Freight, in plain words.

A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a company that handles part of a shipper's logistics for it: transportation, warehousing, fulfillment or all three. A freight broker is one kind of 3PL that arranges trucking without owning trucks. Ask any 3PL which parts it does itself and which it hands to others, because that decides who answers the phone when something goes wrong.

Shipping and freight quotesBrokerCarrierShipper

An accessorial is any charge on top of the line haul rate for work beyond driving the freight from origin to destination. Common ones are detention, layover, lumper fees, driver assist, stop-off charges, tarps and TONU. A good rate confirmation lists the accessorials that are expected and the terms for any that might come up, so nobody argues about them after delivery.

Full truckload freight shippingLine haulDetentionLumper feeTONU

Air ride is a suspension that uses air bags instead of steel leaf springs, on the trailer, the tractor or both. It softens road shock, which matters for electronics, glass, finished goods and anything that can crack or shift. Most modern vans and reefers ride on air, but if your freight needs it, put air ride on the load tender so the carrier confirms it in writing.

Manufacturing freight shippingDry vanReeferLoad tender

An appointment is a set time slot for a truck to load or unload at a facility. Many distribution centers and grocery receivers work only by appointment and may refuse or reschedule a truck that misses its window. The appointment time belongs on the rate confirmation, and detention terms usually depend on the driver arriving on time for it.

Retail and consumer goods freightFCFSDetentionFree timeRate confirmation

Axle weight is the load carried by one axle or one axle group, measured on a scale. Federal limits on the Interstate are 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem, so a truck can be under the 80,000 lb gross limit and still be overweight on one axle if the freight sits too far forward or too far back.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsGross weightTandem axleBridge formulaScale ticket

A backhaul is a load that brings a truck back toward its home base after a delivery. Carriers often price backhauls lower because the truck is heading that way anyway and an empty return earns nothing. Shippers on lanes that run against the main flow of freight can sometimes book backhaul capacity, but the timing depends on where trucks happen to be that week.

Dedicated lanes and contract freightHeadhaulDeadheadLaneSpot rate

A bill of lading (BOL) is the shipping document that lists the freight, the shipper, the consignee and the terms of carriage. The driver signs it at pickup as a receipt for the goods, and the receiver signs it at delivery. That signed copy becomes the proof of delivery. Check piece count, weight, seal number and special instructions on the BOL before the truck leaves.

Shipping and freight quotesProof of deliveryConsigneeShipper load and countSeal

A binder is the lever or ratchet tool that tightens a chain around flatbed freight. Lever binders snap over center; ratchet binders crank down with a handle, and many drivers prefer them because they tension gradually and release with less kickback. The binder has to be rated for the chain it tightens, because a weak binder lowers what the whole tiedown can hold.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingChainsTiedownWorking load limitFlatbed

A blind shipment is a load where the shipper and the receiver do not see each other's names on the paperwork, usually because a distributor does not want its supplier and its customer to connect directly. It takes a separate bill of lading for each end. FMCSA's fraud guidance lists blind loads among red flags when a carrier is asked to haul without knowing who it really works for.

Bill of ladingBrokerDouble brokering

A BMC-84 is the $75,000 surety bond a freight broker files with FMCSA to hold broker authority. If the broker fails to pay a carrier or shipper what it owes, they can file a claim against the bond. The alternative is a BMC-85 trust fund for the same amount. Check a broker's bond or trust status on FMCSA records before you tender freight to it.

Carrier FAQBMC-85BrokerOperating authorityFMCSA

A BMC-85 is a trust fund agreement a freight broker can file with FMCSA in place of a BMC-84 surety bond. It meets the same $75,000 financial security requirement, held by a trust fund instead of backed by a surety company. For a carrier or a shipper the effect is the same: money is set aside to answer claims if the broker does not pay.

BMC-84BrokerFMCSA

Bobtail means a tractor driving with no trailer attached. A driver bobtails to pick up a preloaded trailer, after dropping one, or on the way to a power only load. A bobtail handles differently because there is little weight over the drive axles, and many carriers carry separate insurance for bobtail and non-trucking use of the tractor.

TractorPower onlyDrop and hookDeadhead

The bridge formula is the federal rule that limits how much weight a truck can carry based on the number of axles and the distance between them: W = 500 (LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36). It protects bridges from heavy weight on short wheelbases. Spreading axles farther apart allows more weight; short or tightly spaced axle groups can force a gross weight below 80,000 lb.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsAxle weightGross weightTandem axle

A freight broker is a licensed company that arranges truck transportation between shippers and motor carriers for compensation, without hauling the freight itself. Federal law defines the role in 49 U.S.C. 13102. Brokers hold operating authority from FMCSA and file financial security, a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust. A good broker vets every carrier and stays on the load until it delivers.

Shipping and freight quotesCarrierShipperBMC-84Operating authority

A bulkhead is a wall or panel inside a trailer that separates freight or holds it back. In a reefer, a movable bulkhead closes off part of the box so the unit cools a smaller space or keeps two temperature zones apart. On a flatbed, the word often means the front barrier or headache rack that stops cargo sliding forward into the cab.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingReeferHeadache rackLoad bars

Capacity is the number of trucks and drivers available to haul freight at a given time and place. When capacity is tight, such as at the end of a quarter, during produce season or ahead of a holiday, spot rates rise and loads take longer to cover. When it loosens, rates soften. Dedicated lanes and contract rates are how shippers protect themselves from the swings.

Dedicated lanes and contract freightSpot rateContract rateDedicated lane

A cargo claim is a written demand against a carrier for freight that was lost, damaged or delayed in transit. Carrier liability for interstate shipments comes from the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. 14706. A strong claim has a clean bill of lading at pickup, exceptions written on the proof of delivery, photos, and a documented value for the loss.

Carmack AmendmentOverage, shortage and damageProof of deliveryCargo insurance

Cargo insurance is the carrier's policy that pays for freight lost or damaged while in its care. Limits, exclusions and deductibles vary by policy, and some exclude high-value goods, reefer breakdown or unattended trucks. A certificate of insurance shows the limit, but the policy terms decide what is paid, so ask about exclusions for your commodity before the load moves.

Certificate of insuranceCargo claimCarmack Amendment

The Carmack Amendment is the federal law, 49 U.S.C. 14706, that makes an interstate motor carrier liable for actual loss or injury to the property it hauls, with limited exceptions. It sets the framework for cargo claims, including filing time limits and the liability limits a carrier can set by written agreement. It governs carriers; a broker's exposure depends on its contracts.

Cargo claimCarrierBill of ladingCargo insurance

A carrier is the trucking company that physically moves the freight. A for-hire carrier holds its own operating authority, USDOT number and insurance, and it is responsible for the driver, the equipment and the cargo in transit. A broker arranges the load; the carrier hauls it. Check a carrier's name, MC number and insurance against FMCSA records before it touches your freight.

Haul with usBrokerMC numberUSDOT numberOwner-operator

A carrier packet is the set of documents a carrier sends a broker before hauling its first load: typically proof of operating authority, a W-9, a certificate of insurance, the signed broker-carrier agreement and payment or factoring details. The broker uses it to verify the carrier and set up payment. Powerhaul's packet is five documents, sent in any order.

Carrier packetCertificate of insuranceNOAFactoring companyCarrier

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page proof of a carrier's auto liability and cargo coverage, issued by the insurance agent with the broker named as certificate holder. FMCSA warns that certificates can be forged, so a careful broker confirms coverage with the agent directly and checks the insurance on file with FMCSA rather than trusting an emailed PDF.

Carrier packetCargo insuranceCarrier packetCarrier

Chains are the tiedowns used for heavy, hard or abrasive flatbed freight such as steel coils, machinery and construction equipment. They come in graded strengths, and each chain's working load limit counts toward the federal rule that tiedowns together must hold at least half the cargo's weight. Chains are tightened with binders and padded with edge protectors where they cross sharp corners.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingBinderTiedownWorking load limitStraps

A check call is a status update from the driver or dispatcher during a load: arrived at the shipper, loaded, rolling, on schedule, at the receiver, empty. Many loads now track by app or ELD location, but a check call still matters when something changes, because a person can explain a delay and a new arrival time where a dot on a map cannot.

DispatcherTransit timeELD

Coil racks are cradles or chocks that hold steel coils in place on a flatbed so they cannot roll. Federal securement rules for metal coils (49 CFR 393.120) apply to coils of 5,000 lb or more, alone or grouped, and require a device to prevent rolling when the eyes face crosswise. Nailed blocking or a nailed wood cradle alone is not allowed.

Steel and metals freight shippingFlatbed trucking and freight shippingChainsFlatbedDunnageWorking load limit

A Conestoga is a flatbed or step deck with a rolling tarp system on a frame that slides open like an accordion. Freight loads from the side or top like a flatbed, then rides covered like a van, with no tarping by the driver. Typical figures are 48 or 53 ft long, 8 ft 6 in wide, about 8 ft inside height and about 42,000 lb payload, carrier-dependent.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsFlatbedTarpStep deck

The consignee is the receiver: the person or business the freight is delivered to, named on the bill of lading. The consignee signs the proof of delivery and notes any shortage or damage before the driver leaves. On a food load covered by the FSMA sanitary transportation rule, the receiver also checks for signs of significant temperature abuse.

ShipperConsignorProof of deliveryBill of lading

The consignor is the party that sends the freight, named on the bill of lading. In most truckload moves the consignor is the shipper, but not always: a warehouse can tender goods it does not own, and a manufacturer can ship for a seller who is the shipper of record. The bill of lading should name whoever actually hands the goods to the carrier.

ShipperConsigneeBill of lading

Continuous run is a reefer unit setting where the unit runs the whole trip, keeping cold air moving through the load. The other mode, start-stop or cycle, shuts the unit off once the box reaches the set point and restarts as the temperature drifts. Produce and other sensitive loads usually ship on continuous run, and the setting belongs on the bill of lading.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingProduce and agriculture freight shippingReefer unitSet pointPre-cooling

A contract rate is a price agreed in advance for a lane over a set period, usually tied to an expected volume of loads. It trades the chance of a cheaper spot rate for predictability on both sides. Contract rates hold best when the shipper tenders the volume it promised and the carrier or broker covers the loads it committed to.

Dedicated lanes and contract freightSpot rateDedicated laneLaneCapacity

Cross docking is unloading freight from one truck and loading it straight onto another with little or no storage in between. It lets a shipper break one full load into several deliveries, or combine partial loads from several origins into one outbound trailer. LTL networks run on cross docks, and retailers use them to sort inbound freight by store.

Retail and consumer goods freightTransloadingLTLPartial

CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) is FMCSA's safety measurement program for motor carriers. It groups roadside inspection results, violations and crashes into categories and compares carriers against their peers, flagging those that need intervention. Shippers and brokers read CSA data as one input when vetting a carrier, alongside operating authority, insurance and inspection history.

FMCSASAFEROut of serviceUSDOT number

Cube is the volume a shipment takes up, measured in cubic feet: length x width x height in inches, divided by 1,728. A load cubes out when it fills the trailer before it reaches the weight limit, which is common with light, bulky goods like paper towels or foam. Cube and weight together decide whether a load needs a full truck.

Pallet calculator for truck trailersDensityLinear feetPayloadFreight class

Deadhead is the miles a truck drives empty, usually to reach the next pickup after a delivery. Carriers earn nothing on those miles, so a load that starts far from where trucks are sitting can cost more to cover. Shippers in remote areas often see deadhead built into their rates, and a backhaul that cuts deadhead can bring them down.

Truck miles and transit time calculatorBackhaulHeadhaulBobtailLane

Deck height is the distance from the road to the surface the freight sits on, and it decides how tall the freight can be. States set height limits, ranging from about 13.5 to 14.5 ft. Typical deck heights are about 5 ft for a flatbed, about 3 ft 6 in for a step deck's lower deck, and 18 to 24 in in the well of a double drop or RGN.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsStep deck trailer shippingFlatbedStep deckDouble dropRGN

A dedicated lane is a repeat route where a shipper commits steady volume and a broker or carrier commits trucks at an agreed contract rate for a set period. It trades some flexibility for reliability: the same carriers learn the docks, appointment habits and quirks of the lane. It works best when weekly volume is predictable.

Dedicated lanes and contract freightContract rateLaneCapacityDrop trailer

Density is a shipment's weight per cubic foot: weight in pounds divided by cubic feet, where cubic feet is length x width x height in inches divided by 1,728. Measure the shipment as tendered, including the pallet and any overhang. On the NMFC's 13-tier scale, density sets the freight class for most LTL commodities, from class 50 down to class 400.

Freight class calculator and NMFC guideCubeFreight classNMFCLTL

Detention is pay for a driver held at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time, typically two hours. It compensates the carrier for hours the truck cannot earn elsewhere, hours that also count against the driver's 14-hour on-duty window. The rate confirmation should state the free time, the hourly rate and the proof needed, usually in and out times on the bill of lading.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceFree timeLayoverAccessorialAppointment

A dispatcher is the person who assigns loads to drivers and trucks and keeps them moving. At a carrier, the dispatcher books freight, plans trips around hours of service and handles problems on the road. At a broker, the matching roles are usually carrier sales and operations. Either way, the dispatcher is the person to call when a truck is running late.

CarrierCheck callHours of serviceOwner-operator

Double brokering is a carrier taking a load and re-brokering it to another carrier without the shipper's or broker's knowledge. The freight ends up with a company nobody vetted, the real hauler may never get paid, and a cargo claim becomes hard to pursue. FMCSA's fraud guidance says to confirm the truck and trailer at pickup match the contracted carrier.

SecurityBrokerCarrierBlind shipmentSAFER

A double drop is an open trailer with a low well between a raised front neck and a raised rear section, built for tall freight that does not need to roll on or off the end. Typical figures are a well about 25 to 29 ft long, 18 to 24 in off the road, with about 40,000 lb of legal payload, carrier-dependent.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsRGNLowboyStep deckDeck height

Driver assist means the driver helps load or unload, beyond backing in and opening the doors. It ranges from moving a few pallets with a pallet jack to handling every case on a floor-loaded trailer. It is billed as an accessorial and must be on the rate confirmation in advance, because not every driver will do it and some carriers refuse it outright.

LumperPallet jackAccessorialLive unload

Drop and hook is when the driver drops a trailer at a facility and hooks to a preloaded or empty one instead of waiting to be loaded or unloaded. It cuts truck dwell time and lets the dock work the trailer on its own schedule. It needs a pool of trailers on site, which is what a drop trailer program provides.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceDrop trailerLive loadInterchangeDetention

A drop trailer is a trailer left at a shipper's or receiver's dock to be loaded or unloaded on the facility's own schedule, then picked up later. It lets busy docks avoid tight live-load windows and the detention that comes with them. The carrier or broker usually needs steady volume on the lane to justify parking equipment there.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceDrop and hookLive loadInterchangePower only

A dry van is an enclosed, unrefrigerated trailer and the most common trailer on US roads. Typical figures for a 53 ft van are about 52 ft 6 in long, 8 ft 2 in wide and 9 ft high inside, 26 standard pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, and 42,000 to 45,000 lb of payload, carrier-dependent.

Full truckload freight shippingSemi trailer types, sizes and limitsReeferFTLPalletPayload

Dunnage is material used to fill space, brace or protect freight in a trailer: airbags, lumber, plywood, foam, cardboard or blocking. It keeps loads from shifting when there are gaps between pallets or against the doors. Who supplies dunnage and who pays for it should be settled before pickup, since drivers usually carry only straps and load bars.

Load barsE-trackCoil racksBulkhead

E-track is a steel rail with rows of slots mounted along the walls or floor of a van or reefer. Straps, load bars and decking beams clip into it to hold freight at any point along the trailer. Partial loads and machinery in vans often depend on it, so ask for e-track when your freight will not fill the trailer tightly.

Partial truckload shippingLoad barsDunnageStrapsPartial

An ELD (electronic logging device) records a driver's hours of service automatically by connecting to the truck's engine. FMCSA requires most interstate drivers who must keep records of duty status to use one. ELD data shows exactly when a driver runs out of hours, which is why a missed appointment cannot be fixed by driving through the night.

Hours of serviceFMCSACheck call

An end dump is a trailer with a hydraulic box that tilts up to dump loose material out of a rear gate. It hauls aggregate, sand, gravel, scrap and demolition debris. Typical figures are 36 to 40 ft long, carrying about 22 to 25 tons, or 40,000 to 45,000 lb, of payload, carrier-dependent.

Building materials freight shippingFlatbedPayload

Expedited freight is a time-critical shipment moved faster than a normal truckload, usually with team drivers or a dedicated truck that runs straight through. The higher cost covers the second driver and a truck that is not shared. One driver can drive 11 hours after 10 hours off duty, so a team keeps the wheels turning while one driver rests.

Expedited and team truck freightTeam driversHot shotTransit timeHours of service

A factoring company buys a carrier's unpaid freight invoices at a discount and pays the carrier right away, then collects from the broker or shipper. It turns slow payment terms into fast cash, which matters to small fleets paying for fuel every day. The carrier sends a notice of assignment so the broker pays the factor instead of the carrier.

Carrier FAQNOAQuick payCarrierOwner-operator

FCFS means first come, first served: a facility that loads or unloads trucks in arrival order instead of by appointment, within posted hours. Arriving early helps, but a long line can still burn a driver's hours. Detention terms at FCFS facilities often start the clock from a set time rather than from arrival, so read the rate confirmation.

AppointmentDetentionFree time

The fifth wheel is the horseshoe-shaped coupling plate on the back of a tractor that locks onto the trailer's kingpin. Its jaws close around the kingpin and the plate carries the front of the trailer's weight. Many fifth wheels slide forward and back, which shifts weight between the steer and drive axles to keep each axle group legal.

KingpinTractorLanding gearAxle weight

A flatbed is an open trailer with no walls or roof, loaded from the sides, top or end by forklift or crane. It hauls steel, lumber, machinery and building materials. Typical figures are 48 or 53 ft long with an 8 ft 6 in wide deck about 5 ft off the road, freight up to about 8 ft 6 in tall and about 48,000 lb, carrier-dependent.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingStep deckTarpChainsConestoga

FMCSA is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates interstate trucking. It grants operating authority, issues USDOT and MC numbers, sets hours of service and safety rules, and publishes company records through SAFER. FMCSA never asks for payment by unsolicited email, and its official sites end in .gov.

USDOT numberMC numberSAFERCSA

A food grade trailer is a clean, dry, odor-free van or reefer fit to carry food without contaminating it: no residue, pests, holes or smells from a previous load. Under the FSMA sanitary transportation rule, shippers, loaders, carriers and receivers share responsibility for keeping food safe in transit. Many shippers require a washout and an inspection before loading.

Food and beverage freight shippingFSMAReeferDry van

Free time is the period a driver can spend at a shipper or receiver before detention starts, typically two hours from the appointment or from arrival. It is set on the rate confirmation and can vary by customer and facility. Clear in and out times on the bill of lading, or ELD location records, are what prove free time ran out.

DetentionAppointmentLayoverFCFS

Freight class is the rating used to price LTL freight under the NMFC. On the 13-tier density scale, classes run from 50 for freight of 50 lb per cubic foot or more to 400 for freight under 1 lb per cubic foot. Lower class means denser freight and a lower rate per pound. Full truckload is priced by the truck, not by class.

Freight class calculator and NMFC guidePartial truckload shippingDensityNMFCLTLCube

FSMA is the Food Safety Modernization Act. Its sanitary transportation rule covers shippers, loaders, carriers and receivers of human and animal food. For food that needs temperature control, the shipper gives the carrier the operating temperature in writing, including pre-cooling, and the carrier must show on request that it was maintained. Written agreements are kept 12 months after they end.

Food and beverage freight shippingReefer and refrigerated freight shippingPre-coolingSet pointReeferFood grade trailer

FTL means full truckload: one shipment that gets the whole trailer, loaded at one shipper and delivered to one receiver with no terminal handling in between. It is priced by the truck and the lane, not by freight class. FTL makes sense once a shipment fills most of a trailer by floor space, weight or cube, or when it cannot risk rehandling.

Full truckload freight shippingLTLPartialDry vanLine haul

A fuel surcharge is a charge that moves with diesel prices, usually figured per mile against a published fuel index such as the national average diesel price. It keeps the line haul rate stable while fuel costs rise and fall. Some brokers quote an all-in rate with fuel included, so ask which one you are seeing when you compare quotes.

Line haulAccessorialSpot rate

Gross weight is the total weight of the truck, trailer, fuel, driver and cargo. On the Interstate system the federal maximum gross vehicle weight is 80,000 lb, and axle limits and the bridge formula can lower it. Because the tractor and trailer weigh a lot on their own, typical dry van payload is about 42,000 to 45,000 lb.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsPayloadAxle weightBridge formulaScale ticket

Hazmat is freight classed as hazardous material under federal rules, such as flammable liquids, corrosives, compressed gases and some batteries. It needs a carrier registered and insured for it, a driver with a hazmat endorsement, shipping papers with proper descriptions and emergency contacts, and placards on the truck. Always disclose hazmat before a load is quoted.

CarrierBill of ladingLoad tender

A headache rack is the heavy frame mounted behind a tractor's cab that protects the driver if cargo shifts forward under hard braking. It also gives drivers a place to hang chains, binders and straps. The federal minimum tiedown counts in 49 CFR 393.110 are written for articles not blocked by a headerboard, so forward blocking changes the securement plan.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingFlatbedChainsBulkheadTiedown

A headhaul is the loaded leg on the strong side of a lane, usually the direction with more freight than trucks. Headhaul rates run higher because trucks are scarce going that way and the carrier may face an empty or cheap return. The opposite leg is the backhaul. Knowing which side of a lane you ship on explains a lot about your rates.

BackhaulLaneDeadheadCapacity

A hot shot is a smaller truck, often a heavy pickup pulling a flatbed or gooseneck trailer, used for urgent, lighter loads. It can leave quickly and reach jobsites a full tractor-trailer cannot, which makes it common for machine parts and oilfield equipment. Its payload is far below a full-size flatbed, so it fits small, time-critical freight.

Expedited and team truck freightExpeditedFlatbedPartial

Hours of service (HOS) are the FMCSA rules that limit driving time for property-carrying drivers. A driver can drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, cannot drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty, needs a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and is capped at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 in 8.

Truck miles and transit time calculatorELDTeam driversTransit timeDetention

Interchange is the agreement covering who is responsible for a trailer when it changes hands, common in power only and drop trailer programs. It sets who pays for damage, how the trailer's condition is recorded at pickup and return, and what insurance the carrier must carry for equipment it does not own. Photograph the trailer at every handoff.

Power only trucking for your trailersPower onlyDrop trailerDrop and hook

International Roadcheck is the CVSA's annual 72-hour, high-volume inspection event held each spring, made up mostly of North American Standard Level I inspections, a 37-step procedure. The 2025 event ran 56,178 inspections, and 18.1% of vehicles were placed out of service. Expect slower inspection lanes that week and close attention to the year's focus area.

Out of serviceCSATiedown

The kingpin is the steel pin on the underside of a trailer's front that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel. It carries all the pulling and braking force between tractor and trailer. After coupling, the driver checks that the fifth wheel jaws have closed around the kingpin, by eye and with a tug test, before raising the landing gear.

Fifth wheelLanding gearTractorSemi-trailer

Landing gear is the pair of crank-down legs near the front of a trailer that hold it up when no tractor is attached. The driver lowers them before dropping a trailer and raises them after hooking up. Soft ground, damaged legs or heavy freight loaded far forward can make a dropped trailer sink or tip, which is why drop yards want firm, level pads.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceKingpinFifth wheelDrop trailerSemi-trailer

A Landoll, or tilt deck, is a trailer whose deck tilts down to the ground so wheeled or tracked equipment can drive or winch on without ramps or a crane. Landoll is a manufacturer's name that became the common term. Typical figures are about 50 to 53 ft long with about 45,000 lb of legal payload, carrier-dependent.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsRGNLowboyFlatbed

A lane is a regular route between an origin and a destination, such as Chicago to Atlanta for dry van or Salinas to Chicago for reefer. Rates, capacity and transit time are all quoted by lane, because each lane has its own balance of freight and trucks. Repeat volume on one lane is what dedicated pricing is built on.

Lane guidesChicago to Atlanta dry van freightHeadhaulBackhaulDedicated laneContract rate

Layover is pay for a driver who has to wait overnight because a load was not ready or a receiver could not take it. It is separate from detention, which covers hours, and is usually a flat daily amount set on the rate confirmation. A layover also costs the carrier the next day's load, which is why it is charged at all.

DetentionTONUAccessorialFree time

A liftgate is a powered platform at the back of a truck that lowers freight from the trailer floor to the ground. It is needed where there is no loading dock, such as small businesses, homes and jobsites. Liftgates are standard on many LTL and box trucks but rare on 53 ft truckload trailers, so request one before booking.

LTLAccessorialPallet jack

Line haul is the base cost of moving freight from origin to destination, before fuel surcharge and accessorials. It covers the truck, the driver and the miles. When you compare quotes, separate line haul, fuel and any accessorials, because two rates with the same total can split very differently once a load runs into detention.

Full truckload freight shippingFuel surchargeAccessorialSpot rate

Linear feet is the length of trailer floor a shipment occupies, front to back. It matters for partials and LTL, where you pay for space. Standard 48 x 40 in pallets loaded straight and two across use 4 ft of length per row, so 10 pallets in 5 rows take about 20 linear feet of a 53 ft trailer.

Partial truckload shippingPallet calculator for truck trailersPartialLTLPalletCube

A live load is when the driver waits at the dock while the shipper loads the trailer, then leaves with it. It needs only one trailer but ties up the truck for the whole loading time, so delays turn into detention quickly. Live loading works best with a firm appointment and the freight staged before the truck arrives.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceLive unloadDrop and hookDetentionAppointment

A live unload is when the driver waits while the receiver unloads the trailer, then leaves empty. Grocery and retail distribution centers often live unload by appointment and may use lumpers. The same free time and detention terms apply as at pickup, and the driver should get in and out times written on the delivery paperwork.

Retail and consumer goods freightLive loadLumperDetentionProof of delivery

Load bars, also called load locks, are adjustable bars that wedge between the walls of a van or reefer to stop freight from sliding back toward the doors. Drivers set them behind the last row of pallets or across gaps in the load. They are the simplest securement in a van, and a load that shifts against the doors can spill when they open.

E-trackDunnageStrapsBulkhead

A load board is an online marketplace where brokers and shippers post available loads and carriers search for freight. Public boards mix loads from many sources; a broker's own board lists only that broker's freight. Carriers search by origin, destination, equipment and date, then call or book online and confirm the rate on a rate confirmation.

Load boardBrokerCarrierRate confirmationSpot rate

A load tender is a shipper's formal offer of a load to a broker or carrier, with origin, destination, dates, equipment, weight, commodity and special requirements. Contract freight often tenders through EDI or a portal. The broker or carrier accepts or rejects it, and once accepted, the details flow into the rate confirmation and the bill of lading.

/contact#quoteRate confirmationContract rateShipper

A lowboy is a heavy-haul trailer with a deck that sits very low between the gooseneck and the rear axles, built for tall, heavy equipment like excavators and dozers. Typical figures are a well of about 24 to 29 ft with about 40,000 lb of legal payload. Heavier or larger loads move under permits issued by each state on the route.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsRGNDouble dropOversize loadDeck height

LTL means less than truckload: smaller shipments, often one to several pallets, that share a trailer with other shippers' freight and move through carrier terminals. LTL is priced using freight class, weight and lane, and each terminal handoff adds handling. Larger LTL shipments sometimes move better as a partial truckload with fewer touches.

Partial truckload shippingFreight class calculator and NMFC guideFreight classPartialFTLCross dock

A lumper is a worker, or a third-party crew, that unloads trucks at some warehouses and grocery distribution centers, usually paid per load. The driver often pays at the dock and the cost is passed back to the broker or shipper. Who pays the lumper should be agreed before pickup, and every payment needs a receipt.

Food and beverage freight shippingLumper feeLumper receiptLive unloadDriver assist

A lumper fee is the charge for a lumper crew to unload a trailer. It is set by the warehouse or the lumper service, not the carrier, and varies by facility, pallet count and whether the freight is floor-loaded. The rate confirmation should say who pays the lumper and how the carrier gets reimbursed, which always requires the lumper receipt.

LumperLumper receiptAccessorial

A lumper receipt is the proof that a lumper crew was paid to unload a load, showing the facility, date, amount and the load or PO number. Brokers and shippers reimburse lumper fees only against the receipt, so the driver sends it in with the proof of delivery. Without the receipt, reimbursement usually stalls until one is found.

LumperLumper feeProof of delivery

An MC number is the operating authority docket number FMCSA issues to for-hire carriers, brokers and freight forwarders that move regulated freight across state lines. It shows the company may operate for hire, while the USDOT number tracks safety. Verify an MC number on SAFER and call the phone number posted there, not one from an email.

Haul with usUSDOT numberOperating authoritySAFERFMCSA

The NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) is the standard published by NMFTA that assigns freight classes to commodities for LTL pricing. It is voluntary, but LTL carriers widely use it. Classification weighs density, handling, stowability and liability, with density prioritized when the others raise no special concern. Since July 19, 2025, many more commodities are classed by density.

Freight class calculator and NMFC guideFreight classDensityLTL

An NOA (notice of assignment) tells a broker or shipper to pay a carrier's factoring company instead of the carrier. Once it is on file, paying the carrier directly may not settle the debt, so brokers update their records before the next invoice. A carrier that changes or leaves a factor needs a signed release from the old one.

Carrier FAQFactoring companyQuick payCarrier packet

A nondivisible load is one that cannot be broken down to legal size or weight without more than 8 work hours of dismantling, or where taking it apart would defeat its purpose, such as a transformer or a large excavator. Nondivisible loads are what oversize and overweight permits are for, and states issue those permits, not the federal government.

Step deck trailer shippingOversize loadRGNLowboy

Operating authority is the federal permission, granted by FMCSA, for a company to operate as a for-hire carrier or broker in interstate commerce. It is shown by an MC number and must be active, with required insurance or financial security on file, before the company can legally haul or arrange freight. Authority can be revoked or go inactive, so check it before every new carrier.

Carrier FAQMC numberFMCSABMC-84USDOT number

Out of service is an order, issued during a roadside inspection, that takes a driver or vehicle off the road until a serious violation is fixed. Examples are bad brakes, failed securement or a driver over hours. In the 2025 International Roadcheck, 18.1% of vehicles and 5.9% of drivers inspected were placed out of service.

CSAInternational RoadcheckHours of service

Overage, shortage and damage (OS&D) is the record of freight that arrives with more pieces than the bill of lading, fewer pieces, or damaged. The receiver notes it as an exception on the proof of delivery, with counts and photos. An OS&D note at delivery is the starting point for a cargo claim, and a clean POD makes a claim much harder.

Cargo claimProof of deliveryShipper load and countBill of lading

An oversize load is freight wider, taller, longer or heavier than legal limits allow, usually machinery or structures that cannot be taken apart. The federal government issues no oversize or overweight permits; each state on the route does, with its own rules on escorts, signs and travel hours. Every state's permit has to be in hand before the truck rolls.

Step deck trailer shippingManufacturing freight shippingNondivisible loadRGNLowboyStretch flatbed

An owner-operator is a driver who owns or leases the truck and runs it as a business, either under their own operating authority or leased onto another carrier. Many small carriers are a single owner-operator. They often use a factoring company or quick pay to manage cash flow, and they choose which loads and lanes to run.

Haul with usCarrierDispatcherFactoring companyQuick pay

A pallet is the flat platform freight is stacked on so a forklift or pallet jack can move it. The most common US size is 48 x 40 in, the GMA pallet. In a 53 ft trailer, 636 in, loaded straight: 636 / 48 = 13 rows, two across, for 26 pallets. Turned: 636 / 40 = 15 rows, for 30.

Pallet calculator for truck trailersPallet jackLinear feetDry vanDensity

A pallet jack is a hand-operated or electric lift that slides under a pallet and raises it just enough to roll. Drivers use one to move freight inside a trailer when there is no forklift, such as at a liftgate delivery or during a driver-assist unload. Some carriers carry one on the truck, but it has to be requested in advance.

PalletLiftgateDriver assist

A partial is a shipment that uses part of a truckload trailer and shares it with one or more other shipments, without passing through LTL terminals. It is priced by the space and weight it takes, often in linear feet, not by freight class. Partials suit freight too big for LTL but too small to fill a truck, with fewer handoffs.

Partial truckload shippingLTLFTLLinear feetE-track

Payload is the weight of freight a truck can legally carry: the 80,000 lb federal gross limit minus the weight of the tractor, trailer, fuel and driver. Typical payloads are 42,000 to 45,000 lb in a 53 ft dry van, 42,000 to 44,000 lb in a reefer, and up to about 48,000 lb on a flatbed, carrier-dependent.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsGross weightAxle weightCube

A pickup number, sometimes a release or PO number, is the reference the shipper's dock uses to identify which load a driver is there for. Without it, many facilities will not load the truck. The pickup number goes on the rate confirmation, and a driver who shows up without it, or with the wrong one, is worth a phone call.

Rate confirmationBill of ladingAppointment

Power only is a tractor and driver hauling a trailer that belongs to the shipper, a leasing company or someone else. It suits shippers with their own trailer pool, drop trailer programs and preloaded trailers that need to move between sites. The carrier needs trailer interchange coverage, and the trailer's condition is recorded at pickup.

Power only trucking for your trailersInterchangeDrop trailerBobtailTractor

Pre-cooling is bringing a reefer trailer down to the required temperature before loading. Under the FSMA sanitary transportation rule, the shipper states the pre-cooling requirement in writing, the loader confirms the compartment is ready before loading, and the carrier pre-cools as specified. A reefer holds temperature; it is not built to pull heat out of warm product.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingSet pointReefer unitFSMAContinuous run

A proof of delivery (POD) is the bill of lading signed by the receiver at delivery, with the date, time, piece count and any exceptions. It is what the carrier invoices against and what the shipper relies on if freight is short or damaged. A POD signed clean, with no exceptions noted, makes a later damage claim much harder to prove.

Bill of ladingOverage, shortage and damageConsigneeLumper receipt

Quick pay is an option where a broker pays a carrier faster than its standard terms in exchange for a fee taken from the invoice. It is an alternative to factoring for carriers who want cash sooner without assigning all their invoices to a factor. The fee and the payment timeline should be written in the carrier agreement.

Carrier FAQFactoring companyNOAOwner-operator

A rate confirmation, or rate con, is the agreement between broker and carrier for one load: the rate, stops, appointment times, equipment, accessorial terms and special requirements. Both sides sign it before dispatch. Anything left off the rate con is open to argument later, so tarps, temperatures, detention and lumper terms belong on it.

Broker carrier agreementAccessorialBill of ladingBrokerCarrier

A reefer is a refrigerated trailer with an insulated box and a diesel-powered unit that holds a set temperature, cold or warm. It hauls produce, meat, dairy, frozen goods and anything that cannot freeze or overheat. Typical 53 ft figures are a range of about -20 F to 70 F, up to 26 pallets and 42,000 to 44,000 lb, carrier-dependent.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingFood and beverage freight shippingReefer unitSet pointPre-coolingFSMA

The reefer unit is the diesel-powered refrigeration machine on the front of a reefer trailer. It cools or heats the box to hold the set point, runs in continuous or start-stop mode, and logs temperatures that can be downloaded as a record of the trip. It burns its own fuel tank, separate from the tractor's, so fuel level is part of every check.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingReeferSet pointContinuous runPre-cooling

An RGN (removable gooseneck) is a heavy-haul trailer whose front gooseneck detaches so the deck lowers to the ground and equipment drives on from the front. It carries tall, heavy machinery. Typical figures are a well of about 24 to 29 ft, an 18 to 24 in deck height, and 40,000 lb of legal payload, more with permits.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsLowboyDouble dropOversize loadNondivisible load

SAFER is FMCSA's public system for looking up a carrier's or broker's company snapshot: legal name, USDOT and MC numbers, operating status, address, phone and inspection summary. FMCSA's fraud guidance says to check phone numbers against SAFER and call the posted number, rather than trusting search results or an email signature.

SecurityFMCSAUSDOT numberMC numberDouble brokering

A scale ticket is the printed weight from a certified truck scale, showing gross weight and often the weight on each axle group. Drivers scale a load to confirm it is under legal limits before heading out, and some shippers and receivers require a ticket for billing. Keep it with the bill of lading for the life of the load.

Gross weightAxle weightTandem axle

A seal is a numbered, single-use lock placed on a trailer's doors after loading. The seal number goes on the bill of lading, and the receiver checks that the seal is intact and the number matches before cutting it. A broken or mismatched seal is noted on the delivery paperwork and supports any shortage claim that follows.

Bill of ladingShipper load and countProof of delivery

A semi-trailer is a trailer with axles only at the rear, whose front rests on a tractor's fifth wheel through a kingpin. Dry vans, reefers, flatbeds and step decks are all semi-trailers. States may not set a semitrailer length limit below 48 ft on the National Network, which is one reason 48 and 53 ft are the common lengths.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsTractor-trailerKingpinLanding gearDry van

The set point is the temperature a reefer unit is programmed to hold. It comes from the shipper's written instructions and should match the bill of lading and the rate confirmation exactly, including Fahrenheit or Celsius and continuous or cycle mode. Powerhaul confirms the set point before the wheels turn, because a wrong number can ruin a load.

Reefer and refrigerated freight shippingReefer unitPre-coolingContinuous runFSMA

The shipper is the business sending the freight and usually the party that books and pays for the move. The shipper prepares the bill of lading, has the freight ready at the appointment, and gives the carrier any special instructions, such as a temperature for food that needs one. On paperwork the shipper may also be called the consignor.

Shipping and freight quotesConsigneeConsignorBrokerBill of lading

Shipper load and count (SLC) is a note on the bill of lading that the shipper loaded and counted the freight without the driver checking it, often because the trailer was sealed before the driver arrived. It shifts the burden in a shortage claim, because the carrier never confirmed the count. Drop trailer loads are almost always SLC.

Drop trailer and drop and hook serviceBill of ladingSealDrop trailerOverage, shortage and damage

A spot rate is a one-time price for a load booked now, set by what trucks and freight are doing in the market that day. Spot rates move quickly with capacity, season and weather. They suit irregular freight; repeat lanes are usually steadier on contract rates. At Powerhaul the rate comes from a person, not a formula.

/contact#quoteContract rateCapacityLine haulLane

A step deck, or drop deck, is an open trailer with a short upper deck over the tractor and a long lower main deck, so taller freight stays under legal height. Typical figures are a lower deck about 43 ft long and about 3 ft 6 in off the road, freight up to about 10 ft tall and about 46,000 lb, carrier-dependent.

Step deck trailer shippingFlatbedDouble dropDeck heightConestoga

A stop-off charge is an accessorial paid for each extra pickup or delivery on a truckload beyond the first. Multi-stop loads cost more because each stop adds time, a dock appointment and another chance of detention. List stops in order on the rate confirmation with addresses, appointment times and what comes off at each one.

AccessorialPartialAppointment

Straps, or ratchet straps, are woven webbing tiedowns tightened with a ratchet or winch, used on lumber, building materials, machinery and anything chains would mark or crush. Each strap has a working load limit, and tiedowns together must hold at least half the cargo's weight. Edge protectors keep straps from cutting on sharp corners.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingBuilding materials freight shippingChainsTiedownWorking load limitE-track

A stretch flatbed, or extendable, is a flatbed that telescopes to carry freight too long for a standard deck, such as beams, poles, pipe and long fabricated parts. Typical figures are about 48 ft retracted and up to about 80 ft extended, with about 43,000 lb of payload, carrier-dependent. Long loads usually need state permits.

Semi trailer types, sizes and limitsFlatbedOversize loadStep deck

A tandem axle is a pair of axles set close together that share load, like the drive axles on a tractor and the rear axles on most trailers. The federal limit on the Interstate is 34,000 lb per tandem. Many trailers have sliding tandems that move forward or back to shift weight between the tractor and the trailer.

Axle weightGross weightBridge formulaFifth wheel

A tarp is a heavy cover strapped over open deck freight to protect it from weather and road grime. Lumber tarps, steel tarps and smoke tarps are the common types, sized by how far they drop down the sides. Tarping takes time and gear, so it belongs on the rate confirmation with the tarp type and any tarp pay.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingFlatbedConestogaStraps

Team drivers are two drivers sharing one truck so it keeps moving while one rests in the sleeper. Each driver still follows hours of service, but together they cover far more ground: Powerhaul plans about 1,000 road miles a day for a team against about 550 for a solo driver, a planning rule of thumb, not a law.

Expedited and team truck freightTruck miles and transit time calculatorExpeditedHours of serviceTransit time

A tiedown is a chain, strap, wire rope or similar device that secures cargo to a trailer. For articles not blocked by a headerboard, federal rules require 1 tiedown for 5 ft or less and 1,100 lb or less, 2 for 5 ft or less over 1,100 lb, 2 for over 5 ft up to 10 ft, and 1 more for each additional 10 ft or fraction.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingWorking load limitChainsStrapsBinder

TONU means truck ordered, not used: a fee paid to a carrier when a load is cancelled or not ready after the truck was dispatched. It covers the miles driven to the pickup and the other loads the carrier turned down to take yours. The amount is set on the rate confirmation and is usually a flat fee.

LayoverAccessorialDeadheadRate confirmation

A tractor is the truck that pulls a semi-trailer: the cab, engine and drive axles, with a fifth wheel on the back. Day cabs have no sleeper and suit local and regional work; sleeper cabs have a berth for overnight runs and team driving. In power only, the carrier supplies only the tractor and the driver.

Power only trucking for your trailersFifth wheelSemi-trailerBobtailPower only

A tractor-trailer, or semi-trailer truck, is a tractor pulling one or more semi-trailers, the standard combination for truckload freight in the US. A common five-axle setup has a steer axle and a tandem of drive axles on the tractor and a tandem on the trailer. Its legal gross weight on the Interstate is up to 80,000 lb.

TractorSemi-trailerGross weightTandem axle

Transit time is how long a load takes from pickup to delivery. It depends on miles, hours of service, appointments and traffic. A useful planning rule is about 550 road miles a day for a solo driver and about 1,000 for a team, so Chicago to Atlanta, about 715 to 730 miles, is about 2 days solo or 1 day by team.

Truck miles and transit time calculatorChicago to Atlanta dry van freightHours of serviceTeam driversLane

Transloading is moving freight from one mode or container to another, such as from an ocean container or a rail car into a 53 ft dry van. Importers use it near ports to combine goods from several containers into domestic trailers. Unlike a cross dock, transloading usually changes the type of equipment, not just the truck.

Retail and consumer goods freightCross dockDry vanFTL

A USDOT number is the unique identifier FMCSA assigns to a motor carrier to track its safety record: inspections, crashes, audits and compliance reviews. Interstate commercial carriers need one, and some states require it for intrastate carriers too. Look up any USDOT number on SAFER to see the company snapshot and compare it with the paperwork.

Haul with usMC numberSAFERCSAFMCSA

Working load limit (WLL) is the maximum load a tiedown is rated to hold in normal use. Federal rules require the combined WLL of all tiedowns on an article to be at least one-half its weight. So a 40,000 lb load needs at least 40,000 / 2 = 20,000 lb of combined working load limit, and a binder or hook can cap a chain's rating.

Flatbed trucking and freight shippingTiedownChainsStrapsBinder