- Bill of Lading (BOL)
- A legal document issued by a carrier that details the type, quantity, and destination of goods being shipped, serving as a receipt and contract.
- Deadhead
- Miles driven without cargo, typically when repositioning to pick up a new load. Deadhead miles generate no revenue and increase operating costs.
- Detention
- Charges incurred when a truck is held at a shipper or receiver beyond the allotted free time for loading or unloading.
- Drayage
- Short-distance transportation of freight, typically between a port, rail terminal, or warehouse and a nearby destination.
- Drop Trailer
- A logistics arrangement where a carrier drops a pre-loaded trailer at a facility for the shipper or receiver to load or unload at their convenience.
- FTL
- Full Truckload — a shipment that fills an entire trailer, typically 42–45 pallets or 44,000+ pounds, shipped directly from origin to destination.
- HAZMAT
- Hazardous Materials — goods that pose a risk to health, safety, or property during transportation, requiring special handling and certification.
- Intermodal
- Freight transportation using two or more modes (truck, rail, ship) without handling the cargo itself when changing modes, typically via standardized containers.
- LTL
- Less Than Truckload — a shipment that doesn't fill an entire trailer, combined with other shipments to maximize truck utilization and reduce costs.
- Lumper
- A third-party worker hired to load or unload freight at warehouses and distribution centers, common in the grocery and retail industries.
- Reefer
- A refrigerated trailer or container used to transport temperature-sensitive goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
- Tarping
- The process of covering flatbed loads with tarps to protect cargo from weather, debris, and road hazards during transport.