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AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS

Glossary of Trucking Terms

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) – Computer, Doubles (Twins,Twin Trailers) – Combination of a sensors and solenoid valves which together and two semitrailers connected in tandem monitor speed and modulate braking force by a converter . if wheel lockup is sensed during braking. Helps the driver retain control of the during EOBR (Electric On-Board Recorder) – Cab-mounted heavy braking on slippery roads. device which electronically records data such as speed, rpm, idle time and other Air Ride Suspension – Suspension which supports information useful to trucking management. the load on air-filled rubber bags rather than steel springs. Compressed air is supplied by the same Exempt Carrier – Company which engine-driven air compressor and reservoir tanks commodities exempted from Interstate which provide air to the system. Commerce Commission economic regulation.

Anchor It – Apply brakes for an emergency stop. For-Hire Carrier – Company in the business of transporting freight belonging to others. Bill of Lading – Itemized list of goods contained in a shipment. Hazmat – Hazardous materials, as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Blind Spot – Areas around a of hazardous materials is strictly that are not visible to the driver either through the regulated by the U.S. Department of , side windows or mirrors. Transportation.

Bobtail –Tractor operating without a . Also Hours-of-Service – U.S. Department of refers to straight truck. Transportation safety regulations which govern the of commercial vehicle drivers Weight – Combined weight of all loads, engaged in interstate trucking operations. gear and supplies on a vehicle. Intermodal Transportation –The transportation Cartage Company – Company that provides local movement involving more than one mode (e.g., (within a town, city or municipality) rail/motor, motor/air, rail/water). pick-up and delivery. JIT (Just-In-Time) – Manufacturing system which CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) – License depends on frequent, small deliveries of parts and which authorizes an individual to operate supplies to keep on-site inventory to a minimum. commercial motor and buses over 26,000 pounds gross . Landing Gear – Retractable legs which support the front of a semitrailer when its not coupled to a Container – Standard-sized rectangular box used trailer. to transport freight by , rail and highway. LCV (Long Combination Vehicle) – In general, Converter Dolly – Auxiliary assembly vehicles longer than a standard doubles rig. equipped with a fifth wheel (coupling device), Examples of LCVs which are permitted in some towed by a semitrailer and supporting the front U.S. western states and eastern toll roads: Twin of, and , another semitrailer. 48-foot trailers; triple 28-foot trailers.

American Trucking Associations 950 N. Glebe Road | Suite 210 | Arlington, VA | 22203-4181 703.838.1896 | www.truckline.com Logbook – Book carried by truck drivers in which Professional – Different categories of they record their hours of service and duty status drivers include over-the-road, line-haul and local. for each 24-hour period. Required for interstate commercial trucking by the U.S. Department of Reefer – Refrigerated trailer with insulate walls Transportation. and a self-powered refrigeration unit. Most commonly used for transporting food. Line-haul Driver –Truck driver who travels a set route from city to city and typically returns Semitrailer –Truck trailer supported at the rear by home after each shift. Also known as a its own and at the front by a fifth wheel regional driver. mounted to a tractor or a dolly.

Local Driver –Truck driver who picks up and Sleeper – Sleeping compartment mounted behind delivers packages along a city route. Drivers a truck cab, sometimes attached to the cab or even typically run the same route everyday, returning designed to be an integral part of it. home after each shift. Also known as a city or P&D driver. Sliding Fifth Wheel – Fifth wheel mounted to a mechanism that allows it to be moved back and LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) – A quantity of freight forth for the purpose of adjusting the distribution less than that required for the application of of weight on the tractor’s . truckload (TL) rate; usually less than 10,000 pounds. Straight Truck – Vehicle which carries cargo in a body mounted to its , rather than on a LTL Carrier –Trucking company which consolidates trailer towed by a vehicle. less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle. TL (Truckload) –The quantity of freight required to fill a trailer; usually more than 10,000 pounds. Owner-Operator –Truck driver who owns and operates his own truck. TL Carrier –Trucking company which dedicates trailers to a single shipper’s cargo, as opposed to Over-the-Road Driver –Truck driver who travels an LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier which cross-country to deliver freight and usually sleeps transports the consolidated cargo of several within a berth in the truck cab. Typically averages shippers and makes multiple deliveries. over 100,000 miles per year. Tractor –Truck designed primarily to pull a P&D – Pickup and delivery. May also be referred semitrailer by means of a fifth wheel mounted to as a city driver. over the rear axle.

Payload – Weight of the cargo being hauled. Tractor Trailer –Tractor and semitrailer combination. Peddle Run –Truck route with frequent delivery stops. Tri-Axle –Truck, tractor or trailer with three axles grouped together at the rear. Private Carrier – Business which operates primarily for the purpose of transporting its own Trip Leasing – Leasing a company’s vehicle to products and raw materials. The principle another transportation provider for a single trip. business activity of a private carrier is not transportation.

American Trucking Associations 950 N. Glebe Road | Suite 210 | Arlington, VA | 22203-4181 703.838.1896 | www.truckline.com