Freight Dictionary

Return trip of a vehicle from the original destination point back to the home base of the carrier or driver.

A transportation document that is the contract of carriage containing the terms and conditions between the carrier and shipper. Required for all LTL shipments; Shipper must give the BOL to the driver at pick up.

A term used when our client requests that the shipper and/or consignee do not know about each other. The client who requests a blind load is a third party (middleman or broker). The shipper is the supplier and the consignee is the customer. If the consignee and shipper knew about each other they may cut out the middleman.

This term refers to wood or other supports used to keep shipments in place on trailers or in containers throughout the shipping process. This technique is widely used by expert shippers to secure their freight shipment. LTL will generally not provide this service, only Partial and Full Truck carriers will provide this service.

Operating a tractor unit with no trailer.

An outside company that brings together shippers in need of transportation of goods and carriers looking for backhauls together.

Freight that is not packaged or containerized. Freight normally hauled via tanker truck.

Miles traveled by a commercial vehicle without carrying a revenue-producing load.

Freight arranged on decking or movable shelving so products can occupy multiple levels without being stacked directly together.

The monetary value assigned to a shipment by the shipper for transportation and liability purposes.

The U.S. federal department responsible for transportation policy, safety standards, and industry regulations.

The process of scheduling, coordinating, and communicating pickup and delivery activity with drivers.

A facility where inventory is received, stored, processed, and distributed to customers or other locations.

Changing a shipment's destination while the freight is already in transit.

Transportation service that moves freight directly from the shipper's location to the receiver's location.

A blind shipment in which identifying information for both the pickup and delivery parties is concealed from the opposite party.

A specialized flatbed trailer with a very low center deck used primarily for tall, oversized, or heavy freight.

A tractor pulling two shorter semi-trailers connected in tandem.

Short-distance transportation of containers or trailers between ports, rail terminals, warehouses, and customer facilities.

A driver or carrier that performs short-distance drayage moves between intermodal facilities and nearby locations.

An axle that receives power from the engine and transfers that power to the vehicle's wheels.

A service requiring the driver to assist with loading or unloading freight.

A flatbed trailer with a lowered main deck that provides additional vertical clearance for taller freight.

A trailer left at a customer's facility so it can be loaded or unloaded without the driver waiting.

A fully enclosed, non-refrigerated trailer commonly used to transport general freight protected from weather.

Material such as lumber, padding, or blocking used to secure and protect freight during transportation.

An open trailer with a flat deck and no permanent sides or roof, allowing loading from multiple directions.

A railcar consisting primarily of a flat deck used for containers, trailers, machinery, and oversized cargo.

Powered material-handling equipment used to lift, move, load, and unload palletized or heavy freight.

An invoice issued for transportation services provided by a carrier.

An NMFC classification used in LTL shipping to help determine rates based on freight characteristics.

Outstanding freight transportation charges or carrier invoices awaiting payment.

The primary outbound movement of freight from a carrier's home market toward another destination.

A shipment that uses most or all of a trailer's available space or weight capacity.

Materials classified as hazardous because they may pose health, safety, property, or environmental risks during transportation.

A carrier's primary revenue-producing movement from a strong origin market to a destination market.

Hours of Service regulations that establish how long commercial drivers may drive and remain on duty.

A freight network where shipments move through centralized terminals or hubs before continuing toward their destinations.

A defined freight route between an origin and destination.

An extended delay that requires a driver or truck to remain at or near a location longer than expected.

The amount of time between when a shipment is tendered and when pickup or another required activity occurs.

Freight that occupies only part of a trailer and is typically consolidated with shipments from other customers.

Official operating authority permitting a transportation provider to conduct specified interstate or commercial operations.

A powered platform mounted on a truck or trailer that raises or lowers freight between the ground and trailer floor.

The long-distance portion of a freight movement between origin and destination terminals or markets.

The amount of time required to place and secure freight onto transportation equipment.

A service where freight remains on the same vehicle for most or all of its journey, reducing handling and transfers.

A market condition where available trucks exceed the number of loads requiring transportation.

Published LTL carrier rules, rates, classifications, charges, and service provisions.

Third-party labor hired to load, unload, sort, or break down freight at a warehouse or receiving facility.

The weight of the cargo itself after the weight of the vehicle, trailer, packaging, or other tare weight is excluded.

The National Motor Freight Classification system used to categorize commodities for LTL transportation.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, an organization associated with freight classification and transportation standards.

Not Otherwise Indicated, a designation used when a commodity does not fall under a more specific freight classification.

A load where the driver is not responsible for physically loading or unloading the freight.

A portable platform used to consolidate, store, handle, and transport freight with equipment such as forklifts.

Manual or powered equipment designed to lift and move palletized freight over short distances.

Freight larger than a typical LTL shipment but not large enough to require an entire truckload trailer.

The range of acceptable dates or times available for a carrier to pick up a shipment.

A buyer-issued document authorizing the purchase of specified goods or services from a supplier.

A company operating its own transportation equipment primarily to move its own goods rather than serving the general public.

A carrier-assigned identification number used to track and reference a specific freight shipment.

Documentation confirming that a shipment was delivered, often including the recipient's signature, date, and delivery details.

Short trailers commonly used for local deliveries or paired together for linehaul transportation.

The designated area of a facility where inbound freight is unloaded and received.

A change to the consignee or delivery destination after a shipment has already entered transit.

A refrigerated truck or trailer designed to transport temperature-sensitive freight.

A service requiring freight to be moved to the rear of the trailer for unloading or transfer.

Two or more drivers operating the same truck in shifts so the vehicle can remain in motion for longer periods.

A freight facility where shipments may be received, sorted, transferred, consolidated, or redistributed.

An outsourced logistics provider that manages transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, or other supply-chain functions for customers.