Transportation Glossary
Freight movement in a direction (or lane) of secondary importance or light demand.
Driver compartment of a truck or tractor
Provides transportation services — typically owning and operating
transportation equipment. Examples: trucking company, railroad, airline, etc…
A trucker that provides local pick-up and delivery services.
Document certifying that one has met specified requirements. Issued by an insurance company stating the party named has coverage in the amounts and types listed.
A piece of trucking equipment which is essentially a set of wheels on a lightweight frame.
Blocks or stop barriers placed behind or in front of wheels of a trailer or container to prevent rolling.
Article of commerce (goods, merchandise) that is shipped. Proper description of freight commodity is extremely important.
A for‑hire carrier providing transportation services to the general public with obligations to serve, deliver, charge reasonable rates, and avoid discrimination.
Damage to the contents of a package that appears externally in good condition.
Drayage involves moving freight over limited distances, often from a port to a warehouse or from one mode of transportation to another (seaport to rail spur, for example). In contrast, over-the-road freight transportation (FTL or LTL) can involve much longer distances and utilizes a variety of equipment.
An individual or firm to whom freight is shipped — the receiver of the shipment.
Joining together many small shipments into larger shipments to take advantage of transportation cost savings.
A single, rigid, sealed, reusable metal box used for shipping by vessel, truck, or rail.
Transportation terminal where received items are transferred directly from inbound to outbound shipping dock with minimal storage.
Specialists in customs procedures who act for importers for a fee.
A portion of transportation trip in which no freight is carried.
Penalty charges assessed when transportation equipment is held longer than agreed loading/unloading time.
Rerouting of freight by the shipper while goods are in transit.
Platform where trucks are loaded and unloaded.
Transportation service where freight moves from origin to final destination for a given rate.
Local trucking to and from rail or port facilities.
Wood or packaging materials used to keep cargo in place during transport.
Accelerating transportation times.
Used to lift containers from truck chassis, railcars, or docks and load them onto ships.
Forty‑foot equivalent unit used to measure container capacity.
Level platform with no sides or top, used for oversized shipments.
Platform with no sides or top used for oversized shipments.
Machine used to move goods on pallets or skids.
Temperature‑controlled equipment for transporting perishables.
Document providing contract between shipper and carrier.
Agency that receives freight and arranges transportation with carriers.
Most commonly measured by weight or cubic feet.
Direct point‑to‑point service of an entire truck.
Container allowing above‑average cubic capacity.
Carrier authorized to transport household goods and furniture.
Common freight weight unit per 100 pounds.
Storage of goods in bonded warehouse pending duties.
Transportation using multiple transport modes.
Manufacturing system using frequent small deliveries.
Total cost of shipment including transport, insurance, and taxes.
Lift‑on, lift‑off container movement.
Terminal‑to‑terminal long‑distance freight movement.
Less‑than‑truckload shipment.
Non‑Vessel‑Operating Common Carrier providing forwarding services.
Containers with sides but no permanent top.
Shipment exceeding legal size limits.
Excess freight beyond documented quantity.
Transport of goods by road.
Driver who owns and operates their own truck.
Hazardous material identification sign.
Less‑than‑container load shipment.
Refrigerated container.
Roll‑on, roll‑off vessel loading.
Truck and trailer combination.
Individual or firm sending freight.
Group of shippers consolidating freight.
Instructions to carrier.
Stock keeping unit.
Two drivers alternating driving.
Single‑frame truck.
Transportation facility used for freight transfer and storage.
Twenty‑foot equivalent unit container measurement.
Agency that resells carrier capacity.
Trucking term for trailers.
Moving freight between containers.
Description of goods sent with carrier.
