Trucking Term Glossary for New Truckers and Owners

If you’re a new truck driver or owner in Ft. Lauderdale and find yourself lacking common truck vocabulary, you’re not alone. With so many acronyms, unique truck parts, and industry terminology in the field, it can be hard to keep up without some sort of trucking glossary. That’s why Rechtien International Trucks is here to help! Learn the truck vocabulary you need for your Riviera Beach drives in our glossary of trucking terms below and get up to speed with the pros!

Glossary of Trucking Terms

• Antilock Braking System (ABS): A safety system that watches for wheel lockup during heavy braking and, when detected, automatically modulates braking force to help the driver retain control on the road. 
• Aerodynamics Package: Packages for trucks that offer additional aerodynamic features such as roof mounts, wind deflectors, side fairings, front spoilers, and fuel tank skirting. 
• After Cooler: Performance device for diesel engines. 
• Alternative Fueled Vehicle (AFV): A vehicle powered by a fuel other than diesel or gasoline. 
• Air Brake: A braking system operated by air instead of fluid. 
• Air Brake Dryer: A device that removes moisture from air brake systems. 
• Air Foil/Wind Deflector: Optional features added to the roof of a truck or tractor to create an air stream over the trailer, improving aerodynamics. 
• Air Ride Suspension/Air Bags: Suspension based on air-filled rubber bags instead of steel springs. Can also supply air to air brake systems. 
• Air Spring System: System which separates the container and plunger with pressurized air. When the container and plunger squeeze together, the compressed air produces a sprint effect. 
• Air Tank: A reservoir for storing air for an air brake system.
• Anteater: Generic description of a low-profile, highly aerodynamic tractor. 
• Automatic Traction Control (ATC): Prevents the spinning of drive wheels under power on slipper surfaces by reducing engine throttle and/or braking individual wheels. 
• Attic: Part of the van body that extends over the truck’s cab. 
• Auxiliary Transmission/AKA Brownie: An extra transmission mounted behind the primary transmission for additional gear splits. 
• Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI): A system combining roadside receivers and an onboard transponder to automatically identify vehicles. Primarily used for toll collection and stolen vehicle detection.
• Automated Vehicle Location (AVL): Technology using land-based radio towers or satellites to locate vehicles for stolen vehicle recovery or fleet management purposes.
• Axle: The structural component that attaches the wheels, brakes, and suspension. Types include drive axles, steer axles (front axle), pusher axles, rear axles, and tag axles. 
• Banjo: Differential housing or rear axle drive. 
• Back Haul: After delivering their primary load to the location, a driver will often take a “back haul” or return load instead of driving back to the original location with an empty trailer. 
• Balloon Freight: Cargo that takes up significant space but weighs very little. 
• BBC: The distance from a truck’s front bumper to the back of the cab.
• Bill of Lading: Shipping documents or papers that contain an itemized list of goods. Typically used as a contract of shipment and receipt for the delivery.
• Binders: A lever-type device used to secure cargo on trailers. 
• Blind Spot: Areas around the tractor-trailer that are not visible to the driver via the mirrors or windows.
• Blower: An attachment for loading and/or unloading bulk cargo. 
• Bobtail: A tractor without a trailer.
• Bogey/Bogie: Assembly of two or more axles, usually referring to a tandem pair.
• Brake Horsepower (BHP): A measurement of the engine horsepower as determined by brake dynamometer testing.
• Bridge Formula: A formula used by state and federal governments to regulate the weight that can be put on each vehicle axle, and how far apart each axle can be to carry certain weights.
• Bulkhead: Part of the trailer that vertically extends.
• Bulk Freight: Freight not carried in packages or containers. Bulk freight will often be hauled in vehicles like tankers and grain trailers. 
• Cab: Part of a vehicle that includes the driver’s seat and operating controls. 
• Cabover (Cab-Over-Engine, COE): A tractor or truck design where the cab sits over the engine.
• Cab Protector: Shield typically made of steel, aluminum, or mesh that covers the cab’s rear.
• Camelback Suspension: A heavy-duty rear spring suspension.
• CA Dimension: Distance from the back of the cab to the centerline of the rear axle.
• Cartage Company: A company that provides local pickup and delivery within a town, city, or municipality.
• CAT Scales: The most common and accurate scales used at truck stops to measure your truck’s weight reading. 
• Citizens Band Radio (CB Radio): Two-way radio that requires no license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Can be used between truckers and motorists to report on traffic conditions.
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL): A license that authorizes a driver to operate commercial motor vehicles and buses over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
• Center of Gravity (CG): The balance point or weight center of the truck body, used to determine the optimal placement of truck bodies on a chassis.
• Clearance Lights: Small lights on each corner of a truck or trailer. 
• Class 1-8 Truck: Trucks with the following Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) ratings for Classes 1 through 8.
• Chassis Weight/Curb Weight/Tare Weight: Weight of an empty truck with no cargo or occupants.
• Clutch Brake: A brake engaged when a driver pushes the clutch to the floor to bring a truck into gear or slowing the transmission to shift between ranges.
• Common Carrier: A freight company that serves the general public via regular route service or irregular route service. 
• Compensated Intra-corporate Hauling: Freight transportation provided by one company for a sister company. 
• Container/Shipping Container: Standard rectangular box used to transport freight by truck, train, and boat. Measurements and standards differ based on whether the container is for international shipping, domestic shipping, or shipping via public roads.
• Container Chassis: Single-purpose semitrailer designed to carry a specific shipping container.
• Contract Carrier: A freight transport company that operates under contract with one or a limited number of shippers. 
• Conventional Cab: Truck cab where the engine is mounted in front of the driver compartment.
• Converter Dolly/Dolly: Fifth-wheel auxiliary axle assembly towed by a semitrailer and supporting/towing another semitrailer. 
• Consignee: The person/company to which the freight is officially delivered.
• Cross Member: Part of the frame on tractors and trailers that runs at a right angle between the left, right, and main frame rails. 
• Day Cab: A tractor with no sleeper berth.
• Dead-Heading: Operating a truck without cargo.
• Detention: Extra pay used to offset time detained at a company waiting for loading/unloading.
• Disc Wheels/Budd Wheels: A single-piece tire rim, typically available in steel, chromed steel, and aluminum.
• Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF): A chemical product sprayed in a fine mist into the exhaust system to change air pollutants to harmless nitrogen gas water vapor.
• Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF): An after-treatment device that removes soot from the exhaust of a diesel engine. 
• Displacement/Piston Displacement: The sum of the volumes swept by an engine’s pistons as they move within their cylinders. 
• Dock Lock: A safety device that hooks to your trailer’s bumper while in a loading dock to keep your trailer from moving.
• Dolly: Fifth-wheel auxiliary axle assembly used to convert a semitrailer to a full trailer. 
• DOT/USDOT: The United States Department of Transportation.
• Drop Deck Trailer: A flatbed trailer with a belly section that is the same height or lower than the trailer height of the axle(s).
• Drop and Hook: Dropping off a fully loaded trailer at a company for unloading and hooking up to a new, already full trailer to start transport.
• Driveline: The components that transmit power from the transmission to the drive axle(s), consisting of at least one driveshaft with a universal joint at each end.
• Dry Freight: Freight that does not require refrigeration.
• Doubles/Twins/Twin Trailers: A tractor and two semitrailers connected via a converter dolly. 
• Drive Axle(s): Front and/or rear axle(s) connected to a power unit.
• Duplex: A transmission with five speeds forward with a two-speed auxiliary, for a total of ten speeds forward. 
• Dual Drive Tandem: Two axles with drive systems connected to a tandem engine power unit.
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL): Automatic low-beam headlights that turn on when the parking brake is released and the ignition is on.
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Business-to-business data exchange for documents, bills, and build tickets.
• Electronic Logbook (eLog): A small computer device either mounted in the truck cab or as a hand-held tablet that provides vehicle operating records and driver activity for accurate time logging.
• Exempt Carrier: A company that transports freight exempted from regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
• Extended Hood: A longer hood option or model for Class 8 trucks.
• E.T.- Federal Excise Tax: Tax applied to the purchase of medium and heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and equipment.
• Fifth Wheel: A coupling device attached to a tractor or dolly to support the front of a semitrailer while towing. 
• Fingerprinting: A general term for a driver unloading a trailer by themselves.
• Fixed Tandem: A two-axle assembly and suspension attached to the chassis that cannot be moved.
• Flat Top Sleeper: A sleeper box that’s height is flush with the top of the cab.
• Float: An extendable lowboy or flatbed trailer.
• Floating the Gears: Shifting gears without using the clutch.
• Floatation Tires: Over-width tires on a construction vehicle with a cross-section 14 inches or greater
• Fuel Tank Skirting: Aerodynamic aid put over fuel tanks to create a flush face surface between the frame and the cab.
• Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The maximum weight an axle is rated to carry by the manufacturer, including both the weight of the axle and the vehicle weight supported by the axle.
• Gross Combination Weight (GCW): The total weight of a loaded combination vehicle (i.e. tractor-semitrailer or truck).
• Governor: A speed-limiting device installed on many fleet vehicles. 
• Geared Speed: Total vehicle speed at the governed RPM in each transmission gear.
• Gear Ratio: A number representing how many turns of the input shaft cause one revolution of the output shaft.
• Glider Kit: A cab and chassis with all components except the drivetrain. 
• Grade: Steepness of a hill, expressed in a percentage. 
• Gradeability: A vehicle’s ability to climb a grade at a given speed.
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): Total weight of a vehicle, including its load and occupants.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): Total weight a vehicle is rated to carry by the manufacturer, including vehicle weight, load, and occupants.
• Hazmat: Hazardous materials as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Headache Rack: A protective barrier mounted behind the tractor’s cab to minimize the impact of load-shifting on the driver compartment.
• Heavy Duty Truck: A truck or tractor with a GVWR larger than 26,001 pounds (Class 7 or 8).
• Hendrickson Suspension: A walking beam rear suspension often found on heavy-duty construction trucks.
• Horsepower (HP): A measurement of power output for a vehicle’s engine. 
• Hot Shot: A light or medium-duty tractor equipped with an after-market sleeper. 
• Hours-Of-Service: Safety regulations that govern how many hours commercial vehicle drivers can be engaged in interstate trucking operations.
• In-Frame Major Overhaul: Diesel engine overhaul that replaces the main and thrust bearings, rod bearings, cylinder liners pistons, rings, and reconditioning of the cylinder head.
• In Lieu of Stock (ILS): A piece of equipment on a vehicle that differs from standard factory equipment.
• Interaxle Differential: A system that allows tandem rear axles to turn independently.
• Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS): Term for technologies, such as electronic sensors and computer software, used to reduce travel time, fuel consumption, and accidents.
• Jackknife: When a tractor is at an extreme angle compared to the trailer, whether intentionally or accidentally.
• Jake Brake/Engine Brake Retarder: A device that uses a diesel engine’s compression to slow a vehicle down instead of a vehicle’s air brake system.
• Johnson Bar/Johnny Bar: The trailer hand valve used to test the brakes after coupling the tractor and trailer.
• Kingpin: A metal pin located beneath the front of a trailer that connects to the jaws of the fifth wheel of a tractor or dolly. 
• Kingpin Lock: A locking device that prevents a fifth wheel from connecting to the trailer, used while dropping a trailer in an unsecured location to avoid theft.
• King Pin Plate: A large flat plate that surrounds the kingpin.
• Landing Gear: Retracting legs that support the front of a semitrailer when not coupled to a tractor.
• Long Combination Vehicle (LCV): Vehicles longer than a standard doubles rig (i.e. twin 48-foot trailers or triple 28-foot trailers).
• Lift Axle: An extra, unpowered axle that is only needed when the vehicle is loaded to meet state and federal weight standards. Can be retracted when not required.
• Lift Gate: An electric or hydraulic lift mechanism on the rear of a truck body to assist in loading or unloading heavy objects.
• Light Duty Truck: Truck with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less (Class 1 or 2).
• Load Locks: Metal bars that retract or expand to span one side of the trailer to the other to secure cargo.
• Log Book: Original books carried by truck drivers to record hours of service as required by the DOT. Replaced by electronic log books.
• Long Nose Conventional: A tractor or truck with a BBC of 112 inches or more.
• Low Boy: Open flatbed trailer with a very low deck height used to haul construction equipment or heavy loads.
• Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): A quantity of freight that is less than required for the truckload rate.
• Medium Duty Truck: A tractor or truck with a GVWR of 10,001 – 26,000 pounds (Class 3 – 6).
• Nose Cone: An aerodynamic piece attached to the front of van bodies and dry van trailers.
• Operating Authority: A term used by transportation regulatory agencies to describe the granting of legal permission to operate in for-hire transportation by motor vehicles. 
• Out-of-Frame Major Overhaul: Diesel engine overhaul with the engine removed from the vehicle, including all in-frame repairs and reconditioning.
• Over the Road Tractor or Truck: A truck driver who owns and operates his own business, including all equipment and business aspects.
• P&D: Pickup and delivery.
• Pay Load: The weight of the cargo being hauled.
• Penthouse: A sleeper unit at least 78 inches high with skylight windows.
• Piggyback: A semitrailer built to withstand transport by a railroad flatcar.
• Pig Tail: An electrical cable that connects the tractor with the trailer.
• Pintle Hook: A coupling device used in truck-trailer and double/triple-trailer combinations.
• Placard: A sign designating the hazardous materials onboard, placed on all four sides of a trailer.
• Pogo Stick: A metal pole with springs mounted behind the cab to support the air lines.
• Power Takeoff (PTO): A device attached to the transmission or engine to transmit engine power to auxiliary equipment such as hydraulic pumps.
• Pusher Axle: A non-powered tractor or truck axle placed in front of a powered axle.
• Relay/Relay Driving: Where one driver operates a truck for a set amount of time or distance before handing the vehicle over to another driver to take over the next leg of the trip.
• Reefer: A refrigerated trailer with insulated walls and a self-powered refrigeration unit.
• Retarder: A device used to assist the brakes to slow a vehicle, usually using the engine, transmission, or axles. 
• Runaway Truck Ramp: An emergency area found on steep downgrade roads that a truck can steer to if losing braking power, engineered to bring the truck to a safe stop.
• Saddle Tanks: Fuel tanks mounted along the frame to the rear of the cab.
• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): An after-treatment diesel exhaust system that converts air pollutants into nitrogen and water vapor. 
• Semi-trailer: A trailer supported at the rear by its own wheels and axles and at the front by a fifth wheel from a tractor or dolly.
• Setback Axle: A front steering axle moved further back from the standard position for a shorter turning radius.
• Short Nose Conventional: A tractor or truck with a BBC of 95 inches or less.
• Side Fairing: Aerodynamic equipment attached to the rear sides of a truck to create a flush surface from the vehicle to the trailer.
• Six by Six (6X6): A tractor with six wheels (three axles) driving (i.e. a tandem rear-end with driving front axle).
• Sleeper: A sleeping compartment mounted or integrated into a truck cab.
• Sliding Tandem: A mechanism that allows a rear tandem axle suspension to move back and forth to adjust the length between kingpin and tandems and distribute the weight between axles.
• Sliding Fifth Wheel: A sliding mechanism that allows the fifth wheel to be adjusted to distribute the weight of the axles and vary the vehicle’s length and weight per axle.
• Spread Axle: A tandem axle assembly that can spread farther apart than standard spacing for independent axle weight limits.
• Stacks: The vertical exhaust pipes on a tractor.
• Step Tanks: Fuel tanks with a step that allows access to the cab.
• Straight Truck: A truck with the cab and cargo body mounted on the same chassis.
• Super Singles: Extra-wide tires that replace dual wheels on each axle, often found on mixers or dump trucks.
• Synchronized Transmission: A transmission that automatically equalizes the speed of its gears for smooth shifting without a double-clutch.
• Tag Axle: A non-powered tractor or truck axle placed behind a powered axle.
• Tandem Axle/Tandems: A pair of axles grouped close together.
• Team Driving: Two drivers who take shifts driving and resting to expedite the shipment and cut transport time.
• TL Carrier: A company that dedicates entire trailers to a single customer’s cargo.
• Tractor: A truck designed to pull a semitrailer by use of a fifth wheel mounted over its drive axle(s).
• Tri-axle: Three axles grouped close together.
• Trip Leasing: The leasing of a vehicle to another transportation provider for a single trip.
• Upper Coupler: A load-bearing surface on the underside of a semitrailer’s front, resting on the fifth wheel or dolly, and provides a downward-protruding kingpin.
• Utility Bed: A truckbed attached to the chassis and cab that offers compartments, toolboxes, and an open bed. 
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): A number assigned by the manufacturer to identify each vehicle on its registration and title.
• Visibility Window: A window in the lower part of a tractor door that allows drivers to look down at traffic.
• Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS): Codes established and maintained by the American Trucking Association to track parts and labor used in equipment repair.
• Walking Beam Suspension: A type of truck and tractor rear suspension that uses two beams on either side of the chassis, each pivoting to the center and connecting at the front of one axle in a tandem and the rear of the other.
• West Coast Mirrors: Large rearview mirrors on either side of the cab.
• Wet Line Kit: A hydraulic pump and reservoir system used in dump trailers. 
• Wheelbase: The distance between the centerlines of the front and rear axles. 
• Wheel Power: A set of numbers representing the total number of axles and the number of wheels that are powered, both multiplied by two (i.e. three axles, two of which are powered would be listed as 6X4).
• Weigh-In-Motion (WIM): Tech used to determine a vehicle’s weight without the vehicle coming to a complete stop.
• Yard Jockey: The operator of a yard tractor.

Grow Your Truck Vocabulary With the Experts at Rechtien International Trucks!

Now that you’ve explored our trucking glossary, it’s time to continue your research into trucking information with Rechtien International Trucks! Besides our expansive glossary of trucking terms, our team goes over everything you need to know about the trucking industry, from tips for managing your hours to what kind of accessories do best on the Ft. Pierce roads.