Hauling Dictionary

All-In Rate

The total agreed payment for transporting a load, including any charges specified in the rate.

Accessorial Fees

Additional charges for services beyond standard transportation, such as tarping, detention, or extra stops.

Backhaul

A load transported on a return trip or toward the carrier's home area.

Bill of Lading (BOL)

A shipping document identifying the freight, shipper, consignee, and transportation details.

BOC-3

A required filing designating legal process agents for certain federally regulated transportation businesses.

Break-Even Rate

The minimum rate a carrier needs to charge to cover operating expenses without losing money.

Broker Credit Check

Reviewing a freight broker's payment history and financial reliability before accepting a load.

Carrier

A company or individual responsible for transporting freight.

Carrier Packet

Documents required by a broker or customer before establishing a working relationship with a carrier.

CDL

Commercial Driver's License. Required to operate certain commercial vehicles depending on weight, configuration, and other factors.

Consignee

The person or company receiving the freight.

Cost Per Mile (CPM)

The average cost of operating a truck per mile, including expenses such as fuel, insurance, maintenance, and equipment.

Deadhead

Miles driven without a paying load.

Dedicated Freight

Regularly scheduled or recurring freight transported for a specific customer.

Detention

Additional compensation for excessive waiting time during loading or unloading, according to agreed terms.

Direct Customer

A shipper who works directly with a carrier rather than going through a freight broker.

Dispatcher

Someone who helps carriers find loads, coordinate schedules, and manage transportation logistics.

DOT Inspection

An inspection of a commercial vehicle, driver, or both to check compliance with applicable safety regulations.

Double Brokering

Unauthorized re-brokering of freight, often involving misrepresentation of who is transporting the load.

ELD

Electronic Logging Device. Equipment used to electronically record driving time and certain duty-status information.

Factorable Broker

A broker whose invoices a particular factoring company is willing to purchase.

Factoring

Selling eligible unpaid freight invoices to a factoring company in exchange for faster access to funds.

Freight Broker

A licensed intermediary who connects shippers with carriers to arrange transportation.

Freight Lane

The route or geographic market between a pickup location and a delivery location.

Fuel Surcharge (FSC)

An additional charge intended to help cover fuel expenses.

Full Truckload (FTL)

Freight that occupies or is contracted for an entire truck or trailer.

GCWR

Gross Combination Weight Rating. The manufacturer's maximum rated loaded weight for a truck and trailer combination.

Gross Revenue

Total money earned before business expenses are deducted.

GVWR

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The manufacturer's maximum rated loaded weight of an individual vehicle.

HOS

Hours of Service. Regulations governing driving and on-duty time for covered commercial drivers.

Hotshot Hauling

Transporting freight, often time-sensitive, using pickup trucks and trailers instead of traditional semi-trucks.

Layover

Compensation for extended delays that require a driver to wait, often overnight.

Live Load

When a driver waits while freight is loaded onto their trailer.

Live Unload

When a driver waits while freight is unloaded from their trailer.

Load Board

An online platform where brokers and shippers post available freight for carriers to find.

Load Securement

Equipment and methods used to prevent freight from shifting or falling during transportation.

Lumper Fee

A charge for a third party to load or unload freight.

MC Number

A historical FMCSA operating authority identifier commonly used to identify carriers and brokers.

Multi-Stop Load

A shipment requiring more than one pickup or delivery location.

Net 30

Payment terms generally requiring payment within 30 days of the agreed starting point.

Net Profit

Money remaining after applicable business expenses are deducted.

No-Touch Freight

Freight the driver is not responsible for physically loading or unloading.

Non-CDL

Commercial vehicle operation that does not require a CDL. Other DOT regulations may still apply.

Operating Authority

Federal authorization required for certain for-hire transportation and brokerage operations.

Out of Service (OOS)

A status prohibiting continued operation until specified serious safety violations are corrected.

Owner-Operator

Someone who owns or leases their trucking equipment and operates it as a business.

Partial Load

Freight that takes up only a portion of a trailer's available space or capacity.

Payload

The weight a vehicle can carry without exceeding applicable ratings and limits.

Proof of Delivery (POD)

Documentation confirming that freight was delivered.

Quick Pay

An arrangement allowing carriers to receive payment faster, often for an additional fee.

Rate Confirmation (Rate Con)

A document outlining the agreed rate, pickup and delivery details, and transportation requirements.

Rate Per Mile (RPM)

The amount a carrier earns per mile for transporting a load.

Shipper

The person or company sending the freight.

Spot Market

Freight booked individually at rates negotiated for each shipment.

Tarping

Covering and securing freight with a tarp to protect it during transportation.

TONU

Truck Ordered Not Used. Compensation sometimes paid when a load is canceled after a truck has been dispatched.

UCR

Unified Carrier Registration. An annual registration requirement for certain interstate carriers, brokers, and other transportation businesses.

USDOT Number

A number used by FMCSA to identify and monitor commercial motor carriers.

WLL

Working Load Limit. The maximum rated load a securement device is designed to handle.