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Accessorial charges
Any additional charge assessed by a trucking company that is not included in line haul. Examples: Fuel surcharge, stop-off fee, layover, etc.
Backhaul
The movement of a truck back to its origin or domiciled location. In transportation, a carrier will typically attempt to find a return load or ‘backhaul’ in order to return to the original origin for the next outbound load.
Bill of Lading
Transportation documentation issued to a carrier by a shipper that serves as a title of ownership of the goods
Bio-diesel
Diesel derived from vegetable or animal fat
Blocking
A number of small pieces of wood used for filling spacing, joining, or reinforcing.
BOL
Transportation documentation issued to a carrier by a shipper that serves as a title of ownership of the goods
Boxcar
A type of railcar shaped similar to a box with a roof and side and/or end doors.
Bracing
The securing of product for shipment in a way that prevents damage to material.
Broker
A third-party company whom works with a shipper and carrier to arrange transportation of goods.
Carrier
An individual or company engaged in transporting goods for profit.
Carrier compliance
Vetting and accountability standards and procedures as it relates to selecting carrier partners
Centerbeam cars
A specialized type of rail used in the transportation of lumber. This type of car has a support structure in the center.
Claim
A charge made against a carrier or trucking company for damage or loss.
Class 50
Examples of class 50 freight class include: bricks, steel, mortar, stone, flour mix, irob molds
Class 55
Examples of class 55 freight include: hardwood flooring
Class 60
Examples of class 60 freight include: tile, polymers, adhesives, latex liquid
Class 70
Examples of class 70 freight include: filters, filter media, DVD’s (not in displays), beverages, foods, laminate shelving
Class 77.5
Examples of class 77.5 freight include: tires, assorted tools NOI
Class 85
Examples of class 85 freight include: transmissions or engines on a pallet, chairs or stools (folding), wheels for a car with tire attached
Class 92.5
Examples of class 92.5 freight include: freezers, coolers with sliding doors
Class 100
Examples of class 100 freight include: carpet
Class 125
Examples of class 125 freight include: benches, cabinets, armoires, chest-desks, chests of drawers, benches or barstools
Class 150
Examples of class 150 freight include: shoes, chairs upholstered
Class 200
Examples of class 200 freight include: televisions, video display monitors
Class 250
Examples of class 250 freight include: Automobile body sections NOI, auto bodies, body sections, engine bonnets or hoods
Class 300
Examples of class 300 freight include: fenders for an automobile
CMV
Commercial Motor Vehicle
Coil car
A specialized type of railcar used in the transportation of steel coils
Common carrier
A carrier offering its services at published rates to all persons for interstate transportation
Consestoga
A type of commercial trailer used for transporting goods in which the trailer top is removable. This often allows for shippers and receivers to load/unload from the side and still be able to protect product from weather elements.
Consignee
The receving or delivery end of a freight shipment
Contract carrier
A carrier offering its services under contract to one or a limited number of shippers
Contract logistics
The complete outsourcing of the distribution and transportation function.
Convention shipping
The ability to ship products to/from trade show events. This niche is a small market segment, but a logistics challenge for many shippers.
Covered hopper railcar
A railcar used in the transportation of bulk commodities with hopper bottoms that allow for ease in unloading freight.
CSA 2010
An initiative to develop more efficient and effective methods for FMCSA in order to achieve the mission of reducing CMV crashes, fatalities and injuries.
Czarlite
A pricing alternative that is common of the LTL industry. Czarlite is used in the calculation of base rates.
Dedicated carrier
A carrier offering its services under contract to one shipper in a consistent lane or region.
Dedicated logistics
A 3PL or carrier offering dedicated or contracted service in a specific lane or region
Depressed deck railcar
A railcar with a depressed deck that is built to handle heavy and/or over-dimensional material such as a transformer.
Destination
Any location which receives freight
Detention fee
A charge or fee assessed to account for a shipper or receiver delay in loading/unloading a truck. This fee is only assessed when the shipper/receiver are at fault for the delay (not when a carrier is late).
Discount
In LTL, discount is the percentage ‘discounted’ off a base rate and year. This correlates with czarlite or any alternative pricing system in determining the price of freight.
Dispatch
To relay pickup information to a carrier verbally, written or electronically. Generally, a carrier will be unload before being dispatched to his/her pickup location.
Distribution
The delivery or transportation of a product
DOT
Department of Transportation
Double stack
A form of intermodal (rail) transport where trailers are stacked two high.
Drayage
A motor carrier that is operating in a small area or region. Generally, drayage describes the act of moving containers to/from port and intermodal terminals.
Drop ship
A company whom purchases product direct from a shipper and sells directly to the end user. The product is sent as a ‘blind’ shipment without the end customer knowing the original origin.
Drop trailer
The ability of a trucking company to spot a trailer on-site at either origin or destination end without power. This often affords shippers more loading or unloading flexibility when shipping their product/
Dunnage
Loose material that is laid beneath or wedged under objects shipped by truck or rail the prevent damage to the product and make transport safer.
Ease of handling
Affects pricing for a product based on the determination of whether or not special care is needed for transportation
Escort
A vehicle used to monitor progress when movement of an over-dimensional, high-value or sensitive shipment.
Exclusive use
Carrier trailers that are assigned to one customer for dedicated or exclusive use. This is especially common with food shippers and food-grade trailers.
Exempt carrier
A trucking company or carrier that is exempt from economic rules or regulations.
Expedite
Freight which is critical or needed on a JIT (just-in-time basis)
Factoring
A method used by transportation companies for selling their accounts receivable to another party in order to improve cash flow.
FAK
Freight All Kinds
Flatbed
A flatbed truck or trailer has an open body in the form of a platform without sides or stakes
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FOB Destination
A buying strategy where the selling party maintains possession of product and freight responsibility of the product until it reaches destination
FOB Origin
A buying strategy where the purchasing party takes possession of product and freight responsibility at the product origin
For-hire carrier
A carrier that transports freight and assesses a fee
Freight
Good or cargo transprted for pay. The conveyance or means to transport goods provided by a common carrier.
Freight bill
An invoice for transportation charges related to the movement of freight
Freight broker
A third-party company whom works with a shipper and carrier to arrange transportation of goods.
Freight class NMFC
A standard that provides a comparison of commodities moving on interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce.
Freight density
Freight density is determined by calculating the load’s weight and shipping dimensions. The higher the density of the load will generally result in a lower freight class.
Freight forwarder
A firm that arranges to pick up or deliver goods on instructions of a a shipper or consignee. Freight forwarders are generally permitted to arrange transportation internationally and this is often the focal point of their businesses.
Freight management
The act of managing transportation on behalf of a company. This is company with many 3PL’s and motor carriers.
Freight matrix
A pricing template used by shippers and carriers to provide point-to-point pricing.
Freight rate
A price or rate per mile for transportation of freight
Freight reclassification
The act of reclassifying freight from one product or class code to another. This takes place in many cases when a carrier’s view of the product differs from the shipper.
Freight services
The act of transporting freight
Freight shipping
The act of transporting freight
Freight stowability
The length and width based on the rules of a carrier by mode
FSC
Fuel surcharge
Fuel Surcharge
A percentage or rate per mile that is often assessed in addition to standard freight rate. This charge is meant to off-set the fluctuating fuel burden faced by motor carriers.
Gondola
A railcar with an open top and enclosed sides and ends
Government logistics
Transportation of freight for US government entities
HazMat
A material (i.e. flammable, poisonous, radioactive or explosive ) that can could be a danger or threat to the environment if released
Heavy haul
The transport of over-dimensional, often heavy material. Generally, heavy haul freight will require a state permit and specialized trailer in order to meet DOT regulations.
IANA
The Intermodal Association of North America
Insurance Regulations
Carrier insurance requirements for the transportation of freight or cargo
Intermodal
The transportation of product using rail
Interstate commerce
Commerce, traffic, transportation and exchange between states of the United States
ICC
Inventory carrying cost
Jobsite delivery
A delivery made by truck to a jobsite. In many cases these deliveries are made by appointments and can be very time critical.
KD
Knocked down (LTL term)
Less-Than-Truckload
The transportation of freight or cargo in smaller quantities. It is for the freight of many customers to be on the same trailer. Typically, a truckload shipment will consistent of only one or a small number of customer’s freight.
Liftgate
A lift attached to a trailer that moves upward or downward to accomondate the loading/unloading of freight or cargo. These are common for residential deliveries or jobsite deliveries.
Local cartage
A motor carrier whose service area is defined is a small region or metropolitan area.
Local delivery
A delivery made by a motor carrier in a small region or metropolitan area.
Local pickup
A pickup made by a motor carrier in a small region or metropolitan area.
Logbook
A daily record of hours spent while driving, resting and sleeping. Logs are federally regulated and meant to protect drivers and other motorists.
Logistics broker
A third-party company whom works with a shipper and carrier to arrange transportation of goods.
Long-haul
A trucking company or load that is transported over a longer distance. Intermodal movements now play a much larger role in the transportation of this freight.
LTL broker
A person whom specializes in coordinating and arranging the shipment of product with a customer and motor carrier.
LTL carriers
Trucking companies whom specialize in the transportation of loads via LTL (less-than-truckload)
LTL credit card payments
Credit cards can often be accepted as payment from smaller or less established LTL shippers
LTL freight classes
A standard that provides a comparison of commodities moving on interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce.
LTL guarantee
A service guarantee that is made on an LTL shipment and usually results in a premium price
LTL quote
A freight quote or rate specific to an LTL shipment
Lumper
A term applied to a person who assists a motor carrier or trucking company in loading/unloading freight. There is typically a fee associated with a lumper service.
Minimum charge
A minimum rate applied to any shipment regardless of length of haul or rate per mile
Multimodal
The use on more than one mode of transportation to reach a final destination
NASSTRAC
National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council
NITL
National Industrial Transportation League
NMFC
National Motor Freight Classification
NMFTA
National Motor Freight Traffic Association
NOI
Not otherwise indicated
NPT
National Private Truck Council
Origin
Any location where freight originates
OTR
Over-the-road
Overdimensional
A term that is typically applied to the shipment of freight that is overheight, overweight, overlength or overwidth
Oversize
A term that is typically applied to the shipment of freight that is overweight, overlength, overheight or overwidth. This type of freight may require a permit.
Overweight
Freight that exceeds the standard DOT limits for weight and must be permitted.
Owner operator
A driver who obtains his/her own authority to operate commercially.
Pallet rate
A flat rate assessed by a shipper or warehousing for each pallet transported or stored.
Pallet shipping
The shipment of single of one or multiple pallets
Palletized freight
Freight which has been placed and secured to a pallet to make it easier to transport
Partial shipment
A shipment which is larger than an LTL, but smaller than a FTL or full truckload
Piggyback
A term used to describe a multimodal service. It is common for a trailer or container to move by truck to a rail facility and then by rail to another facility where it is trucked to the final destination.
Pilot car
A car used for escort of shipment
Private fleet
A company (often distributors, manufacturers or retailers) who operates their own fleet of trucks for the purpose of delivering their product. The fleets aren’t necessarily operated as a profit center, but as a necessity to service their customers.
Rate Per Mile
A rate per mile (RPM) is form for calculating freight charges that takes into account the number of miles multiplied by the rate.
Refrigerated railcar
A refrigerated subtype of boxcar
Residential Delivery
A delivery made to a residence by a commercial carrier. This is more frequent among less-than-truckload carriers than truckload.
Residential Pickup
A delivery made at a residential location by a commercial carrier. This is more frequent among less-than-truckload carriers than truckload.
Rigging
Chain or ropes that are employed to support or brace product being transported by truck or rail.
RPM
Rate per mile
SAFESTAT
The predecessor of CSA 2010 for carrier compliance and scores
Safety scores
A rating assigned to a motor carrier by the FMCSA
Shipper’s agent
A company responsible for matching up small shipments. This can be more common when dealing piggy back or multimodal types of situations.
Shipping
The act of a business or entity moving or transporting a product via commercial carrier
Shipping cost
Total linehaul and accessorial charges for a shipment
Shipping rates
The cost or rate to move a shipment from origin to destination
Shipping services
The various modes of transit for shipments. Examples include truckload, LTL, rail, air and specialized.
Short-haul
A shipment that is transported a short distance. Generally, short haul shipments are handled by regional carriers or local cartage companies.
Slip seat
A type of trucking operation where a motor carrier substitutes one driver for another after the first driver has utilized all available hours. This is often considered a type of expedite service used by trucking companies.
State-to-state matrix
A type of template used for pricing transportation services from one state to another. A state-to-state matrix is typically in a rate per mile format.
SU
Setup
Tie-down
Chain, ropes or other devices that are used to secure a shipment
TMS
Transportation Management System
TONU
Truck Order Not Used
Tracing
The determination of a shipment location during movement of freight
Tracking
The ability to follow freight from origin to destination
Traffic management
Coordinating and facilitating the movement of multiple shipments or loads.
Transload facility
A facility where a shipment is moved from one mode of transportation to another.
Transloading
The process of transferred a shipment from one mode of transportation to another.
Transport service
Transportation Management System
A TMS system manages and coordinates multiple functions of a transportation and logistics programs and is common among 3PL’s and shippers alike.
Truckload
The transportation of freight in a quantity large enough to occupy all or most of the space on a truckload based on maximized weight or space. Typically, a truckload shipment will consistent of freight from a small number of customers.
Unit move
A military term used to describe the movement of a large amount of goods from one point to another. Often, unit moves can involve hundreds of pieces of equipment and supplies.
Unit train
A train in which all the railcars have the same origin, destination and often the same commodity. Shipping by unit train is the most cost effective mode of rail if there is enough volume to justify.
Van
An enclosed box trailer used for transporting freight. The most common sizes are 48′ and 53′.
Volume quote
Shipments that exceed 7 pallets or are over 7,000 lbs. These types of shipments fall in between truckload and less-than-truckload and can be handled by LTL carriers based in the volume they occupy in a trailer space.
