Berth – Sleeping compartment behind the cab
Bill of Lading – Itemized list of goods in a shipment
Bobtail – Tractor operating without a trailer
Bunk – Sleeping compartment behind the cab
CDL – Commercial drivers license
Common Carrier – A company that will carry freight for any customer
CPM – Cents per mile
Deadhead – A truck moving with no cargo(hauling air)
Doubles – A truck with two trailers
EDI – Electronic Document Interchange
Flatbed – A trailer with no walls
FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GAWR – Gross Axle Weight Rating
GCW – Gross Combination Weight
Governor – Device that limits truck’s max speed
Hazmat – Hazardous Materials
Hot Shot – A small truck that generally carries smaller and time sensitive loads
Hours-Of-Service(HOS) – FMCSA mandated work hours
Lessee – A company that pays money to use someone else’s property
Lessor – A company that owns the property someone is paying to use
Long-Haul – Long distance driving
LTL – Less than truckload. Multiple partial loads can be on the same trailer
Owner Operator – Trucker who owns or leases his own truck(s)
OTR – Over the road, long haul trucking
Reefer – Refrigerated trailer
Sleeper – A space behind the truck’s cab
Straight Truck – A truck with the cargo area attached
Tractor – A truck made to pull the trailer