Glossary of Basic Transportation Terms

The freight industry has a unique lexicon, much of it rooted in a long history of transportation. The vocabulary can be a bit overwhelming and confusing for a newcomer.

We’ll explore some of the more commonly used terms here:

Decrease – A discount allowed for damage or surcharge

Accessory – Any service that is not considered ‘standard’ and will incur additional charges. This may include inside delivery, insurance, liftgate service, and other services.

bill of lading (BOL) – Essential shipping documents indicating relevant names and addresses, places of origin and destination, description of goods shipped, payment instructions and other relevant information

Booking – Arrange the transport of goods by a carrier

car box – A closed freight car

Conveyor – The transport entity that undertakes to move cargo by rail, truck, sea, air or any combination of these modes

Bearing – Freight transport locally (as opposed to interstate or international) by truck

Claim – A claim made to the carrier for payment due to damages or other losses resulting from the carrier’s negligence in transportation.

Classification – Rating assigned for a particular type of product, generally identifying the size, value and difficulties inherent in transporting that product. The right class is a must for an accurate freight quote

consigned – The person or company to which the cargo is sent

Consignor – The person or company identified as the shipper of the cargo

container – A large metal box resembling the body of a truck trailer that can be shipped by ship or rail and then attached to a trailer chassis for onward transportation, containers come in many sizes and types.

Stowaway – When a truck delivers a load and then completes a leg of a trip without any load

declared value – Sometimes a shipper may receive a lower rate if they declare less than the actual value for a shipment, which can be risky in case of loss.

Density – The weight of the load per cubic foot, this measurement is important for an accurate freight quote

double drop – An open flatbed trailer with a raised section in the front and rear and a lower section in the middle that can be used to haul unusually tall cargo

haulage – Local haulage of cargo by truck Same as Bearing

Container – Refers to a 53′ trailer that can be heated or ventilated but is not refrigerated

Exception -When a carrier receives a shipment (usually at its terminal), the carrier notes any actual or suspected damage to the cargo prior to transportation.

transportation – Used in several different ways, it can refer to the actual load or to the charges levied on a shipper by a carrier for transporting that load.

Gross weight – Cumulative weight of cargo, packaging and freight wagon or container

MAKE MATTE – Dangerous material

intermodal – Use of multiple modes of transportation to move cargo containers – can include sea, rail, road and air cargo transportation

LTL or less than truckload – Shipment where the load is not large enough to require a full truckload on its own, LTL shipments are typically in the 100lb to 20,000lb range

NMFC – National Classification of Freight Transportation (see Classification up)

Piggyback – An intermodal transportation arrangement in which loaded truck trailers are placed on a rail car and moved to a destination.

PRO number – The tracking number assigned by the carrier to a specific shipment

Proof of delivery – Receipt of delivery of a shipment

puppies – A short trailer used together with another short trailer to create a twin or tandem trailer

quote or quotation – An offer to provide freight transportation at a specific price based on certain information and shipping terms

reefer – Refrigerated container or trailer

stack train – A special wagon that can transport containers stacked in two heights

Step Deck – An open trailer with a standard flat section at the front and a drop section at the rear, used to haul taller cargo

tare weight – The weight of the empty railcar or empty container in rail, sea or intermodal shipments

Tariff – A publication that establishes the rates and requirements of a specific transport company

Terminal – An area where cargo is organized and prepared for loading and shipment to the final destination, the cargo will often go to a carrier’s terminal after being picked up and then placed in another container or trailer for transport to its destination, intermodal cargo is often unloaded at a terminal before being staged and placed for final delivery

TL – Truck loading (when the amount of cargo is enough to fill a full trailer or container)

Tractor – The power unit used to pull a trailer

Trailer – The part of the truck in which the cargo is loaded and transported.

ventilated trailer – A trailer with small openings in the walls to allow outside air to circulate when the doors are closed

storage -Cargo storage

While this list may seem long, there are hundreds of other key industry terms and phrases you may come across. Whether you are a novice or experienced sender, you may hear a new term from time to time. Do not hesitate to contact us to know what any word related to the transport of goods means at any time.