Freight terms in plain English

Freight that shares a trailer.

Shipments too small to fill a trailer, moved alongside other customers' freight. You pay for the space used instead of the whole truck.

One shipment, one trailer.

A shipment that takes the whole trailer. Freight is loaded once and delivered direct, with no terminal stops in between.

Manufacturer straight to store.

Delivering product from the supplier to individual retail stores instead of routing it through a distribution center first.

Trailer-to-trailer transfer.

Unloading inbound freight at a dock and reloading it onto outbound trailers with little or no storage in between.

Many small shipments, one load.

Combining several partial shipments heading the same direction into fewer, fuller outbound loads.

Short move from port or ramp.

The short-haul move of a container or trailer between a port or rail ramp and a nearby facility, dock or customer.

Trucks reserved for you.

Equipment and drivers committed to one customer's routes and schedules rather than shared across the general freight pool.

Outsourced logistics partner.

A provider that handles warehousing, inventory, fulfillment and transportation on the shipper's behalf.

The long middle leg.

The main movement of freight between terminals or cities, separate from the local pickup and delivery legs.

Shipment tracking number.

The unique number a carrier assigns to a shipment. Use it to track status and to reference the load on paperwork and invoices.

The shipping contract.

The document that lists what is being shipped, who is shipping it, where it is going and the terms of carriage. It travels with the freight.

Signed delivery proof.

The signed record showing freight was delivered, including date, time, receiver name and any notes about condition or shortages.

What is inside.

A shipper-produced list of the items and quantities in a shipment. Receivers use it to check the load against the order.

LTL pricing category.

A numeric class from 50 to 500 assigned to LTL freight based on density, handling, stowability and liability. It affects LTL pricing.

Commodity classification code.

The National Motor Freight Classification code that identifies a commodity and points to its freight class.

Extra service charge.

A charge for work beyond standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery — liftgate, inside delivery, residential, redelivery and similar services.

Waiting charge.

A charge that applies when a truck or trailer is held at a facility longer than the agreed free loading or unloading time.

Third-party unloading labor.

A third-party crew that loads or unloads freight at a warehouse. The fee is usually paid at the dock and billed back with a receipt.

Scheduled dock time.

A scheduled pickup or delivery window set with the facility. Many retail and grocery receivers will not accept freight without one.

Hydraulic platform.

A powered platform on the back of a truck that raises and lowers freight when the site has no dock. Requested as an accessorial.

Delivery to a home address.

Delivery to a residence or a location without commercial dock facilities. It usually requires extra time and equipment.

Past the dock or doorway.

Moving freight beyond the immediate delivery point — inside a building, up a floor, or into a specific room.

Refrigerated trailer.

A temperature-controlled trailer used for food, beverage and other products that must stay within a set temperature range.

Open-deck trailer.

An open trailer used for freight that cannot be loaded through a van door, such as building materials and oversized items.

Driving empty.

Miles a truck runs with no freight on board, usually between a delivery and the next pickup.

Offering a load to a carrier.

The formal offer of a specific shipment to a carrier, including lane, dates, equipment and requirements.