Commercial truckers of all kinds hold a very special place in our society. Local, regional, tanker, OTR, and more... are all integral to our entire world's economy, prosperity, wellbeing, and general, day-to-day functionality.
While the world of commercial trucking is vast, and this list of terms isn't by any stretch exhaustive, below is a foray into the extensive world of commercial trucking and logistics.
Term |
Definition |
|
1. 11-Hour, 14-Hour, and 60/70 Hour Limits |
The FMCSA details strict regulations that apply to property-carrying drivers. These regulations have to do with the maximum amount of time drivers may be on the road and are based upon off-duty durations of time. Follow this link to read the full regulations for 11-hour limits, 14-hour limits, and 60/70-hour limits. |
| 2. Agent |
A freight agent is an individual that manages a fleet of trucks on a trucking company's behalf. This tends to be a win/win for both the individual and the company! |
|
3. American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) |
ATRI is a non-profit organization dedicated to the necessary & ongoing research within the transportation industry. Trucking - being a crucial & primary form of commercial transportation - is a focal point for ATRI's research initiatives. |
| 4. Backhaul | This term refers to a truck driver's return journey after delivering a load. Drivers will often strategize their backhaul routes to coincide with a new, more lucrative (than a backhaul) headhaul. |
| 5. Berth | Unlike its homonym, "birth", this term refers to the sleeping area behind a truck's cab. OTR truckers find their home-away-from-home in their truck's berth. Additionally, "bunk" is a synonym for berth. |
| 6. Bill of Lading | This is an item-by-item list of everything contained within a shipment. |
| 7. Cargo Weight | Excluding the weight of the truck itself, the cargo weight of a truck includes all gear, supplies, and, of course, the actual cargo load. |
| 8. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) | Obtaining one's CDL means they're designated to drive large vehicles! Specifically, a CDL is a license to drive trucks and busses that weight more than 26,001 pounds. These vehicles are associated with businesses and are often part of a commercial fleet. |
| 9. Deadhead | This term refers to a truck that's void of all cargo. Comparatively speaking, that's a light truck! |
| 10. Drayage | A common term in shipping & logistics, this refers to a relatively short stint in freight's overall journey. For example, a commercial truck driver may take a "port drayage" assignment in which they pick up a freight load from a port and transport it to a (somewhat) nearby location. |
| 11. E-Log | An E-log is a digitized, quickly & easily accessed log of a carrier's hours of service and miles. Both driver and dispatcher have seamless access to these logs as they replace their more cumbersome & tedious hand-written predecessors. |
| 12. Fifth Wheel | The term "fifth wheel" refers to the connection between the truck connects to the trailer. |
| 13. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) | This is the governing body behind all commercial trucking in the United States. |
| 14. Gross Axel Weight Rating (GAWR) | Every commercial truck driver is surely hyper aware of this number since it indicates the maximum weight their truck's axel can carry. |
| 15.Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | Heads up for the weigh station! As the name implies, a vehicle's GVW is the weight of the truck, trailer, and cargo combined. |
| 16. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | While GVW is the combined weight in the moment, drivers must be sure it never exceeds the GVWR. This rating indicates the maximum possible combined weight of the truck, trailer, and cargo. |
| 17. Hours-of-Service | While truck drivers are capable of truly impressive journeys and are invaluable to society in innumerable ways, they're still human! Everyone needs some rest, so to ensure this, the FMCSA has defined clear safety regulations surrounding drivers time on-duty vs off-duty. |
| 18. Just-in-Time (JIT) | Instead of picturing someone arriving to an event "just in time" in a stressed-out, frazzled state, the term JIT in a trucking context complements a driver's skill & finesse for getting goods to a customer very near the ideal sale time of said goods. |
| 19. Logbook | Typically applied to a 24-hr period, a driver's logbook is where they keep track of miles, service hours, and activities. |
| 20. Logistics | Logistics is the industry involving the highly choreographed, arguably artistic transportation of goods and people. |
| 21. Over-the-Road (OTR) | Unlike local or regional trucking, OTR truckers travel long distances in order to transport goods. |
| 22. Payload | This term refers to the weight of a driver's cargo. |
| 23. Qualcomm | Just like in most facets of life, communication on the road is key for truckers! Drivers & dispatchers use their Qualcomm system to convey pertinent information on the road. |
| 24. Runaway Ramp | Hopefully, runaway ramps aren't something drivers encounter often (if ever), but should their brakes lose power or fail on a steep gradient, there will be wide, purpose-built areas to slowly and safely bring a truck to a stop. |
| 25. Sleeper Team | Teamwork makes the dream... work! A sleeper team consists of two drivers taking turns at the wheel while the other rests in the sleeper. This allows each driver to remain within federal service regulations while never "backing off the gas" so to speak. |
| 26. Tractor | A far cry from a tractor you'd find on a farm, the term in this context refers to a truck that's made for hauling trailers. |
| 27. Tractor Trailer | Simon & Garfunkel, spaghetti & meatballs, Batman & Robin, and so on... Among the pantheon of life's greatest combos is the "tractor trailer" - a tractor linked up with its trailer - ready to haul freight wherever it needs to go! |
| 28. Transfer Company | Get that passport ready. Transfer companies specialize in moving freight across boarders. |
| 29. Truck Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) | Just like our regular cars and passenger trucks, commercial vehicles also sport a unique VIN number. |
| 30. Weight-in-Motion (WIM) | Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency... When it comes to priorities, doing things efficiently is near the top of truck drivers' lists. Thankfully, many weigh stations allow for something called "WIM". This is a way to weigh a vehicle as it goes through a weigh-station without the driver ever having to stop. |
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