Trucking Glossary

One part of California’s framework for deciding whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. In many situations, the worker is presumed to be an employee and the hiring entity must prove all three parts of the ABC test; statutory occupation or business-relationship exceptions may use the Borello or another standard instead.

Owning the truck, receiving a Form 1099, or signing an independent-contractor or owner-operator agreement does not by itself decide classification. The actual working relationship and the applicable legal test control.

Charges beyond the base line-haul transportation price for extra services or circumstances, such as detention, layover, loading labor, tarping, or liftgate use. Check which items are separately billable and their agreed terms.

Also: 杂费

A party included under another's policy through its terms or an endorsement, within specified coverage that may differ from the named insured's.

Check the actual policy or endorsement, not only a COI entry.

A person investigating and evaluating a claim for an insurer.

An inquiry is not a payment decision.

A braking system that uses compressed air, generally including service brakes for normal stops, parking brakes, and emergency braking functions for a system failure. A CDL “no air brakes” restriction relates to qualification and the test vehicle; it is not a separate air-brake certificate or endorsement.

Treat abnormal gauges, low-pressure warnings, air leakage, or brake response seriously. Perform the vehicle- and carrier-specific pre-trip check; passing air-brake knowledge testing does not prove that today's brake system is safe.

Also: 空气制动 · 气压制动 · air brake system · pneumatic brakes

A duct or structure directing air through a refrigerated trailer. Damage or obstruction can affect circulation.

Respect equipment and loading clearances; the chute is not storage space.

A location where a tiedown attaches to the vehicle or cargo. Its structure and condition affect securement.

A place that accepts a hook is not necessarily a suitable anchor.

Explanation attached to a log event or edit.

Explain the reason; a note does not itself alter status.

A system that modulates brake pressure during hard braking to help prevent wheel lock and preserve steering control. ABS does not guarantee a shorter stop on every surface, create tire traction, or replace normal braking technique; tractor and trailer systems may have separate warning indicators.

Know which ABS lamps correspond to the tractor and trailer. If a lamp stays on, fails to illuminate when expected, or comes on while driving, follow vehicle and carrier inspection or repair steps; ABS is not a guarantee of stopping distance.

Also: 防锁死刹车 · 防抱死系统 · anti-lock brakes · antilock brakes

A system for booking a terminal visit for pickup, return, or another transaction. Platforms, time windows, and receiving conditions vary. A confirmed appointment does not by itself mean the container is released, charges are settled, or pickup can proceed.

Also: 港口预约

Auxiliary Power Unit: equipment supplying cab climate control or electrical power while parked, reducing main-engine idling. It may use diesel or batteries. Having an APU does not automatically satisfy California requirements; equipment emissions and operating restrictions still apply.

Also: Auxiliary Power Unit

The weight that a vehicle and its cargo place on the road through one axle or an axle group. A legal gross weight does not prove every axle is legal; axle spacing, tire ratings, state law, route restrictions, and permit conditions can all affect the allowed weight.

After loading, review each axle-group reading as well as gross weight. If the load is distributed poorly, ask the shipper or carrier whether it can be adjusted; a BOL weight, container weight, or GVWR alone does not establish road legality.

Also: 车轴重量 · 轴荷 · axle load · axle group weight

A load picked up after delivery to head back toward your origin (or next pickup), reducing deadhead.

Also: 返程货

CHP's terminal-inspection program covering applicable vehicles, maintenance and records, not an individual certificate every driver must obtain.

BIT means Basic Inspection of Terminals; do not infer a universal two-year schedule.

A common shipping document recording the consignor, consignee, origin, destination, package count, freight description, and applicable weight or volume. It helps parties identify freight received for transportation; read the actual document and shipping arrangement for its terms and signature requirements.

At pickup, compare the document with the package count and visible condition. If they differ, clarify with site personnel and the carrier, record the discrepancy as required, and keep the evidence.

Also: B/L

A thin transparent ice layer through which the pavement remains visible, often difficult to distinguish from a wet road.

Pavement need not look white to be icy.

An arranged shipment withholding some party information from another party.

Follow authorized documents; do not infer hidden party identity.

Restraint using suitable structures or material to prevent load movement in a direction, usually as part of a complete securement arrangement.

Clarify which movement is restrained, not merely whether something fills a gap.

Driving the tractor with no trailer attached. Bobtailing handles differently — braking can actually be worse than with a trailer.

Also: 光头 · 无挂

An FMCSA filing designating agents for service of legal process. Such agents are not dispatchers or freight brokers.

A filing alone does not establish active operating authority; check status separately.

An identifier for a transport booking, distinct from a container number or bill-of-lading number.

When asked for a booking, do not substitute a container number; use authorized channels.

Using supports to stabilize cargo or resist movement. The supports and their connections must suit the forces involved.

Blocking and bracing may work together; packaging filler is not automatically structural restraint.

Reduced braking effectiveness associated with conditions such as overheating. Greater pedal force does not establish restored braking.

Treat it as a serious condition and follow driver training and vehicle procedures.

Federal formula relating axle-group weight to axle count and spacing.

Check axle, gross, and posted bridge limits too.

FMCSA operating-authority registration for arranging covered transportation as a broker. It is distinct from motor-carrier authority; applicable financial-security and process-agent requirements also need to be met.

A surety-bond filing used by brokers to meet federal financial-security requirements, with required security of $75,000. A BMC-85 trust is an alternative. Eligible shippers or carriers may submit claims for a broker’s failure to fulfill its arrangements; $75,000 is not a guaranteed payment to each claimant.

Do not assume first-come-first-served payment. Promptly confirm claim documents and deadlines with the provider; broker financial failure has specific notice and claim procedures. FMCSA does not adjudicate individual payment disputes.

A carrier identification number issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to a motor carrier operating motor vehicles commercially on California highways. It identifies the operating entity; it is not a particular vehicle’s registration number or operating authority.

Many property carriers must obtain a CA number and then separately apply to the California DMV for a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP). Need and display rules depend on the operation and vehicle, so check CHP and DMV requirements separately.

Calling a known trusted number to verify a change.

Do not rely solely on the number in the change request.

The transport capacity available for particular freight at a place and time. Truck count, equipment type, and driver availability all matter. Tight capacity relative to demand can make trucks harder to secure and push rates up; the nationwide truck count alone is not enough.

California's state agency for air quality and vehicle emissions. Major impact on truck rules including Clean Truck Check and ACF.

Also: California Air Resources Board

Insurance for specified loss or damage to cargo being transported. Covered commodities, causes of loss, limits, and deductibles depend on the policy. Customer insurance requirements and federal filing requirements are separate questions.

Also: 货损险

The use of vehicle structures, dunnage, blocking, bracing, tiedowns, chains, or other suitable means to contain, immobilize, or restrain cargo so it does not leak, fall, or shift enough to affect vehicle stability or handling. A container seal indicates closure or identity; it does not secure the cargo.

Before departure, confirm who is responsible for loading and securement, and inspect the method for that cargo and body plus visible damage. A sealed door, signed BOL, or enclosed trailer does not automatically establish adequate securement.

Also: 货物捆扎 · 装载固定 · load securement · cargo restraint · tie-down

Unauthorized taking of freight in transit or custody.

Verify unusual pickup instructions; do not presume who is responsible.

An individual or business that actually transports freight. Registration and authority requirements depend on the vehicle, cargo, and operation; not every carrier needs the same operating authority.

Also: 车队 · 运输公司 · trucking company

A set of documents or online forms used when onboarding with a broker or customer to check carrier information, authority, insurance, and payment arrangements. Requirements vary; completing setup neither grants government authority nor guarantees loads.

An authorized person should verify the recipient and provide the records. A driver receiving the request should refer it to the responsible carrier staff.

Also: 承运人资料包 · 车队入驻 · 开户注册 · carrier onboarding · setup packet · carrier setup packet

A state-issued license for operating vehicles that meet CDL thresholds. Federal classes use the weight rating or actual weight, whichever is greater: Class A covers a combination of 26,001 pounds or more with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds; Class B covers a single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing 10,000 pounds or less; Class C covers a vehicle outside A/B designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver, or that transports placarded hazardous materials or specified agents. Endorsements and restrictions must also be checked.

Also: 商业驾照 · Commercial Driver's License

The party named to receive insurance evidence on a certificate. That status alone does not grant insured rights.

A request to be the certificate holder is not itself additional-insured coverage.

A summary of insurance information as of issuance, usually prepared by an insurer or producer for a customer or broker. It is not the policy and does not add or guarantee coverage; the policy and endorsements govern the actual coverage.

A device that tensions and holds a securement chain, also called a load binder, with different mechanisms and ratings.

Use compatible chain and connectors rather than matching by appearance.

Also: load binder

A road control requiring traction equipment under specified conditions. Requirements depend on the vehicle, location and current directions.

Do not apply passenger-car four-wheel-drive exceptions directly to heavy trucks.

A designated area for fitting traction equipment, subject to local use and stopping rules.

It is not guaranteed overnight parking or a repair area.

A reversal or recovery of a previously paid or credited amount, with different grounds in factoring or freight disputes.

Ask for the supporting invoice, reason and contractual basis.

The wheeled frame supporting a container for road transport, separate from the container itself. It may be owned or supplied under another arrangement; confirm its pickup, return, and use requirements.

Inspect as required before use, record concerns, and report and address them through the carrier and equipment-use procedures.

Also: 拖架

An arrangement requiring a chassis move to or from a location different from the container pickup or return location; charges depend on terms.

Confirm both locations, timing and charge responsibility, not only the container appointment.

Reporting arrival at pickup or delivery to the gate, shipping or receiving office, or designated system and confirming the job. Reaching the area is not necessarily check-in, and check-in does not by itself authorize docking.

Follow the facility’s check-in process and note the time. Detention eligibility follows the agreement, not location data alone.

Also: 签到 · 入场登记 · check in · driver check-in

An insurer's tracking number for a claim.

Confirm the number when contacting the insurer.

The heaviest federal vehicle class, GVWR > 33,000 lbs. This is the segment our association serves.

Also: 重卡 · 大卡车 · heavy-duty truck

CARB’s emissions compliance program for covered heavy-duty vehicles, including an annual compliance fee and vehicle-specific testing requirements. Testing is not limited to OBD.

An annual fee does not imply annual testing. Check CARB and CTC-VIS for applicability, test method, and actual deadlines.

Also: 加州重型车排放检测 · Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance

The person or company designated to receive the goods, often shown as Consignee or Ship To. For a store delivery, the store may be the consignee while an authorized worker signs for receipt.

Also: 收货方

Standardized steel box — common sizes 20', 40', 40' HC, 45'. The basic unit of ocean + drayage freight.

Also: 柜 · 海运箱 · box · can

In drayage, the status that required authorizations for an import container to enter the pickup process have been satisfied, often checked separately for ocean-carrier release, customs release, and other holds. “Released” does not by itself mean the box is discharged and available, an appointment exists, charges are resolved, or the gate will accept the truck.

Before dispatch, check line release, customs or CBP release, other holds, physical availability, LFD, charges, and appointment status in the applicable carrier or terminal system. One green status does not mean every pickup condition is complete.

Also: 柜子放行 · 提柜放行 · 进口柜放行 · cargo release · line release · customs release · fully released

A refrigeration mode involving continuous operation, commonly to maintain airflow; exact behavior depends on the unit.

Match the shipment instructions and unit; do not substitute a fuel-saving mode yourself.

A rate agreed in advance for a lane or period. The contract sets pricing, duration, and adjustments; fuel may be separate. A contract rate does not by itself guarantee volume or ensure it is above or below the current spot rate.

Cost per Mile: operating costs for a period divided by total miles for the same period. Include relevant costs beyond fuel, such as maintenance, tires, insurance, and vehicle costs. In driver-pay discussions, CPM may instead mean cents per mile; check the context.

Compare with RPM only after aligning revenue, cost, and mileage definitions. Omitted fixed expenses or deadhead can overstate the apparent margin.

Wind acting across the vehicle, with effects depending on vehicle profile, loading, wind strength and exposure.

Report strong crosswinds together with location and observed effects.

FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) groups carrier roadside-inspection, State-reported crash, and investigation data into seven safety categories. Where enough data exist, it calculates performance in each category and then a 0–100 percentile relative to carriers with a similar number of safety events, to prioritize interventions. It is not one overall “CSA score.”

A percentile closer to 100 indicates worse relative performance within the comparison group; no percentile is assigned without sufficient data. It helps prioritize oversight and is not FMCSA’s formal safety fitness rating. Crash data record involvement and do not automatically assign fault to the carrier.

Also: Compliance, Safety, Accountability

A customs-related hold preventing routine cargo release, distinct from terminal restrictions or a carrier's freight release.

Identify the hold type and contact the party responsible for it.

FMCSA’s data-review system, where drivers, motor carriers, and their representatives can request and track review of incomplete or incorrect Federal or State inspection, violation, and crash data stored by FMCSA.

An FMCSA crash record shows involvement, not a finding of fault. Preventability review through DataQs is limited to crashes eligible for the Crash Preventability Determination Program, and a regular DataQs request does not replace State judicial or administrative procedures for contesting a citation.

A leg driven without freight, such as traveling from delivery to the next pickup. It may involve an empty trailer or a tractor alone; compensation for empty miles depends on the agreement.

Include pickup and necessary return deadhead when estimating a trip: those miles still use fuel and time.

Also: 空跑

The amount applied as the insured’s share of a covered loss under the policy. Establish whether the loss is covered, then check the applicable deductible and other terms; exceeding the deductible does not by itself establish coverage.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid: a urea solution used by the SCR exhaust-treatment system to reduce nitrogen oxides. It goes in a dedicated DEF tank, not in diesel fuel. Low level, quality issues, or system faults can trigger warnings and power or speed limits depending on the vehicle and software.

Also: 车用尿素 · Diesel Exhaust Fluid · AdBlue

A cycle that removes frost from the evaporator. Its duration and controls depend on the refrigeration unit.

Check the indicated operating state before interpreting an isolated temperature reading.

In ocean shipping, a possible charge when a container or cargo remains at a terminal beyond allowed free time. It is common in import pickup workflows. Check free time, billed days, and the actual invoice; the term alone does not make the driver the payer.

Start by distinguishing terminal storage from equipment use after pickup, then read the bill. Per diem means “per day” and can refer to different equipment.

In road freight, a charge associated with driver or vehicle waiting at pickup or delivery. Free time, billing conditions, rates, and responsibility depend on applicable terms. In ocean shipping the word can refer to equipment use, so context matters.

Also: 等货费 · 压车费 · detention time · wait time

An alternate route around a closure or restriction.

A detour is not automatically truck suitable.

A charge for investigating, testing or diagnosing a problem, potentially payable even when repair is not authorized.

Clarify scope, price and whether it is credited toward later repairs.

Written confirmation of dispatch instructions such as pickup and delivery details.

It is distinct from the Rate Confirmation's pricing terms.

A person coordinating drivers’ work: communicating pickup and delivery details, tracking progress, and handling changes. Some also find loads and negotiate rates. Dispatchers may work inside a carrier or provide an outside service.

For an outside service, agree on fees and authority to sign rate confirmations. Whether broker authority is needed depends on the actual activities, not the “dispatcher” label.

Also: 派车员

A device bridging the dock and trailer floor and accommodating height differences. It is distinct from equipment that restrains the vehicle.

Confirm which equipment the warehouse means; do not operate unfamiliar machinery.

A restraint intended to prevent unintended trailer movement during dock work. Locking, indicator and release procedures vary by equipment.

Confirm the site's signal and release procedure rather than guessing from a light.

A commercial-vehicle compliance inspection conducted by authorized enforcement personnel at roadside or an inspection facility. Its scope varies and may cover the driver, documents, and vehicle condition.

Roadside inspections, periodic vehicle inspections, and driver pre-trip checks serve different purposes. Completing one does not automatically satisfy the others.

Also: 路检

A load is passed to another carrier without the original broker's or shipper's knowledge.

It raises risk but does not make every reassignment fraud.

A descending road in the direction of travel, commonly used in long-grade warnings; the opposite is upgrade.

“Long downgrade ahead” warns of a sustained descent, not a request to speed up.

Time a vehicle is unavailable for transport because of repair, waiting or another cause. Payment for losses depends on applicable terms.

Confirm the estimated release time and communicate it as an estimate.

Diesel Particulate Filter: a device trapping particles in diesel exhaust. Regeneration burns off accumulated soot; remaining ash may require cleaning according to the manufacturer. Restriction or faults can reduce available engine power.

Follow the dashboard instructions and the applicable vehicle manual. Parked regeneration creates high temperatures; this definition is not an operating procedure or a universal schedule.

Also: Diesel Particulate Filter

A process that oxidizes accumulated soot in a diesel particulate filter under controlled conditions. Types and operating requirements vary.

Regeneration does not remove all ash or fix every fault; follow the specific manual.

Also: regen · parked regen

The qualification file a motor carrier keeps for a driver subject to 49 CFR Part 391. Depending on the driver, it can include the employment application, motor vehicle records, a road-test certificate or accepted equivalent, annual driving-record review, and medical-qualification or variance records.

Do not rely on a universal “11-item” checklist. Clearinghouse pre-employment and annual query records may be managed with driver files, but the query duties are separate requirements under 49 CFR Part 382.

Also: Driver Qualification File

Short-distance container transportation between ports, rail terminals, depots, and customer warehouses.

Also: 港口短驳 · port drayage

An axle receiving power to move the vehicle. A scale's drive-axle reading may total a group rather than each individual axle.

Check whether the ticket reports an axle or an axle group.

Dropping one trailer and hooking to another to reduce live loading or unloading time. Either trailer may be loaded or empty; it is not limited to dropping a loaded trailer and collecting an empty one.

Also: 甩柜

FMCSA’s central database of drug-and-alcohol program violations and return-to-duty status for CDL/CLP drivers subject to the federal program. Employers query it to determine whether a current or prospective driver is prohibited from safety-sensitive work because of an unresolved violation.

An employer must complete a full query before the driver first performs safety-sensitive work and query each current driver at least annually. Consent differs by query type, and a Clearinghouse query does not replace the employer’s other testing and recordkeeping duties.

Also: FMCSA Clearinghouse

The most common enclosed trailer — for dry, room-temperature freight (e-commerce, retail, boxed goods).

Delivering one container and collecting another during a single terminal visit. Examples include returning an empty then collecting an import, or dropping an export then taking an empty. Both moves must meet the terminal’s current receiving and appointment conditions.

Also: 双向 · dual move

Materials used to support, separate or protect freight, such as suitable timber or fillers. Not all dunnage performs the same restraint function.

Describe its location and purpose instead of only saying dunnage is present.

The category recorded for each period: Off Duty, Sleeper Berth, Driving, or On Duty, Not Driving. Record the actual activity and responsibilities. An electronic logging device (ELD) does not decide every waiting, loading, or rest period for the driver.

Being parked does not always mean off duty, and sitting in the cab is not automatically sleeper berth. During loading, inspections, or waiting, classify the time from the actual responsibility; check the ELD before moving and correct or annotate errors as required.

Also: 工时状态 · 日志状态 · driver duty status · log status · RODS status

A Driver Vehicle Inspection Report records vehicle defects discovered by or reported to the driver that could affect safety or cause a breakdown. It is distinct from the pre-trip check that the vehicle is safe to operate.

Under the general federal rule, no DVIR is required when no defect is found or reported; other exceptions also apply. This does not remove pre-trip inspection duties. Check state and carrier requirements separately.

Also: Driver Vehicle Inspection Report

Protection at an edge where a tiedown contacts cargo, reducing abrasion or cutting. It does not replace adequate restraint capacity.

Check the contact point and protection condition, not merely whether protectors are carried.

An electronic device used to record driver duty status. Federal rules generally require ELDs for drivers who must keep records of duty status (RODS), subject to exceptions.

ELD is the recording tool; HOS is the set of time limits. Using an ELD does not by itself establish HOS compliance.

Also: Electronic Logging Device

A failure of required electronic logging functions.

Notify and keep alternative records under applicable procedures.

A guide for initial hazard identification and response during transport incidents.

It supports initial response, not training or shipment documents.

An employee works in an employment relationship; an independent contractor provides services as an independent business. Classification affects withholding, insurance, and labor rights, but a W-2, a 1099, or a contract label does not by itself determine status.

In California, the applicable ABC test or other legal standard examines the actual working relationship. Owning a truck alone does not establish independent-contractor status.

Also: W-2 · 1099 · IC · W2 · 1099 driver

A federal tax identifier issued by the IRS for businesses and certain other entities, not a driving or carrier credential.

Onboarding may request it; share only through necessary, trusted business channels.

The return of an unloaded import container to the terminal, depot, or yard currently designated and accepting it for the ocean carrier or equipment provider. The location and conditions may vary by line, size, type, date, shift, and inventory. An empty return is a different transaction from delivering a loaded export.

Before dispatch, recheck the ocean carrier's return instruction, the terminal's empty-receiving status, and whether an appointment is required. Do not assume the pickup terminal must or will accept the empty. Keep the EIR.

Also: 还空箱 · 空柜返场 · 空箱退回 · empty container return · empty drop-off · MTY in · empty in

A control-system restriction on available engine power or operation. Causes and severity depend on the vehicle and condition.

Describe warnings and behavior; not every derate means regeneration is needed.

A terminal or depot record generated when a container, chassis, or other equipment is interchanged or processed at the gate. It commonly includes equipment identifiers, direction, time, and recorded condition or damage. It evidences the interchange but is not a release, an appointment confirmation, or conclusive proof of damage responsibility.

Before leaving the gate, check the container and chassis numbers, direction, time, and damage remarks. Use the facility's correction channel promptly for omissions or mismatches, and retain the paper or electronic copy plus any permitted condition evidence.

Also: 设备交收单 · 柜架交接单 · 闸口交接凭证 · interchange receipt · equipment interchange report · gate receipt · gate ticket

In a carrier lease, money held under agreed terms for specified purposes, sometimes accumulated through settlement deductions. Check the required amount, permitted uses, accounting, and return conditions; it is not an unrestricted carrier charge.

Leases subject to 49 CFR 376.12(k) have accounting, interest, and return requirements. These include return no later than 45 days after termination, with a final accounting of permitted deductions.

An estimate of when you will arrive based on current progress. “What is your ETA?” asks for the expected arrival time; it does not book an appointment or establish that you have arrived.

Specify the place, date, and local time. Update the estimate after delays rather than driving unsafely to preserve it.

Also: 预计到场 · 预估到达时间 · estimated arrival

A note recording a quantity, condition or other exception during a handoff. It preserves observations without automatically deciding liability.

Record checkable facts such as one missing item rather than an assumed cause.

A cause, condition, person, use, property, or commodity that the policy states is not covered, whether in the main form or an endorsement. An applicable exclusion can bar coverage even when the policy has high limits, remains active, or a COI has been issued.

Before taking a new commodity or changing the vehicle, driver, route, or use, compare the exposure with the policy and endorsements. Ask the broker or insurer for written clarification when uncertain; “full coverage” or a COI does not mean there are no exclusions.

Also: 免责条款 · 不保事项 · 承保除外 · coverage exclusion · excluded risk · policy exclusion

Transferring freight receivables to a factoring company, which pays an agreed amount in advance and collects from the debtor. It can accelerate cash flow at a cost; advance amount, timing, and any reserve depend on the contract.

Recourse generally allows the factor to recover an unpaid advance from you under the contract. For non-recourse, check exactly which non-payment risks are covered; the label does not eliminate every contractual responsibility.

A code recorded by a control system to identify a detected condition. It guides diagnosis but is not proof of a particular failed part.

Report the full code and symptoms rather than clearing it to hide a problem.

The disk-shaped coupling on the tractor that locks onto the trailer's kingpin.

Loading or unloading generally arranged in check-in order rather than a reserved appointment slot for each truck. Receiving hours, separate queues, and site conditions may still apply; it does not mean arrival at any time or immediate service.

Confirm that day’s receiving hours and check-in location. Queue order and entitlement to detention pay are separate questions.

Also: 先到先装 · 先到先卸 · 按到场顺序 · first come first serve · first-come-first-served

An open flat platform trailer for oversized loads, building materials, steel, etc. Requires strong cargo securement skills.

The federal agency under DOT that regulates commercial truck/bus safety and writes the FMCSR (49 CFR Part 350–399).

FMCSA financial-responsibility and insurance-filing requirements vary by entity, operation, vehicle, and cargo. Identify the applicable category, then consult the current official table and regulation rather than applying a single amount to every truck.

Free time is the period during which a container or cargo may remain at a terminal or similar facility without the applicable storage or demurrage charge. The last free day is the final day or cutoff in that period. One is a period and the other a deadline; calculation varies by terminal, carrier, cargo, and current rule.

For the specific container, recheck the displayed LFD, availability, holds, charges, and appointment status that day. Do not calculate the deadline from a remembered number of free days; if the box is unavailable or the gate is closed, review the applicable rule and updates.

Also: 免费期 · 免堆时间 · 最后免堆日 · 最后免费提柜日 · free time · free days · last free day · LFD

A person or company paid to arrange transportation between a shipper and carrier. In its broker role, it arranges the shipment; the carrier transports it. Covered federal brokerage operations require registration and $75,000 in financial security through a BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust.

Check current FMCSA authority and financial-security information before accepting a load. Registration does not guarantee payment, and a Quick-Pay offer does not replace those checks.

Also: 中介 · 经纪 · broker

A business organizing freight transportation. Everyday use may refer to international forwarding. In FMCSA’s motor-freight classification, a freight forwarder consolidates and distributes shipments and assumes transportation responsibility, rather than only arranging a carrier as a broker does. It need not own trucks.

Also: 国际货代

A carrier's release status for freight-payment or commercial-document conditions; other holds may remain.

Freight released does not necessarily mean ready for immediate pickup.

A fleet payment card for fuel at participating sites.

Network, limits, and conditions vary by card.

Truck-stop lanes with diesel dispensers.

Follow site signs when fueling and leaving.

A receipt for a fuel purchase.

Check date, volume, amount, and vehicle fields.

A charge reflecting changes in fuel costs, often called FSC. Some agreements use EIA diesel-price data, but EIA does not set a universal surcharge formula. Check whether a quoted rate already includes fuel before adding it again.

Coverage typically addressing specified third-party bodily injury or property-damage liability from non-auto business operations. It is distinct from commercial auto liability; covered operations, limits, and exclusions depend on the policy.

The steepness of an uphill or downhill road, often expressed as a percentage, not an angle or speed limit.

Read the direction and length as well as the grade percentage.

The actual combined weight of tractor, trailer, occupants, fuel, equipment and cargo at that time, unlike the manufacturer's combination rating.

Use measured figures for actual weight; a rating is not a scale reading.

The manufacturer's weight rating for a vehicle combination. It is neither a current scale reading nor the sole legal road-weight limit.

Axles, tires, route limits and any permit conditions still require separate checks.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: the manufacturer’s loaded-weight rating for a single vehicle, including the vehicle, people, fuel, and cargo. It is not the current scale weight or cargo capacity. Road, axle, and combination-weight limits must be checked separately.

Also: 满载额定重 · Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Primary transport hazard class or division.

It is separate from any applicable packing group.

Materials regulated for transport because they may pose health, safety, or property risks.

Recognizing the term does not establish transport qualification.

A front-end structure on a vehicle or loading platform. It may restrain forward cargo movement where the design and arrangement support that use.

A headboard does not automatically remove the need for other securement.

Federal rules governing commercial drivers’ driving, duty time, and rest (49 CFR Part 395). Under the general property-carrier rules, 10 consecutive hours off duty permit up to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after coming on duty.

The 11-hour limit does not authorize 11 uninterrupted driving hours; the 14-hour window is not a blanket limit on all work. Break requirements, weekly limits, and applicable exceptions also matter.

Also: 驾驶时长法规

A federal highway-use tax generally involving vehicles used on public roads with a taxable gross weight of at least 55,000 pounds, reported on Form 2290. Taxable gross weight follows IRS rules, not just a scale reading; qualifying low-mileage use may allow suspension of the tax.

A stamped or electronically watermarked Schedule 1 is commonly used for vehicle registration. It may list tax-suspended vehicles, so it is not always proof of tax payment; check current IRS instructions for deadlines and exceptions.

Also: 2290 · Heavy Vehicle Use Tax

Using another party's identity to conduct transport business.

Verify the company and contact through established channels.

Running the engine while stationary.

Parking permission does not mean idling is allowed.

A fuel-use tax reporting system for qualified vehicles operating in two or more IFTA member States or Provinces. The carrier files one quarterly return with its base jurisdiction, using distance traveled and fuel used or purchased in each jurisdiction to settle tax or credits.

IFTA covers fuel-use tax, not vehicle registration. Check the base jurisdiction’s qualified-vehicle thresholds and whether a trip permit is available for occasional travel.

Also: International Fuel Tax Agreement

An IFTA licensee’s quarterly filing to its base jurisdiction, reporting mileage and fuel data to allocate tax among member states and provinces and calculate tax due or credits. It is not simply paying the same tax again at each border; retain mileage and qualifying fuel-purchase records.

An organization's record of an accident or operating incident.

Record facts without turning speculation into a fault finding.

A request to an insurer for coverage or compensation, not a determination of liability, coverage or payment.

Distinguish the request, its reference number and an actual payment.

A document modifying or supplementing a policy; it may add, restrict or change coverage. This is not a CDL endorsement.

Read it with the policy and effective dates.

A bill listing what is being charged, the amount, and payment terms. In U.S. freight work an invoice is commonly used to request payment; it is not a bill of lading or, by itself, proof that payment was received.

Provide required supporting records such as the POD and check the charges and payment arrangements. A receipt and a POD serve different purposes from the invoice.

Also: 运费账单 · 请款单 · 发票 · freight invoice · billing invoice

A cross-jurisdiction registration program used when a fleet operates qualifying vehicles in two or more IRP member States or Provinces. The fleet applies through the base jurisdiction where it has an established operation and keeps records; that jurisdiction issues one apportioned plate and cab card and allocates fees using distance by jurisdiction. California-based fleets file with the California DMV.

IRP is vehicle registration; it does not replace USDOT or operating authority, UCR, or IFTA. A vehicle operating only in California does not qualify for IRP registration.

Also: apportioned plate · International Registration Plan

The metal pin on the front of the trailer that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel.

Distance from kingpin to the rearmost trailer axle.

Not to the tandem center; check California route conditions.

The pricing rate for labor, often per hour. The total also depends on billed hours and the agreed pricing method.

Ask about both the rate and billed hours, not just the hourly price.

An extended delay, such as a load being pushed to the next day, and the related charge. Spending a night away does not automatically earn a layover payment; the trigger, amount, and payer depend on applicable terms.

Also: 过夜补偿

A hazmat exception for specified materials meeting quantity and packaging conditions.

Small packaging alone does not establish the exception.

On a quote or bill, linehaul commonly means the base transportation charge, with fuel and accessorials potentially listed separately. In operations it can also mean transport between cities or terminals; context matters.

Before comparing quotes, check whether fuel and extra charges are included. Linehaul is not necessarily the final amount received or profit.

Also: 基础运费 · 干线运费 · 基本运费 · line haul · line-haul

The truck waits while its trailer is loaded or unloaded at the facility before leaving, rather than dropping one trailer and hooking to another. “Live” does not refer to live animals or automatically mean the driver must handle the freight.

Confirm live loading versus a trailer swap, the driver’s expected involvement, and the time allowance. Waiting charges follow separate terms.

Also: 等装货 · 等卸货 · 现场装卸 · live loading · live unloading

One complete shipment assignment — pickup, delivery, cargo, agreed rate. "A load" = one job.

Also: 一票货 · 运单 / 货 · 货单 · 运单

An online subscription marketplace where carriers search loads by lane. Examples: DAT, Truckstop, 123Loadboard.

Also: freight board

The place where a warehouse loads or unloads a trailer, often with numbered dock doors. “Door 8” usually identifies a loading position, not the facility entrance; confirm the site’s directions.

Confirm the assigned door after check-in and follow the site’s safe docking process; an empty door is not permission to back in.

Also: 装卸平台 · 月台 · 装卸口 · 门位 · dock · dock door · loading bay

Driver's certification of duty-record accuracy.

Review and recertify after edits as required.

Correction to an editable ELD record.

Original events remain; automatic driving time cannot be shortened.

The record of a driver's daily status segments (driving/on-duty/off/sleeper) — now mostly maintained by an ELD.

The log records duty status; an ELD is a recording tool. Complete records and compliance with driving limits are different checks.

LTL (Less Than Truckload) generally shares trailer space among shipments. FTL (Full Truckload) generally reserves a truck’s capacity for one shipment; the trailer need not be physically full. Pricing also depends on the lane, freight, equipment, and service.

Also: less than truckload · full truckload

A charge for third-party loading or unloading labor at a warehouse or distribution center. A broker or carrier may arrange payment, or a driver may pay with authorization; the word alone does not mean the driver must fund it.

Confirm the amount, authorization, and payment method before paying. Keep the receipt and approval record for settlement or reimbursement.

An MC number is a familiar identifier in FMCSA operating-authority records. The need for authority and its type depend on the business role and operation. Check the legal entity, authority type, and current status rather than relying on the presence of a number.

Also: MC 牌照 · Authority · operating authority

The Motor Carrier Identification Report, used mainly to update the company and operating information tied to an existing USDOT number, including the biennial update. First-time USDOT applicants use FMCSA’s current new-registration system.

The biennial update is generally required even when nothing changed, and legal name, address, or other record changes should be updated promptly. FMCSA has temporary enforcement arrangements during its 2026 registration-system transition, so check the current notice before filing.

The Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) issued by an FMCSA-listed medical examiner to show that a covered driver meets the federal physical-qualification standards. It generally applies to non-excepted interstate CMV drivers: not every CDL holder needs one, and some covered CMV drivers who do not need a CDL still do. Intrastate rules depend on the State.

A federal MEC may be issued for no more than two years, and the examiner may set a shorter period. Need and filing steps depend on the driver’s self-certified operating category.

Also: 医疗卡 · Med Card · MEC

A California DMV motor-carrier permit program with requirements depending on the operation and vehicles; it is not a federal MC number.

Confirm that MCP means the California permit, not federal MC authority.

An event that nearly caused harm or loss without that outcome.

It may be reported internally without calling it a crash.

Payment terms. Net 30 ordinarily means full payment within 30 days of the invoice date; Net 60 means 60 days. A transport agreement may instead start the clock when complete documents are received. Check the agreed starting date rather than simply counting from delivery.

A CLP or CDL issued by a State, in a situation allowed by federal rules, to an otherwise eligible applicant whose domicile is outside the issuing State. “Non-domiciled” describes the relationship between domicile and the issuing jurisdiction; it is not a label for every noncitizen or non-permanent resident.

Under the federal rule effective March 16, 2026, foreign-domiciled applicants generally must show eligible H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 status. The credential may not outlast the verified authorized stay or one year, whichever is shorter. Before applying, renewing, or transferring, check the current FMCSA rule and whether the issuing State is authorized and ready to issue it.

Also: 非永居 CDL

Factoring where the factor assumes specified nonpayment risks. Contract scope and exclusions matter; not every dispute is covered.

Do not assume cargo, performance or documentation disputes are covered by the label.

A liability-coverage label used in some leased owner-operator arrangements, with covered use defined by the policy. No trailer, no cargo, and personal use are different conditions; ask the insurer or producer to apply the policy to the actual use.

Also: bobtail 保险 · bobtail insurance

A notice telling a payer that receivables have been assigned and payment should follow the confirmed arrangement, distinct from an invoice.

Independently verify any payee change through an established trusted channel.

The vehicle’s onboard electronic diagnostic system, which monitors emissions and powertrain systems and stores diagnostic trouble codes. For covered OBD-equipped vehicles, Clean Truck Check can use a certified device to read and submit OBD emissions data; vehicles not tested through OBD follow other test procedures.

An OBD trouble code is a diagnostic clue, not a final diagnosis. Confirm Clean Truck Check applicability and test method from the vehicle record in CARB/CTC-VIS.

Also: On-Board Diagnostics

Status when relieved of work and responsibility.

Parking alone does not establish off-duty time.

Trailer rear wheels track inside the tractor's turning path.

The term does not replace driving training.

Status for time spent working or otherwise on duty.

On-duty time is not all driving.

An order restricting a driver or vehicle from operation until the conditions required by the order and applicable rules are met.

A vehicle defect may require repair, while a driver’s hours violation may require rest. OOS is not simply vehicle impoundment, and not every roadside citation is an OOS order.

Also: 路检扣车

A group of freight discrepancies: more than documented, fewer than documented, or damaged goods. If the document says ten cartons and only nine are counted, that is a shortage. Describe visible damage as observed.

Check the discrepancy, notify dispatch, and ensure the handoff record reflects it. Recording an exception does not decide liability or guarantee a claim.

Also: 货差货损 · 短少破损 · 货物异常 · OSD · over short and damaged · overage · shortage · damage

A vehicle or load beyond applicable standard size limits.

Check permits against dimensions and jurisdiction.

A permit for a specified overweight move under stated conditions.

Check route, vehicle, and validity dates.

A person running a trucking business who usually also drives. They may operate under their own authority or lease equipment to an authorized carrier. A USDOT number identifies the operation; it is not the same as MC operating authority.

Check the operating or lease agreement for who pays fuel, repairs, insurance, and other expenses. Some bills continue even while the truck is parked.

Also: 个体车主 · 自营司机 · independent trucker

Group I, II, or III indicating degree of danger where assigned.

Not all hazard classes receive a packing group.

A truck parking space requiring payment.

Payment may not reserve a specific space.

A platform beneath freight that lets handling equipment move a unit of cargo, commonly made of wood or plastic. Two pallets need not mean two cartons. “Skid” is also used for a freight base, though its construction can differ.

Check whether the document counts pallets, cartons, or individual pieces. A matching pallet count does not establish the carton count.

Also: 栈板 · 卡板 · pallets · skid

Equipment that inserts forks under a pallet and lifts it slightly for movement; manual and powered models exist.

For driver unloading, confirm equipment, training and responsibilities; a name is not authorization.

Authorizing payment at the dispenser.

Confirm approval and keep the receipt.

The weight of cargo carried; payload capacity in a specification means rated carrying capability. Actual cargo weight and allowable capacity are different questions.

Ask whether the figure is actual payload or payload capacity.

A request to send payment to a different account or payee.

A change is not automatically fraud; verify independently.

Literally “per day.” In port workflows it commonly labels daily equipment-use charges for containers or chassis. Read the bill and terms to identify the equipment, free time, and charging period; the term alone does not identify which equipment is involved.

Also: detention (container)

Special category for qualifying off-duty personal driving.

Work responsibility must have ended; carrier policy applies.

Messages designed to elicit data or lure users to malicious links.

Do not rely on appearance alone to establish authenticity.

Coverage for insured physical loss or damage to listed trucks or trailers. It addresses damage to the vehicle itself. Covered causes, valuation, deductibles, and exclusions depend on the policy; it does not replace cargo or third-party liability coverage.

Also: 车体险

A reference used by a pickup facility to identify the freight you are collecting, often labeled Pickup # or Reference #. A shipment may also have order, BOL, and appointment numbers; these are not necessarily interchangeable.

If a number is rejected, ask which type is required and check with dispatch rather than guessing another number.

Also: 提货号码 · 提货编码 · 参考编号 · pickup # · pick up number · reference # · PU number

A nonprofit established by marine terminal operators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, responsible for programs including OffPeak. PierPASS/TMF on documents generally refers to the traffic mitigation fee supporting extended terminal shifts; it is not a truck appointment.

Check current PierPASS notices and the shipment’s arrangements for rates, charge periods, and exemptions; do not assume a shift is free based on past practice.

Also: 港口班次费 · PierPass 班次系统

An escort vehicle for a move when the permit requires one.

Escort requirements vary by permit.

Large hazard sign displayed on a transport unit when required.

Requirements depend on material, quantity, and applicable exceptions.

A law-enforcement report about an incident.

The report does not itself decide insurance liability.

The maximum an insurer will pay overall or under a particular coverage, still subject to coverage, exclusions, and other policy terms. One policy may contain per-occurrence or per-claim limits, aggregate limits, and sublimits. A limit is not a deductible or a promise that every claim will be paid up to that amount.

Review the declarations, coverage schedule, and endorsements for per-occurrence, aggregate, and cargo or other sublimits. A large number on a COI does not replace the policy or establish coverage for a particular haul.

Also: 保险限额 · 赔偿限额 · coverage limit · limit of insurance · liability limit

Preparing a trailer or product to a specified temperature before loading; clarify which is being cooled.

Do not assume the transport unit can quickly chill an already warm load.

A driver's check before operating to confirm that the vehicle is in safe working condition, commonly covering the tractor, trailer, brakes, tires, lights, coupling, and cargo securement. It is a pre-driving safety judgment, not the same as completing a DVIR, a roadside inspection, or a periodic inspection.

Review the previous DVIR when applicable and any unrepaired defects, then use the checklist for the vehicle and carrier. If a defect affects safety, recording it does not by itself make the vehicle safe to drive.

Also: 行前检查 · 驾驶前检查 · pretrip · pre-trip check · vehicle inspection before driving

Planned inspection and servicing based on time, mileage, use or manufacturer requirements to reduce preventable failures.

PM scope and intervals depend on equipment and the carrier's maintenance plan.