Accessorial — Any charge on a load beyond the linehaul rate (detention, liftgate, layover, etc.).
BOL (Bill of Lading) — The legal document signed at pickup and delivery confirming what was transported, by whom, and condition on receipt. The most important document on every load.
BOC-3 — Process agent designation filed with FMCSA. Required for MC authority.
Box truck — Straight truck with a fixed cargo box, typically 16–26 feet. Most popular sizes in expedited: 16', 24', and 26'.
Broker — A licensed middleman who arranges freight between shippers and carriers. Pays the carrier; collects from the shipper.
Cargo van — Small enclosed delivery van under ~12,500 lbs GVWR. Workhorses of the lightest expedited freight.
CDL (Commercial Driver's License) — Required for vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR (or carrying hazmat or 16+ passengers).
COI (Certificate of Insurance) — Document proving your insurance coverage and limits. Sent to brokers before loading.
Consignee — The receiver of the freight (the delivery contact).
Deadhead — Miles driven empty between loads. The carrier's biggest profitability killer.
Detention — Pay owed when held beyond agreed free time at pickup or delivery.
Dispatch / Dispatcher — Person or company that finds and books loads on behalf of carriers and manages driver logistics.
DOT (Department of Transportation) — U.S. federal agency. DOT number = safety registration ID.
Drop & hook — Picking up a pre-loaded trailer and leaving an empty (mostly applies to FTL; expedited carriers occasionally see drop-and-hook style operations).
ELD (Electronic Logging Device) — Required hardware for tracking HOS on most commercial drivers.
Expedited freight — Time-critical, dedicated shipment, usually moved direct from origin to destination.
Factoring — Selling your invoices to a financial company for fast payment, in exchange for a percentage fee.
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) — U.S. agency that regulates interstate trucking.
FTL (Full Truckload) — One shipper fills the truck; usually a 53-ft trailer.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) — Manufacturer's max safe weight of vehicle + cargo.
Hazmat — Hazardous materials. Requires special endorsements and surcharges.
Hot shot — Expedited freight typically hauled by smaller pickup + trailer rigs (often Class 3 or 4 chassis). Overlaps with expedited but generally lower weight than Class 8.
HOS (Hours of Service) — Federal rules governing how long commercial drivers can drive without rest.
IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) — Quarterly fuel tax filing for qualifying interstate carriers.
Layover — Overnight or multi-day delay pay.
Liftgate — Hydraulic platform at the rear of a truck to lift pallets to/from the ground.
Linehaul — The base transportation rate, not including accessorials.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) — Smaller shipments consolidated with others on the same truck.
MC Number — Motor Carrier authority granted by FMCSA. Required for most interstate for-hire trucking.
OS&D (Over, Short, and Damaged) — Discrepancies discovered at delivery between BOL and actual freight.
POD (Proof of Delivery) — Document (usually signed BOL) confirming delivery; needed to invoice.
Quick pay — Faster broker payment (1–7 days) in exchange for a small percentage fee.
Rate confirmation (rate con) — Written agreement between broker and carrier confirming load details and rate.
Reefer — Refrigerated trailer or truck.
RPM (Rate Per Mile) — Revenue divided by miles. The fundamental measure of load profitability.
Sprinter — High-roof, mid-size cargo van. Most common expedited vehicle.
TONU (Truck Order Not Used) — Payment when a broker cancels a load after the carrier has committed/deadheaded.
TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) — Required for port/terminal access.
TSA STA (Security Threat Assessment) — Required for airport-area sensitive freight.
UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) — Annual federal/state registration for interstate carriers.
W-9 — IRS form required by brokers to pay you.
White glove — Premium delivery service: inside delivery, unpacking, placement, debris removal. Higher rate.