Talk Like the Desk

The HOS rule requiring a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.

Taking 34 consecutive hours off duty resets the 60/70-hour weekly limit under Hours of Service.

A company handling outsourced logistics for shippers — brokerage, warehousing, and transportation management.

Fees added to a freight invoice beyond the linehaul rate for extra services or circumstances — detention, layover, lumper, tarping, driver assist, or extra stops. Make sure they're on the rate confirmation before you roll.

A trailer with air suspension that cushions fragile freight like electronics. Some shippers require it.

A single rate that includes linehaul and fuel surcharge together. Know which one you're quoted so you can compare loads fairly.

A yearly periodic inspection every commercial truck and trailer must pass, with the sticker or report kept on board.

A scheduled time slot for pickup or delivery. Missing it can mean a rework fee, a late-delivery charge, or waiting until the next open slot.

A small generator that heats, cools, and powers the cab without idling the main engine, saving fuel and meeting anti-idling laws.

A company that owns its trucks and trailers, as opposed to a non-asset broker or 3PL.

Operating authority issued by FMCSA that allows a carrier to haul regulated freight for hire across state lines. New authorities often face broker restrictions for their first months.

Primary coverage for damage or injury your truck causes. FMCSA requires $750,000 minimum; most brokers require $1,000,000.

The weight transmitted to the road through a single axle or tandem group. Federal limits are 20,000 lbs on a single axle and 34,000 lbs on a tandem, with 80,000 lbs gross.

A return load picked up after a delivery so the truck earns revenue on what would otherwise be an empty trip home or back to a strong market.

The legal document issued for a shipment that serves as a receipt for the cargo, a contract of carriage, and a document of title. A signed, clean BOL is required to get paid.

A shipment where the shipper and consignee aren't shown each other's details, common when a broker or distributor wants to protect its customers.

Driving a tractor without a trailer attached — for example, heading to pick up a trailer or returning home after a drop.

Insurance covering a leased owner-operator's truck when it's not under dispatch.

A filing that designates a process agent in every state to receive legal papers for a carrier. It's required before authority becomes active.

A straight truck with an enclosed cargo area attached to the cab, common for local and regional deliveries.

The minimum rate per mile a carrier must earn to cover all operating costs. Anything above it is profit; anything below loses money.

A federal formula limiting weight based on the number of axles and distance between them, protecting bridges from heavy concentrated loads.

A licensed intermediary that connects shippers with carriers. Brokers earn the margin between what the shipper pays and what the carrier is paid.

The setup paperwork a broker requires before booking you — authority, W-9, certificate of insurance, and signed carrier agreement.

The master contract between a broker and carrier covering payment terms, liability, and claims before any loads are booked.

Coverage for the freight you haul. Brokers typically require $100,000; high-value loads may need more.

FMCSA rules on how cargo must be tied down, including the number of tiedowns and working load limits.

How brokers verify carriers before booking: authority age, insurance, safety record, and identity checks, often through tools like Highway or Carrier Assure.

Add-ons to a commercial license: H for hazmat, N for tank, T for doubles/triples, X for tank + hazmat.

Proof of a carrier's auto liability and cargo coverage, usually requested by brokers with the broker listed as certificate holder.

Securement gear used on flatbeds for heavy steel, machinery, and coils, rated by working load limit.

A status update to the broker or dispatcher — location, ETA, loaded or empty. Many brokers now track automatically through an app or ELD.

A flatbed setup used to carry steel coils, which need specialized securement and are among the most demanding loads to haul.

A flatbed or step deck with a rolling tarp system that slides open like a curtain, protecting freight without manual tarping.

The party receiving the freight at the delivery location, named on the BOL.

Reefer settings: continuous runs the unit nonstop for sensitive freight like produce; cycle mode turns on and off to save fuel. Follow the BOL.

Freight moved under an agreement with fixed rates and volume over a set period, the opposite of spot market loads.

Total operating expenses divided by total miles driven. It's the most important number for deciding which loads are worth taking.

Reviewing a broker's payment history and credit score before booking, to avoid slow pay or non-payment.

Unloading freight from inbound trucks and loading it directly onto outbound trucks with little or no storage time.

FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores built from inspections and crashes. Brokers check them before booking a carrier.

Industry benchmark of average spot and contract rates by lane and equipment type, used to judge whether an offer is fair.

A tractor without a sleeper, used for local and regional work where the driver goes home daily.

How long a broker takes to pay an invoice. Checking a broker's average days to pay protects your cash flow.

Miles driven with an empty trailer, usually from a delivery to the next pickup. Deadhead earns nothing but still burns fuel and time.

A recurring route a carrier runs for the same shipper or broker on a regular schedule, offering steadier, predictable freight.

Hourly pay owed when a driver is held at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time — typically two hours.

What a dispatch service charges, usually a percentage of each load's gross. Compare what you get for it, not just the percentage.

The person or team that finds loads, negotiates rates, handles broker communication and paperwork, and keeps a carrier's truck moving profitably.

A loading dock built at trailer-floor height so forklifts can drive straight into a van or reefer. Most warehouses are dock high.

Roadside inspections ranging from a full truck and driver check (Level I) to document-only checks. Clean inspections improve CSA scores.

A broker or carrier re-brokering a load without the shipper's consent — a common fraud that leaves the hauling carrier unpaid.

Required records for each driver — application, MVR, medical card, road test, and Clearinghouse queries.

Short-distance moves of containers between ports, rail yards, and nearby warehouses.

Extra pay when the driver helps load or unload freight.

An appointment where the driver drops a trailer and hooks a pre-loaded one instead of waiting for a live load or unload.

The FMCSA database of CDL drug and alcohol violations. Carriers must query it before hiring and every year for each driver.

An enclosed, non-temperature-controlled trailer — usually 53 ft — used for palletized and boxed general freight. The most common trailer type in the U.S.

The pre-trip and post-trip inspection report drivers complete to document defects and repairs.

A device connected to the engine that automatically records driving time for Hours of Service compliance, as required by FMCSA.

Money a leasing carrier holds from an owner-operator's settlements to cover damage or unpaid charges, returned when the lease ends.

The expected arrival time at a pickup or delivery. Communicating accurate ETAs early protects your reputation with brokers.

Selling your freight invoices to a factoring company for immediate payment, minus a fee, instead of waiting 30–60 days for the broker to pay.

A facility that loads or unloads trucks in order of arrival within open hours instead of by appointment. Arrive early — the line can be long.

The coupling plate on the tractor that locks onto the trailer's kingpin.

Expenses you pay whether the truck moves or not: truck payment, insurance, permits, ELD subscription, and parking.

An open trailer with no sides or roof for steel, lumber, machinery, and oversized freight. Securement and tarping are part of the job and should be paid for.

Freight stacked directly on the trailer floor without pallets. It takes much longer to unload and usually means a lumper or long wait.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — the U.S. DOT agency that regulates interstate trucking, authorities, safety ratings, and Hours of Service.

A clean, odor-free trailer that has never hauled chemicals or contaminants, required for many food and beverage loads.

When a carrier or dispatcher assigns loads without the driver's say. Eagleview never uses forced dispatch — you approve every load.

The IRS Heavy Vehicle Use Tax return for trucks 55,000 lbs and up, filed each year. Proof of payment is needed to register the truck.

A demand for payment when cargo is lost, damaged, or delayed. Claims fall on the carrier's cargo insurance and can affect broker relationships.

An NMFC classification from 50 to 500 used to price LTL shipments, based mostly on density.

Schemes like fake brokers, identity theft, and stolen loads. Always verify a broker's MC and contact details before accepting a load.

A shipment that uses the whole trailer for a single customer, moving straight from shipper to consignee without terminal handling.

An added charge that passes diesel price increases above a base price on to the shipper, usually calculated per mile.

Total money billed for loads before any expenses. Gross is not profit — fuel, payments, insurance, and fees come out of it.

The total weight of the truck, trailer, and cargo. The federal limit on interstates is 80,000 lbs without a permit.

Hazardous materials regulated by DOT. Hauling placarded hazmat requires an H endorsement on the CDL and specific insurance and paperwork.

The strong-paying direction of a lane, leaving a market with more freight than trucks. The return trip is often the cheaper backhaul.

Scheduled time off at home between runs. Good dispatch plans loads backward from home-time dates so the truck lands near home on time.

Time-critical freight that must move immediately. Hot loads usually pay a premium for a quick, reliable truck.

A heavy-duty pickup pulling a gooseneck or flatbed trailer, used for smaller, time-sensitive loads.

FMCSA rules limiting driving time: 11 hours driving within a 14-hour on-duty window after 10 hours off, plus 60/70-hour weekly limits.

The International Fuel Tax Agreement — a quarterly return that divides fuel tax among states and provinces based on miles driven in each.

Freight that moves in a container by more than one mode, typically rail for the long haul and trucks for the first and last miles (drayage).

Apportioned registration that lets a truck run in multiple states and provinces under one plate, with fees split by miles driven.

The steel pin under the front of a trailer that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel.

The retractable legs that support the front of a trailer when it's not coupled to a tractor.

A specific origin-to-destination route, such as Dallas to Atlanta. Rates are quoted and tracked by lane.

Deductions some brokers apply for late arrivals or missed check calls. Read the rate confirmation for penalty terms.

A flat daily payment when a load is delayed overnight or longer through no fault of the carrier.

An owner-operator running under another carrier's authority and insurance instead of their own, typically for a percentage of the load.

The base transportation charge for moving freight from origin to destination, not including fuel surcharge or accessorials.

An appointment where the driver waits at the dock while freight is loaded or unloaded, as opposed to drop and hook.

Adjustable bars wedged across a van to secure freight. Carry at least two — many shippers require them.

An online marketplace where brokers post available loads and carriers search for freight. Many of the best loads never reach the public boards.

When a receiver refuses all or part of a load, often over temperature or damage. The carrier must get instructions before moving it.

The number of posted loads per available truck on load boards. Higher ratios mean carriers have more bargaining power.

Rails mounted inside a van for straps and load bars to keep freight from shifting.

A trailer with a very low deck height for hauling tall, heavy machinery.

Shipments that don't fill a full trailer, combined with other shippers' freight and priced by freight class and weight.

A third-party worker hired to unload freight at a warehouse. Lumper fees should be reimbursed by the broker with a receipt.

Money set aside per mile, often $0.15–$0.20, so big repairs don't wreck cash flow.

A tight market has more loads than trucks, pushing rates up; a loose market has more trucks than loads, pushing rates down.

A medical examiner's certificate showing a driver is fit to operate a CMV, typically renewed every two years.

A load with more than one pickup or delivery. Each extra stop should be paid as a stop-off charge on the rate confirmation.

What's left after every expense — fuel, payments, insurance, maintenance, fees, and taxes — is paid. The real measure of a good week.

A safety audit FMCSA conducts within a new carrier's first 12 months to review records, drug testing, and maintenance files.

Coverage for owner-operators injured on the job, often used instead of workers' comp.

Exceptions noted at delivery when the freight count is over or short, or items are damaged. Notations on the BOL drive claims.

Long-haul trucking that keeps the driver away from home for days or weeks at a time, usually across multiple states.

A run where the truck goes out on one load and returns home on a backhaul, often within a few days.

An order that stops a truck or driver from operating until a serious violation is fixed — costly delays and a hit to safety scores.

A state permit required for loads exceeding legal width, height, length, or weight. Each state on the route must issue one.

A driver who owns or leases their truck and runs under their own authority or leased onto another carrier.

A flat wooden or plastic platform, usually 48" × 40", that freight is stacked on. A 53 ft van fits 26 standard pallets single-stacked.

An arrangement where the driver drops loaded pallets and must pick up the same number of empty ones. Avoid it unless it's paid and spelled out.

A shipment that fills only part of the trailer but is too large for typical LTL. Partials can be combined to build a full, well-paying trip.

How much cargo a truck can legally carry — gross weight limit minus the empty (tare) weight of the tractor and trailer.

The fall retail rush leading up to the holidays when dry van demand and rates typically climb.

A daily allowance for meals and incidentals while away from home. Self-employed drivers can deduct 80% of the IRS transportation rate.

Off-duty use of a truck for personal reasons, like driving to a safe parking spot after unloading. It can't advance a load.

The signed BOL or delivery receipt showing the consignee accepted the freight. Brokers and factoring companies need it to pay you.

A load where the carrier provides only the tractor and driver and pulls a trailer supplied by the shipper or broker.

Running a reefer unit before loading so the trailer reaches the required temperature. Shippers may refuse a trailer that isn't pre-cooled.

Spring and summer months when harvests in California, Florida, Texas, and Mexico create a surge in reefer demand and rates.

Tax payments self-employed owner-operators make to the IRS four times a year to avoid underpayment penalties.

A broker program that pays invoices in days instead of weeks for a fee, usually 1–5% of the load.

The written agreement from the broker listing the rate, pickup and delivery details, and accessorial terms for a specific load. Read it before you sign.

Countering a broker's offer using lane data, timing, and service record to get paid more on the same load.

Pay divided by loaded miles only. Always also check rate per total mile including deadhead to see the true pay.

Total load pay divided by miles. Compare RPM across all miles, including deadhead, to see what a load really pays.

With recourse, you owe the factor back if a broker doesn't pay. Non-recourse shifts some of that risk to the factor for a higher fee.

A refrigerated trailer for temperature-controlled freight like produce, meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals.

The refrigeration unit mounted on the front of a reefer trailer, fueled separately. Reefer fuel is a real operating cost.

Freight that stays within a defined region, such as the Southeast or Texas Triangle, typically with more frequent home time than OTR.

The next load picked up near a delivery point. Strong reload markets keep deadhead and downtime low.

A heavy-haul trailer whose front detaches so equipment can drive on and off. Used for construction machinery and oversized loads.

FMCSA's Satisfactory, Conditional, or Unsatisfactory rating after an audit. Many shippers and brokers won't use Conditional carriers.

A printed weight receipt from a certified scale such as CAT. Drivers weigh heavy loads to prove legal axle and gross weights.

Freight secured with a numbered seal at the shipper. The seal number goes on the BOL, and only the receiver should break it.

A tax provision letting businesses deduct some or all of the cost of qualifying equipment, like a truck, in the year it's purchased. Talk to your accountant.

A statement showing load revenue, deductions, and net pay for a leased-on owner-operator or company driver.

The company sending the freight — the manufacturer, distributor, or warehouse where the load originates.

A BOL notation meaning the shipper loaded and counted the freight, not the driver — important protection if counts are short at delivery.

Loads booked directly with the company shipping the goods instead of through a broker, often more stable once relationships are built.

An HOS provision allowing drivers to split their 10-hour break (such as 7/3 or 8/2) to use time more flexibly.

A tractor with a sleeping compartment behind the seats, needed for OTR and multi-day runs.

Moving a trailer's rear axles forward or back to shift weight between the drive and trailer axles and stay legal on axle weights.

The FMCSA system that ranks carriers in BASIC categories like unsafe driving and HOS compliance using roadside data.

One-off loads booked at current market rates, as opposed to contracted freight with fixed pricing.

A cargo van used for expedited and small-volume freight, often run without a CDL.

A flatbed with a lower rear deck that allows taller freight to stay under legal height limits without a permit.

A fee paid for each additional pickup or drop on a multi-stop load, commonly $50–$150 per stop.

Ratchet straps used to secure flatbed and van freight. Federal rules set the minimum number based on cargo length and weight.

Two axles grouped together, as on most tractor drive axles and trailers. Each tandem group is limited to 34,000 lbs federally.

A trailer that carries liquids or gases. Requires a tank endorsement and careful driving because of liquid surge.

The weight of an empty tractor and trailer. Lighter equipment means more legal payload.

Extra pay for tarping flatbed loads, usually a flat amount per load depending on tarp size.

Two drivers sharing one truck so it can run nearly nonstop. Teams command higher rates on expedited and long-haul freight.

A printout or data file from a reefer unit proving freight stayed at the right temperature, used to defend against rejection claims.

A fee paid to the carrier when a load is canceled after the truck was dispatched or arrived at the shipper.

A group of trailers staged at a shipper so drivers can drop and hook rather than wait for live loading.

A federal ID card required to enter secure port areas, needed for most drayage and port pickups.

An annual federal registration and fee for interstate carriers, scaled by fleet size.

The unique identifier FMCSA assigns to interstate carriers to track safety records, inspections, and crashes.

Expenses that rise with miles driven: fuel, tires, maintenance, tolls, and DEF.

A large shipment, often 6+ pallets or 12,000+ lbs, that's too big for LTL pricing but doesn't fill a trailer.

The IRS form carriers give brokers with their legal name and tax ID so the broker can pay and report payments.

Cleaning a trailer, often required before reefer or food-grade loads. Ask for a washout receipt and reimbursement when the shipper demands it.

A roadside checkpoint where trucks are weighed and may be inspected. Bypass programs like PrePass let compliant trucks skip some stations.

A check-in at a facility's guard shack where trailer numbers, seal numbers, and appointment details are verified.

An ELD status for moving a truck within a yard or facility, logged as on-duty rather than driving.