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Glossary of Terms
There are 74 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ABS |
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) will sense wheel speed and modulate braking force if wheels lockup during braking. ABS can help the driver retain control of the vehicle during heavy braking on slippery roads. |
| Air Can Trailer |
Pneumatic tank trailer for transporting solids in bulk. |
| Baffle |
A partition or separator within a liquid tank, used to inhibit the flow of fluids within the tank. During acceleration, turning, and braking, a large liquid-filled tank may produce unexpected forces on the vehicle due to the inertia of liquids. |
| Bill of lading (BOL) |
A paper document between a shipper and a carrier acknowledging the receipt of goods for transport. Usually describes the nature of the cargo; hazardous materials classification (if any); amount of cargo by weight, size, and/or number of pallets, boxes, barrels, etc; and the origin and destination of the cargo. |
| Bobtail |
Tractor without a trailer. |
| Box truck |
A smaller single-unit, non-articulated truck, usually having between 6 and 10 wheels. |
| Broker |
A person or company which arranges for the truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation. |
| Bulk cargo |
Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities. These cargos are usually dropped or poured, with a spout or shovel bucket, as a liquid or solid, into a bulk carrier's hold, railroad car, or tanker truck/trailer/semi-trailer body. Bulk cargos are classified as liquid or dry. |
| Bulkhead |
A strong wall-like structure placed at the front of a flatbed trailer (or on the rear of the tractor) used to protect the driver against shifting cargo during a front-end collision. A bulkhead may also refer to any separator within a dry or liquid trailer (also called a baffle for liquid trailers) used to partition the load. |
| Cab over |
A tractor without a hood, with a vertical front. The "cab" rides "over" the engine and steering axle. Used when a shorter wheelbase is needed. |
| CDL |
A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required in the United States to operate any type of vehicle with a gross weight of 26,001 lb (11,793 kg) or over including (but not limited to) tow trucks, tractor trailers and buses. [1] The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law on October 27, 1986. The main purpose for the Act was to improve highway safety by making sure truck drivers and drivers of tractor trailers and buses have passed a written and driving test to become qualified to drive Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs), and to remove drivers that are unsafe and unqualified from the highways. The Act continued to give states the right to issue CDLs, but the national government established minimum requirements that must be met when issuing a CDL. |
| COE (Cab Over Engine) or cab over |
A tractor without a hood, with a vertical front. The "cab" rides "over" the engine and steering axle. Used when a shorter wheelbase is needed. |
| Combination vehicle |
A vehicle comprising two separate parts, a tractor (powered unit, semi-truck) and a trailer (unpowered unit, semi-trailer). |
| Common carrier |
A carrier that is licensed by a regulatory body and obligated to serve the public under the rates and conditions set forth in a public tariff |
| Company driver |
Employee of a carrier who is assigned to drive company-operated trucks. |