: Generally this is very dangerous in hazardous conditions due to not having any weight to keep your wheels form sliding.)
{Bunk}
The sleeper bed that is located inside the semi-tractor.
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- C -
{Cab-over}
This is a tractor that was designed with the cab sitting over the engine on the chassis. This was a very prominent design years ago, however, these are rarely seen/used anymore for long distance over-the-road hauling.
{CB Radio}
This is a two-way radio generally used in trucks to communicate with fellow truck drivers within a 2-mile radius of your CB Radio. It’s still used by truckers and motorists for everything from traffic condition reports to emergency calls to idle chatter.
{CDL - Commercial Driver's License}
This is a license that authorizes an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle or bus that weighs over 26,000 pounds for the total gross vehicle weight.
{Chassis Weight}
This is the total weight of an empty truck and empty trailer without occupants in the truck or product on the trailer.
{Common Carrier}
A common carrier is a transportation company that serves the general public.
{Container Chassis}
This is a single-purpose semi-trailer designed to carry a shipping container. This is generally associated with the Railroad. The railroad container is taken off the train and placed on the semi-trailer to be shipped over-the-road.
{Contract Carrier}
A trucking company that transports freight under signed contract with a limited number of shipping companies is known as a contract carrier.
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- D -
{Dead-Heading}
This is a term that means the truck is operating with a trailer hooked to it, but without cargo or freight loaded on the trailer.
{Dispatching}
Scheduling and controlling truck operations to make sure the truck goes from point A to point B with his delivery in a timely fashion. An important key to this is making sure the driver and dispatcher are communicating between each other.
{Drive-train}
All the components, excluding engine, which transmit the engine's power to the rear wheels, clutch, transmission, driveline and drive axle.
{Dock}
The platform where the trucks back into to get loaded and unloaded.
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- E -
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- F -
{Fifth Wheel}
The coupling device attached to a tractor which supports the front of a semi-trailer and locks it to the tractor. The fifth wheel's center is designed to accept a trailer's kingpin or fifth wheel. This then locks the tractor and trailer together to ensure the two don’t separate during travel.
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- G -
{Gross Axle Weight Rating}
This is the maximum weight an axle is rated to carry by the manufacturer. This includes both the weight of the axle and the portion of a vehicle's weight carried by the axle.
{Geared Speed}
Calculated vehicle speed at the engines governed rpm in each transmission gear, or (commonly) in top gear.
{Grade}
This is known as the steepness of a certain grade, expressed as a percentage. (Note: A vehicle climbing a 12% grade rises 12 feet for every 100 feet of forward travel.)
{Gross Vehicle Weight}
This is the total weight of a vehicle and everything aboard, including the load that’s hooked to the trailer.
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
Total weight a vehicle is rated to carry by the manufacturer, including its own weight and the weight of its load.
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- H -
{Hazmat}
This is hazardous materials hauled on a semi-trailer.
{Hours-Of-Service}
The Department of Transportation safety regulations governs the hours of service of all over-the-road hauling. They set the legal number of hours given in a 24 hour day that a person is legally able to operate a commercial vehicle.
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- I -
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- J -
{Jackknife}
Placing a tractor and trailer at a very sharp angle that’s very hard to get out of and gets the tractor and trailer stuck in that certain position– Generally takes professional assistance to correct.
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- K -
{Kingpin Trailer}
The pin located at the center of a semi-trailer's front end that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel. This attaches the tractor and trailer together to ensure that they stay together when driving.
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- L -
{Landing Gear}
The retracting legs on the front of a semi-trailer that raises and lowers to hold the trailer up when not connected to the tractor.
{Logbook}
A book carried by truck drivers in which they record all hours of service for each 24-hour period.
{LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)}
The total volume of freight that’s generally less than what’s required to fill the entire contents of a semi-trailer. Sometimes an LTL carrier can have over 100 different pieces of product form different customers on one truck.
{LTL Carrier}
A trucking company that delivers LTL shipments going to multiple destinations on one trailer.
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- O -
{Owner-Operator}
A truck owner who owns and operates his own truck.
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- P -
{Private Carrier}
This is a carrier that operates trucks primarily for the purpose of transporting their own products materials. Generally, private carriers aren’t contracted out to haul anything but their own product.
{Pup Trailer}
This is a short semi-trailer usually between 26 and 32 feet long.
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- R -
{Reefer}
This is a refrigerated trailer with insulated walls and a self-powered refrigeration unit located on the trailer to keep the product located on the semi-trailer at a certain temperature.
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- S -
{Semi-trailer}
This is a generally the 48-53 foot long trailer unit that holds all the product the tractor is hauling.
{Sleeper}
The sleeper, or bunk, is the bed area located inside of the tractor.
{Sliding Tandem}
The Sliding Tandem is a mechanism which allows the axle suspension to be moved back and forth on the semi-trailer for the purpose of adjusting the distribution of weight between the axles and fifth wheel.
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- T -
{TL Truckload}
The quantity of freight required to fill a trailer.
{TL Carrier}
A TL carrier is a trucking company that dedicates the entire trailer to a single shipper's cargo usually filling the entire space in the trailer.
{Tractor}
An over-the-road truck designed primarily to pull a semi-trailer by means of a fifth wheel mounted over the rear axle.
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- U -
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- V -
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
Assigned by the manufacturer, this number is unique to each vehicle and appears on the vehicle's registration and title.
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- W -
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- Y -
Yard Jockey
An employee who operates a yard tractor and moves trailers all over the designated premises. They generally move trailers in and out of docks to get loaded or unloaded.
Yard Tractor (Yard Mule)
Special tractor used to move trailers around a terminal, warehouse, distribution center, etc.
Resources –TWNA Glossary – twna.org
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