Freight Dispatch Glossary: 86 Trucking Terms Explained

Truck dispatching has its own language. Brokers, drivers and shippers use these terms constantly, and misunderstanding one can cost a carrier money. Use this glossary while you study, and bookmark it for quick reference when you start dispatching. For the bigger picture, start with what a truck dispatcher does.

A

Accessorial charges

Extra charges on top of the linehaul rate for work beyond driving the load, such as detention, layover, extra stops, lumper fees, tarping or a truck order not used. Accessorials should be written on the rate confirmation to be paid.

All-in rate

A single rate that includes the linehaul charge and fuel surcharge together. Most spot market loads from brokers are quoted as all-in rates.

Appointment

A scheduled time for pickup or delivery at a shipper or receiver. Missing an appointment can lead to delays, rescheduling or fines listed on the rate confirmation.

B

Backhaul

A load that brings a truck back toward its home base or out of a low-demand area after a delivery. Backhaul lanes often pay less than headhaul lanes.

Bill of lading (BOL)

The shipping document created by the shipper at pickup that describes the freight, lists the shipper and receiver and serves as a receipt. When signed by the receiver, it becomes the proof of delivery. See dispatch paperwork explained.

Bobtail

Driving a tractor without a trailer attached.

BOC-3

An FMCSA filing that designates process agents in each state to receive legal documents on behalf of a carrier or broker. It is required to obtain operating authority.

Box truck

A straight truck with the cargo box attached to the same chassis as the cab, commonly used for local and regional deliveries.

Broker (freight broker)

A licensed company that arranges transportation for shippers by hiring carriers, earning the difference between the shipper's rate and the carrier's rate. Brokers need FMCSA broker authority and $75,000 in financial security. See dispatcher vs broker.

Broker-carrier agreement

The contract between a broker and a carrier that sets general terms for all loads, such as payment terms, liability and insurance requirements. It is usually signed during carrier setup.

C

Cargo claim

A request for payment when freight is lost, stolen or damaged while in the carrier's care. Accurate notes on the BOL and photos are essential evidence.

Cargo insurance

Insurance that covers the freight being hauled. Brokers often require a minimum amount of cargo coverage before a carrier can haul their loads.

Carrier

A company or owner-operator that transports freight with its own trucks and drivers. For-hire interstate carriers need a USDOT number and operating authority.

Carrier packet

The set of documents a broker requires before a carrier can haul its loads, typically including operating authority, certificate of insurance, W-9, signed broker-carrier agreement and, if factoring, a notice of assignment.

CDL (commercial driver's license)

The license required to drive certain commercial vehicles. A Class A CDL is needed for most tractor-trailer combinations.

Certificate of insurance (COI)

A document from the insurance provider proving a carrier's coverage, including policy limits and dates. Brokers are usually added as certificate holders.

Check call

A status update given to a broker during a load, such as arrival at pickup, loaded, in transit or delivered. Many brokers also require tracking apps.

Consignee

The person or company receiving the freight at the destination. Also called the receiver.

Contract freight

Freight moved at pre-agreed rates over a set period, usually between shippers and larger carriers or brokers, as opposed to the day-to-day spot market.

Cross-docking

Unloading freight from an inbound truck and loading it directly onto outbound trucks with little or no storage time.

D

Days to pay

The average number of days a broker takes to pay carriers. Many load boards and factoring companies show this alongside a broker credit score.

Deadhead

Miles a truck drives empty, usually from a delivery to the next pickup. Deadhead costs fuel and driver hours but earns no revenue. See rate per mile.

Detention

Payment for time a driver waits at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time allowed, commonly two hours. Detention terms should be on the rate confirmation.

Dispatch fee

What a carrier pays an independent dispatcher, commonly a percentage of each load's gross revenue or a flat weekly fee per truck.

Dispatcher-carrier agreement

The written contract between an independent dispatcher and a carrier defining services, fees and the dispatcher's authority to act on the carrier's behalf.

Double brokering

A fraudulent practice where a broker or carrier re-brokers a load without authorization, often leaving the carrier that hauls the freight unpaid. Verifying brokers in FMCSA records helps prevent it.

Drayage

Short-distance transport of shipping containers, typically between ports or rail yards and nearby warehouses.

Driver assist

When the driver helps load or unload freight. It usually deserves additional pay, which should be agreed in advance.

Drop and hook

A pickup or delivery where the driver drops a trailer and hooks up a different, pre-loaded or empty trailer, instead of waiting for live loading or unloading. It usually saves time.

Dry van

An enclosed trailer without temperature control, commonly 53 feet long in the US, used for general freight such as packaged goods and pallets.

E

ELD (electronic logging device)

A device connected to the truck's engine that automatically records driving time for hours of service compliance. Most drivers who must keep logs are required to use one.

F

Factoring

Selling freight invoices to a factoring company in exchange for fast payment, minus a fee. See freight factoring explained.

FCFS (first come, first served)

A facility that loads or unloads trucks in order of arrival during its open hours, without fixed appointments.

Flatbed

An open trailer with no sides or roof, used for freight such as building materials, machinery and steel. Loads are secured with straps or chains and sometimes tarped.

FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the US agency that regulates commercial trucking safety, operating authority, brokers and hours of service.

FTL (full truckload)

A shipment that uses an entire trailer, or is booked as the only shipment on the truck, moving directly from shipper to receiver.

Fuel surcharge

An additional charge that adjusts pay for changes in fuel prices, often used in contract rates. Spot rates usually include fuel in an all-in rate.

G

GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating)

The maximum operating weight of a vehicle, including the vehicle and its cargo, as specified by the manufacturer. It helps determine which regulations apply.

H

Hazmat

Hazardous materials. Hauling certain quantities requires placards, a hazmat endorsement on the driver's CDL and extra compliance steps.

Headhaul

A lane leaving a high-demand area where freight is plentiful and rates are typically stronger. The opposite of a backhaul.

Hotshot

Trucking with a heavy-duty pickup truck pulling a flatbed or gooseneck trailer, usually for smaller or time-sensitive loads.

Hours of service (HOS)

FMCSA rules limiting how long commercial drivers may drive and work, including the 11-hour, 14-hour and 60/70-hour limits. See HOS rules for dispatchers.

I

IFTA

The International Fuel Tax Agreement, which lets interstate carriers report and pay fuel taxes across the lower 48 US states and Canadian provinces through one quarterly filing.

Intermodal

Moving freight in containers using more than one mode of transport, such as rail and truck.

L

Lane

A route between an origin and a destination, such as Dallas to Atlanta. Dispatchers track which lanes pay well and have good reloads.

Layover

When a driver has to wait overnight or longer before loading or unloading because of a schedule change. Layover pay should be agreed in advance.

Letter of release (LOR)

A letter from a factoring company confirming that a carrier's invoices are no longer assigned to it, so brokers should pay the carrier or a new factor.

Linehaul

The charge for moving freight from origin to destination, excluding accessorials and, in some quotes, fuel surcharge.

Live load / live unload

When the driver waits at the dock while freight is loaded or unloaded, as opposed to drop and hook.

Load board

An online marketplace where brokers post available loads and carriers or dispatchers search for freight, such as DAT and Truckstop. See DAT vs Truckstop.

Load-to-truck ratio

The number of loads posted compared with trucks posted in a market. A higher ratio signals more demand for trucks and usually stronger rates.

LTL (less than truckload)

Smaller shipments from multiple shippers combined on one trailer and moved through a network of terminals by LTL carriers.

Lumper

A worker or service paid to unload freight at a warehouse. Carriers often pay the lumper fee and are reimbursed by the broker with a receipt.

M

MC number

The docket number FMCSA has used to identify companies with interstate operating authority, such as for-hire carriers and brokers. FMCSA has been modernizing its registration system around the USDOT number, so check current FMCSA guidance.

N

Notice of assignment (NOA)

A notice telling brokers that a carrier's invoices are assigned to a factoring company, so payment must be made to the factor.

O

Operating authority

FMCSA permission for a company to operate as a for-hire interstate carrier or as a broker. Brokers typically check that a carrier's authority is active before booking.

OS&D (over, short and damaged)

Discrepancies found at delivery: more freight than listed, less freight than listed, or damaged freight. They should be noted on the delivery paperwork.

Owner-operator

A truck driver who owns or leases their truck and runs their own trucking business, either under their own authority or leased to another carrier.

P

Pallet

A flat platform used to stack and move freight with a forklift. A standard US pallet is 48 by 40 inches.

Partial load

A shipment that uses only part of a trailer's space or weight capacity but is moved like a truckload, sometimes combined with other partials.

PO number

A purchase order number from the shipper or receiver that identifies the freight. It is often required at pickup and delivery.

Power only

A service where the carrier provides only the tractor and driver to pull a trailer owned by a shipper, broker or another company.

PRO number

A tracking or reference number assigned to a shipment, especially common with LTL carriers.

Proof of delivery (POD)

The bill of lading signed by the receiver at delivery, confirming the freight arrived and noting any issues. It is required for invoicing.

Q

Quick pay

An option offered by some brokers to pay a carrier faster than normal terms in exchange for a fee deducted from the invoice.

R

Rate confirmation

The agreement between a broker and a carrier for a specific load, listing the rate, stops, appointment times, requirements and accessorials. It is signed before the load moves.

Rate per mile (RPM)

The load rate divided by miles. Dispatchers compare loads using all-miles RPM, which includes deadhead. See how to calculate rate per mile.

Receiver

The business receiving the freight at the delivery location. Also called the consignee.

Recourse / non-recourse factoring

In recourse factoring, the carrier must repay the factor if a broker does not pay. In non-recourse factoring, the factor accepts certain credit risks, usually broker insolvency, as defined in the contract.

Reefer

A refrigerated trailer with a temperature-control unit, used for food, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive freight.

Reload

The next load a truck picks up near where it delivered, keeping deadhead low.

S

SAFER

FMCSA's Safety and Fitness Electronic Records system, a public website showing a company's USDOT status, operating authority and safety information. FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance records show authority and insurance filings.

Scale ticket

A document from a certified truck scale showing the weight of the truck and load.

Seal

A numbered, tamper-evident lock placed on trailer doors after loading. The seal number is recorded on the bill of lading.

Shipper

The company sending the freight, where the load is picked up. Also called the consignor.

Shipper load and count (SLC)

A note on the bill of lading showing the shipper loaded and counted the freight without the driver verifying it, which limits the carrier's responsibility for shortages.

Sleeper berth

The sleeping compartment behind a truck cab. Time spent in it can count toward off-duty requirements under the hours of service sleeper berth provision.

Spot market

The short-term market where loads are booked at current rates, often through load boards, rather than under long-term contracts.

Step deck

A flatbed trailer with a lower rear deck, allowing taller freight to be hauled within height limits.

T

Tarp

A heavy cover used to protect flatbed freight from weather. Tarping usually earns extra pay.

Team drivers

Two drivers who share one truck and take turns driving, allowing the truck to keep moving for longer while each driver follows hours of service rules.

TMS (transportation management system)

Software used to manage loads, dispatching, drivers, documents and invoicing.

TONU (truck order not used)

A fee paid to the carrier when a load is cancelled after the truck has been dispatched or has arrived.

U

USDOT number

A unique identifier the FMCSA assigns to companies that operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. It is used to look up a company's safety and registration records.

W

W-9

A US tax form that a carrier gives to brokers and other payers to provide its taxpayer identification number.

Weigh station

A roadside checkpoint where commercial vehicles may be weighed and inspected for compliance.