Check out the definitions on this page to learn about some common trucking terminology. Check out our CDL slang & trucker lingo definitions too!
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-lock brake systems or ABS are used in Commercial Vehicles to prevent wheels from locking up. Speed sensors detect and prevent potential lockups from happening during braking to prevent skids.
AFV
AFV stands for alternative fuel vehicle, which runs on something other than gasoline or diesel fuel.
Air Brake
Air brakes used compressed air to stop a commercial vehicle. In order to drive a CMV equipped with Air Brakes, you must pass the Air Brakes Knowledge test and pass your skills test in a vehicle equipped with air brakes.
Air Ride Suspension
Air Ride Suspension uses air instead of springs to support the weight of the load.
Anchor It
Means to make an emergency stop.
APU
An auxiliary power unit (APU) allows the drive to use heat, AC, and electricity without running the truck’s engine.
Average Length of Haul
The average distance between pick-up and delivery points for a company’s trips.
Baffle
A baffle is used to separate sections of a tanker to limit the effects that flowing liquid has on vehicle control.
Berth
A sleeping area behind the cab of a truck.
Bill of Lading
List of goods in a shipment.
Blind Spot
Areas around a vehicle that are not visible in the driver’s mirrors.
Bobtail
Bobtail, or deadhead, refers to a tractor truck operating without a trailer.
Bridge Formula
A formula that regulates how much weight can be put on each axel and the distance between each axel.
Bulkhead
A strong wall used to either protect the cab from the load or a wall used within a trailer to partition the load.
Bunk
Sleeping area behind the cab of a truck.
Cargo Weight
The total weight of all load, supplies, and gear on a vehicle.
Carrier
An individual or company who transports goods from one place to another.
Cartage Company
A company that provides delivery and pick-up services locally.
CAT Scale
A network of truck scales across the U.S. and Canada.
CB
CB (Citizens Band) radio is a two-way radio system that does not require a license to own and operate.
CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
A driver’s license that allows you to operate commercial motor vehicles and transport certain types of cargo or certain amounts of passengers.
CDL Restrictions
Restrictions placed on a CDL that either prevent a driver from operating certain types of vehicles or require a driver to comply with certain requirements while driving.
CDLIS
The Commercial Driver’s License Information System allows states to cross-reference information about CDL holders.
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
Chassis Weight
The weight of an empty vehicle.
CLP
A Commercial Learner’s Permit allows you to practice and learn how to drive a commercial vehicle after passing your written knowledge tests.
CMV
CMV stands for commercial motor vehicle.
Combination Vehicle
A vehicle with two parts – i.e. a tractor or cab and a trailer or a series of 2-3 connected trailers.
Common Carrier
A transportation company that provides carrier services to the general public as opposed to a private or dedicated carrier.
Company Sponsored Training
A commercial driver’s license Company Sponsored Training program is a CDL training course offered by a trucking company offered at low-to-zero upfront costs. The program leads to employment and the training is typically paid back with portions of the driver’s paycheck or requires the driver to fulfil a work contract with the company.
Compressed gas
Any gas or liquefied gas that is stored in a container under pressure.
Consignee
The individual or company that is receiving delivered freight.
Container
A standard shipping container is used to move freight by truck, boat, or rail.
Container Chassis
A shipping trailer designed to carry shipping containers.
Contract Carrier
A company delivers freight for a small number of customers.
Converter Dolly
An auxiliary axle that connects a semi-trailer to a trailer.
Covered Wagon
A flatbed truck with side plates and coverings.
CPM
CPM stands for Cents Per Mile or the rate at which drivers are paid per mile driven.
CSA
CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, and Accountability. It’s an initiative from the Federal Motor Carrier Administration to improve the safety of commercial vehicles.
Day Cab
A tractor with no sleeping area in the cab.
Deadhead
An empty truck with no cargo or no trailer.
Dedicated Route
A carrier that delivers freight on a regular route and/or customer.
Dispatcher
The contact person for the driver to communicate with in regards to scheduling loads, changes, relaying messages, etc.
DMV
The Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent in each state is responsible for conducting the processing of commercial driver’s license applications.
DOT
The Department of Transportation oversees and regulates air, road, and railroad transportation.
Double Clutch
The practice of engaging and disengaging the clutch twice when changing gears in a standard transmission without a synchronizer.
Doubles
A combination of two trailers.
Drayage
Moving freight a short distance as part of its longer overall route.
Driver Trainer
A CDL driver trainer is an experienced CDL driver who can instruct or ride-along with newly hired drivers.
Drop and Hook
Refers to a driver dropping one trailer at the destination and hooking up to another.
Drop Yard
A drop yard is a place where truck drivers can park their trucks and trailers.
Dry Freight
Non-liquid freight.
Dry Van
A truck or trailer without refrigeration or special features/requirements.
EDI
Electronic Document Interchange can be used to share transportation/freight documents like Bills of Lading electronically.
Endorsements
CDL endorsements allow CDL drivers to operate different types of commercial vehicles to haul certain types of freight.
EOBR
An Electric On-Board Recorder logs information about a truck’s trip.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
FHWA
Federal Highway Administration
Fifth Wheel
The fifth wheel is how tractors and trailers connect.
Flatbed
An open/flat trailer.
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Administration is a division within the DOT that regulates commercial vehicles and drivers.
Forced Dispatch
Describes drivers who need to take load and delivery orders from dispatch.
For-Hire Carrier
A company that transports freight for others.
GAWR
Gross Axle Weight Rating describes how much weight a vehicle’s axle can carry.
GCVWR
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating describes that maximum weight that can be combined and carried by a certain vehicle.
GCW
Gross Combined Weight Rating describes the total combined weight of a truck and trailer.
Governor
A device that regulates a vehicle’s top speed.
Grade
Describes the steepness of angle of a hill or slope.
Gross weight or mass
The weight of a package and its contents.
GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating describes the maximum weight of the vehicle and everything it can carry.
Hazmat
HAZMAT stands for hazardous materials as classified by the EPA and regulated by the DOT.
Headache Rack
A block/barrier behind the cab to protect the cab from shifting loads or accidents.
HOS
Hours of Service – the FMCSA regulates how long and when drivers can be on duty.
Intermodal Transportation
Transportation of freight using more than one method.
Interstate
Between more than 1 state. i.e. Across state lines.
Intrastate
Within a single state.
IRP
International Registration Plan
Irregular Route Common Carrier
A carrier that will move freight with no set routes.
Jackknife
A situation in which the tractor and trailer are at a sharp angle to one another.
Kingpin
Connects a truck to a trailer.
Kingpin (trailer)
Landing Gear
Supports the trailer when it is not attached to a truck.
LCV
A Long Combination Vehicle is longer than a standard double combination vehicle.
Lift Axle
An axle designed to be raised or lowered depending on the weight of the load in order to comply with federal axle weight regulations.
Limited quantity
A maximum amount for a specific material or substance.
Linehaul
Linehaul drivers move freight from one terminal to another, from which local deliveries are made.
Load
The freight that is being moved by the carrier.
Loaded Miles
Distance traveled with a load.
Local Driver
A truck driver who delivers packages on a regular, local route. Also referred to as a P&D.
Logbook
Where a driver records their service hours and status.
Long-haul
Driving long distances.
Lowboy
A flatbed trailer with a low deck designed for carrying tall or large loads.
LTL
Less-Than-Truckload refers to cargo that takes up less than a trailer’s full capacity.
LTL Carrier
A carrier that consolidates multiple LTL shipments into one load.
Lumper
The person who loads and unloads a truck.
MCP
Motor Carrier Permit
MVR
A Motor Vehicle Report tracks a driver’s driving record and history of violations, infractions, or accidents.
NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board
OTR
Over the Road refers to long haul and long term trucking.
Outage
The amount of allowance for a liquid to expand.
Out-of-Service
Restricts a driver from operating, usually caused by an infraction.
Owner Operator
A driver who owns the vehicle being used to haul freight.
P&D
Pick up and Delivery refers to local truck drivers.
Payload
Weight of the cargo.
Peddle Run
Route with frequent stops.
Pintle Hook
A Pintle Hook is used to connect double and triple trailers.
Pre-trip Inspection
An inspection to make sure all equipment and loads are safe.
Private Carrier
A carrier that transports goods for its own company.
PSI
Pounds Per Square Inch
PTDI
Professional Truck Driver’s Institute provides certifications to CDL training programs.
Reefer
A refrigerated trailer.
Regional Run
A trucking route that stays within a certain region.
Retarder
Assists the brakes to slow the vehicle.
RoadRailer
A trailer designed for both truck and rail travel.
Route
The directions that a truck follows to deliver goods.
Runaway Ramp
Wide, soft areas near steep downhill grades where trucks can pull into to stop if the brakes fail.
Semitrailer
A trailer with rear wheels connected to a truck by a fifth wheel or dolly.
Sleeper
A place in the truck’s cab to sleep.
Sliding Fifth Wheel
A fifth wheel that can move depending on load weight.
Step Deck
A flatbed with a lower section that is designed to carry taller or oddly shaped loads.
Straight Truck
A single truck without a trailer attachment. The trailer area and truck share the same chassis.
Tank vehicle
A commercial vehicle with a tank to carry liquid or gas cargo.
Terminal
A hub facility of carrier companies.
TL
Truckload or full trailer load.
TL Carrier
A carrier that ships a full truckload at a time.
Tractor
A truck designed to pull a heavy trailer.
Tractor Trailer
A truck and a trailer.
TSA
Transportation Security Administration
VIN
Vehicle Identification Number
Yard Tractor
A tractor that is used to move trailers around a warehouse, terminal, or distribution center.