Compare Terms
Trucking terms that are easy to mix up
These comparisons focus on the practical difference: what document is involved, who is responsible, when it matters, and what can go wrong if the terms get swapped.
BOL vs POD
BOL is the shipment document used around pickup and freight description; POD is the delivery evidence used to close out the load.
Rate Confirmation vs BOL
A rate confirmation records the commercial agreement for the load; the BOL travels with the freight and supports shipment and delivery records.
Shipper vs Consignee
The shipper sends the freight; the consignee receives it.
Carrier vs Broker
A carrier hauls freight under motor carrier responsibility; a broker arranges freight between a shipper and authorized carriers.
Owner-Operator vs Company Driver
An owner-operator runs a truck as a business asset; a company driver drives equipment owned or assigned by a carrier.
Deadhead vs Loaded Miles
Deadhead miles are unpaid or empty movement; loaded miles are miles hauling the paying freight.
CPM vs RPM
CPM measures cost per mile; RPM measures revenue per mile.
Spot Rate vs Contract Rate
A spot rate is priced for the current load market; a contract rate is agreed for recurring or longer-term freight.
Detention vs Layover
Detention usually covers extra waiting time at a facility; layover usually covers a longer delay such as overnight downtime.
Recourse vs Non-Recourse Factoring
Recourse factoring can put nonpayment risk back on the carrier; non-recourse factoring may limit that risk only under contract conditions.
Advance Rate vs Factoring Fee
Advance rate is how much is paid upfront; factoring fee is the cost of the factoring service.
Fuel Card vs Credit Card
A fuel card is built for fleet controls, diesel networks, and statements; a credit card is a general payment product.
Retail-Minus vs Cost-Plus Fuel Card
Retail-minus starts from pump retail and subtracts a discount; cost-plus starts from a network cost and adds a markup.
Bobtail vs Non-Trucking Liability
Bobtail focuses on operating without a trailer; non-trucking liability focuses on certain non-business use when not under dispatch.
Primary Liability vs Cargo Insurance
Primary liability addresses covered injury or property damage to others; cargo insurance addresses freight being hauled.
DOT Number vs MC Number
A DOT number identifies a carrier for safety registration; an MC number is tied to certain operating authority records.
IFTA vs IRP
IFTA is about fuel tax reporting; IRP is about apportioned vehicle registration.
ELD vs AOBRD
ELD refers to the current electronic logging device framework; AOBRD refers to an older device category.
GVWR vs GCWR
GVWR rates one vehicle's loaded weight; GCWR rates the combined tractor and trailer setup.
Reefer vs Dry Van
A reefer controls temperature; a dry van is enclosed but not refrigerated.
FTL vs LTL
FTL means the shipper's freight fills the entire trailer and moves direct; LTL means the freight shares trailer space with other shippers and routes through terminals.
Drop and Hook vs Live Load
Drop and hook is a trailer swap with no waiting; a live load requires the driver to wait while the facility loads or unloads the freight.
Headhaul vs Backhaul
A headhaul moves freight in the high-demand direction on a lane; a backhaul moves freight in the return direction, typically at lower rates.
Spot Factoring vs Contract Factoring
Spot factoring lets a carrier choose which invoices to sell one at a time; contract factoring requires submitting all or most invoices under a longer-term agreement.
Power Only vs Drop Trailer
Power only means supplying just the tractor while the shipper provides the trailer; drop trailer means delivering a trailer to a facility yard without waiting for unloading.
No-Touch Freight vs Driver Assist
No-touch freight means the driver has no role in loading or unloading; driver assist means the driver is expected to help with the freight work.
Solo Driver vs Team Driving
A solo driver operates the truck alone and is subject to standard HOS rest requirements; team driving uses two drivers who alternate so the truck can run near-continuously.
Gross Revenue vs Net Profit
Gross revenue is the total amount billed before any deductions; net profit is what remains after all operating expenses, payments, and taxes are paid.
Partial Truckload vs LTL
A partial truckload occupies more space than LTL but does not fill the trailer; LTL freight ships in a smaller quantity and shares trailer space through a carrier terminal network.
Operating Ratio vs Net Profit
Operating ratio measures total operating expenses as a percentage of gross revenue — a lower ratio means better efficiency; net profit is the dollar amount remaining after all costs.
All-In Rate vs Linehaul
An all-in rate is a single number covering linehaul and all expected fees; a linehaul rate is only the base transportation charge before fuel surcharge, accessorials, or other additions are applied.
Empty Miles vs Deadhead Miles
Deadhead miles specifically describes empty movement between loads to reach a pickup; empty miles is the broader term covering any miles driven without freight, including bobtail repositioning and non-work movement.
Flatbed vs Dry Van
A flatbed is an open-deck trailer for freight that is too large, too heavy, or needs to be loaded from the top or sides; a dry van is an enclosed box trailer for general freight that needs weather protection.
Accessorial Charge vs Linehaul
An accessorial charge is an extra fee added for services beyond the basic move — detention, driver assist, extra stops, or liftgate; linehaul is the base charge for transporting the freight from origin to destination.
Load Tender vs Rate Confirmation
A load tender is a formal shipment assignment from a shipper or shipper system that offers a load for acceptance; a rate confirmation is the document from a broker that records the agreed rate, terms, and requirements for the carrier.
Lumper Fee vs Driver Assist
A lumper fee pays a third-party crew to unload the freight; driver assist means the driver is expected to do that work themselves, usually for a separate accessorial charge.
Fixed Cost vs Variable Cost
Fixed costs stay roughly constant each month regardless of miles driven — truck payment, insurance, permits; variable costs change with use — fuel, tires, and maintenance rise when the truck runs more.
Sleeper Cab vs Day Cab
A sleeper cab has a sleeping compartment behind the driver seats for long-haul overnight runs; a day cab has no sleeper and is used for regional, local, or round-trip work where the driver returns home daily.
Live Unload vs Drop Trailer
A live unload requires the driver to wait while the receiver unloads the trailer; a drop trailer means the driver leaves the loaded trailer at the facility and departs without waiting.
Step Deck vs Flatbed
A step deck has a lower main deck that allows taller freight to clear legal height limits; a standard flatbed has one continuous deck height and is used for freight that fits within standard dimensional limits.
Break-Even Rate vs Rate Per Mile
Break-even rate is the minimum rate needed to cover all trip costs; rate per mile is the revenue earned per mile on a specific load, which may be above, at, or below the break-even depending on costs.
Drayage vs Intermodal
Drayage is the short truck leg connecting a port, rail ramp, or terminal to a nearby origin or destination; intermodal is the broader freight movement using two or more transportation modes, commonly rail and truck.
TONU vs Detention
TONU is a charge for a load that was booked and dispatched but then canceled before or at pickup; detention is a charge for excess time spent waiting at a facility that did not cancel the load.
Partial Truckload vs Full Truckload
A partial truckload uses only a portion of the trailer for a single shipper's freight; a full truckload means the entire trailer is dedicated to one shipper's shipment from pickup to delivery.
Fuel Surcharge vs Accessorial Charge
A fuel surcharge adjusts the linehaul rate to account for diesel price changes — it is a blanket cost offset applied to the mileage; an accessorial charge is a separate fee for a specific service beyond the basic move.
Short Haul vs Long Haul
Short haul describes freight that moves a short distance, usually within a region and completed in a single day; long haul describes freight that moves a long distance, typically requiring one or more overnight periods.
Tractor vs Trailer
A tractor is the powered truck unit that pulls the load; a trailer is the unpowered freight-carrying unit attached to the tractor.
Transloading vs Cross-Docking
Transloading moves freight from one mode or trailer type into another — such as from a rail container into a dry van — during the shipment journey; cross-docking moves freight from an inbound trailer or dock bay directly to an outbound trailer with little or no warehouse storage time.
Dedicated Lane vs Spot Rate
A dedicated lane is a recurring freight assignment on a planned basis, usually under a contract with predictable volumes and rates; a spot rate is a one-time price negotiated for a single load based on current market conditions.
Lowboy vs Step Deck
A lowboy has a very low main deck for extremely tall or heavy equipment loads; a step deck has a two-level deck where the front section sits higher over the tractor wheels and the lower rear section provides more vertical clearance than a standard flatbed.
Pickup Window vs Delivery Appointment
A pickup window is the time range when the driver is allowed or expected to arrive for loading; a delivery appointment is a scheduled time — often a specific hour — confirmed with the receiver for when freight will be accepted.
Billable Miles vs Practical Miles
Billable miles are the miles used to calculate the carrier's pay, which may be set by the broker's routing tool and can differ from actual miles driven; practical miles are the miles derived from a standard truck routing system reflecting a reasonable over-the-road path.
Fifth Wheel vs Kingpin
The fifth wheel is the coupling plate mounted on the tractor that accepts and locks the trailer into position; the kingpin is the steel pin on the underside of the trailer nose that locks into the fifth wheel.
Liftgate vs Driver Assist
A liftgate is a mechanical platform attached to the truck or trailer that raises and lowers freight between the ground and the trailer floor; driver assist is a service requirement where the driver helps load or unload freight, which may or may not involve a liftgate.
Reefer vs Reefer Unit
A reefer is the complete refrigerated trailer used to haul temperature-controlled freight; the reefer unit is only the refrigeration system mounted on the front of the trailer that generates the cooling or heating.
Broker Packet vs Carrier Packet
A broker packet is the information package a freight broker requests from a carrier before tendering loads — authority, insurance, tax forms, and banking details; a carrier packet is the same type of document from the carrier's perspective, assembled and sent to brokers during the setup process.
Pump Price vs Cash Price
The pump price is the posted retail diesel price displayed at the fuel island before any discounts; the cash price is a separately posted price for cash or equivalent purchases, which may differ from the card price at certain locations.
Glad Hands vs Air Lines
Glad hands are the coupling connectors at the rear of the tractor that snap together with the trailer's matching connectors to link the air systems; air lines are the hoses themselves — the service and emergency lines that carry air pressure between the tractor and the trailer's brake system.
Tandem Axle vs Drive Axle
Tandem axle describes the grouping of two axles close together — a common rear axle configuration on both tractors and trailers; drive axle specifically describes an axle that receives power from the drivetrain to propel the vehicle.
Appointment Freight vs Live Load
Appointment freight requires the driver to schedule and confirm a specific pickup or delivery time slot with the facility in advance; a live load is a pickup operation where the driver waits at the dock while facility workers load the trailer, regardless of whether an appointment was made.
Steer Axle vs Drive Axle
The steer axle is the front axle of a tractor that supports the cab and provides directional control; the drive axle is the powered rear axle that receives torque from the drivetrain to move the vehicle.
E-Track vs Load Bar
E-track is a rail system mounted on the interior walls or floor of a trailer that provides anchor points for straps and securement hardware; a load bar is an adjustable bar that presses against the trailer walls to prevent freight from shifting lengthwise.
Chains and Binders vs Tarp
Chains and binders are heavy securement equipment used to hold freight down on open-deck trailers; a tarp is a heavy cover secured over flatbed freight to protect it from weather and road debris.
Headache Rack vs Bulkhead
A headache rack is a metal frame behind the cab on a flatbed tractor to protect the cab from shifting cargo; a bulkhead is a front barrier inside or at the nose of a trailer or flatbed load that physically separates or restrains freight.
Pallet Exchange vs Driver Assist
A pallet exchange is a facility requirement to swap equal pallets at pickup or delivery; driver assist is a requirement for the driver to help with the physical loading or unloading of the freight itself.
Dispatcher vs Freight Broker
A dispatcher manages the daily logistics of moving a truck — finding loads, communicating pickup and delivery details, and handling driver issues; a freight broker is a federally licensed intermediary who arranges transportation between shippers and motor carriers.
Physical Damage vs General Liability
Physical damage insurance covers repair or replacement of the carrier's own truck or trailer when damaged in an accident, fire, or covered event; general liability covers business liability exposure outside of auto operations, such as property damage at a shipper location.
BOC-3 vs UCR
A BOC-3 is a one-time federal filing that designates a process agent in each state, required before operating authority is granted; UCR is an annual registration program that interstate carriers pay each year based on fleet size.
ETA vs ETD
ETA is the estimated time of arrival — when the truck is expected to reach the pickup or delivery location; ETD is the estimated time of departure — when the truck is expected to leave that location.
DEF vs DPF
DEF is diesel exhaust fluid, a chemical solution injected into the exhaust stream to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in trucks with SCR systems; DPF is the diesel particulate filter, a physical component in the exhaust that captures and periodically burns off soot particles.
Load Board vs TMS
A load board is a marketplace where brokers and shippers post available freight and carriers post available capacity; a TMS (transportation management system) is software that manages the operational and administrative tasks of running a freight business.
HOS vs ELD
HOS (hours of service) refers to the federal rules that limit how long a commercial driver can drive and work in a given period; an ELD (electronic logging device) is the hardware device installed in the truck that records and enforces HOS compliance automatically.
CDL vs CDL-A
A CDL (commercial driver's license) is the general license class required for many commercial vehicle operations; a CDL-A is the specific class required for tractor-trailer combinations and other vehicles with a GCWR over 26,001 lbs when the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 lbs.
Operating Authority vs MC Number
Operating authority is the FMCSA-granted permission to transport regulated freight for hire — it can be active, pending, or revoked; the MC number is the identifier assigned to that authority record, which remains the same even if authority status changes.
Freight Factoring vs Invoice Factoring
Freight factoring is the trucking-specific form of invoice factoring — a carrier sells freight invoices to a factoring company for early cash; invoice factoring is the broader financial practice of selling any type of receivables to a third party for immediate liquidity, not limited to transportation.
Motor Carrier vs Freight Broker
A motor carrier holds FMCSA motor carrier authority and hauls freight with its own trucks and drivers under direct responsibility for safety and delivery; a freight broker holds FMCSA broker authority and arranges transportation between shippers and carriers without operating the trucks.
Personal Conveyance vs Yard Move
Personal conveyance is an off-duty ELD status used when a driver moves the truck for personal use unrelated to work — such as driving to a nearby restaurant or rest area; a yard move is an on-duty ELD status used for short movements within a shipper or terminal yard that are work-related but not over-the-road driving.
Sleeper Berth vs Off Duty
Sleeper berth is a specific HOS log status used when a driver rests in the truck's sleeper compartment — it counts toward the 10-hour restart and can be split under certain conditions; off duty is a general non-working status that can be used in or out of the truck and does not require the driver to be in the sleeper.
Roadside Inspection vs Level 1 Inspection
A roadside inspection is the general category for any DOT inspection conducted on the road or at a facility; a Level 1 inspection is the most thorough type of roadside inspection, covering both the driver and the vehicle and carrying the greatest risk of out-of-service orders.
Same-Day Funding vs Fuel Advance
Same-day funding is when a factoring company processes an invoice and sends the advance payment on the same business day that approved paperwork is received; a fuel advance is money released before delivery — typically before a load even moves — to help cover fuel costs for the trip.
Driver Qualification File vs Medical Card
A driver qualification file is the complete set of records a motor carrier must maintain on each driver — employment history, driving record, road test certificate, annual review, and medical certificate; the medical card is specifically the DOT physical examination certificate inside that file, showing the driver passed a physical exam performed by a certified medical examiner.
MCS-150 vs MCS-90
The MCS-150 is the motor carrier identification report filed with FMCSA to register or update a carrier's basic information — fleet size, type of operation, and principal office; the MCS-90 is an insurance endorsement — a specific form that must be filed with FMCSA as part of a carrier's proof of financial responsibility under federal law.
RODS vs Supporting Documents
RODS — records of duty status — are the driver log records showing hours worked, driven, and rested in each duty status; supporting documents are the business records (fuel receipts, toll records, delivery paperwork, scale tickets) that carriers must retain and that enforcement officers use to verify RODS accuracy.
Split Sleeper vs Sleeper Berth
Sleeper berth is the log status a driver uses when resting in the truck's sleeper compartment — and is also the physical compartment itself; the split sleeper provision is a specific HOS rule that allows a driver to divide the required 10-hour rest into two qualifying periods, with at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and at least 2 consecutive hours off duty or in the sleeper berth, in any order.
Terminal Audit vs Roadside Inspection
A terminal audit is a review of a carrier's records, policies, and operations conducted at the carrier's place of business by FMCSA or state safety investigators — it examines driver files, maintenance records, and safety management practices over time; a roadside inspection is a compliance check of the driver and vehicle conducted on the road or at a weigh station during an active trip.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse vs Driver Qualification File
The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is FMCSA's federal database where employers must report certain drug and alcohol program violations and where carriers must query before hiring a CDL driver; a driver qualification file is the carrier-maintained set of required documents for each employed driver — employment history, driving record, road test, annual review, and medical certificate.
Reserve vs Chargeback
A reserve is the holdback portion of a factored invoice — typically 3 to 10 percent — that the factoring company retains until the invoice is paid and then releases to the carrier; a chargeback is a debit to the carrier's account that occurs when a factored invoice cannot be collected, is disputed, or meets other conditions defined in the factoring agreement.
Notice of Assignment vs UCC Filing
A notice of assignment is a written notification sent to the debtor — the broker or shipper — instructing them to pay the factoring company instead of the carrier; a UCC filing is a public financing statement filed with the state that establishes the factoring company's legal security interest in the carrier's accounts receivable.
Duty Status vs On-Duty Not Driving
Duty status is the broad category for how a commercial driver logs their time — the four recognized statuses are driving, on-duty not driving, off duty, and sleeper berth; on-duty not driving is a specific duty status logged for time when a driver is working and under carrier control but not behind the wheel — such as during pre-trip inspections, fueling, loading, or waiting at a dock.
Diesel Discount vs Fuel Surcharge Schedule
A diesel discount is a per-gallon reduction from the posted pump price offered through a fuel card, fleet agreement, or truck stop network — the driver pays less per gallon at the pump; a fuel surcharge schedule is a rate adjustment table used in freight contracts that adds or removes a per-mile charge on freight bills based on the current national or regional diesel price index.
Audit Trail vs RODS
An audit trail is an automated log of changes made to an ELD record — who made the change, when, what the original value was, and what the new value is; records of duty status are the actual driver log entries showing duty status, time, and location for each 24-hour period of a trip.
Broker Approval vs Credit Check
Broker approval is the factoring company's decision that a specific broker or shipper is eligible for invoice funding — the factor has reviewed the debtor and is willing to advance against invoices from that company; a credit check is the investigation process the factoring company conducts before granting that approval, reviewing payment history, credit data, and D&B or broker-specific sources.
Aging Report vs Schedule of Accounts
An aging report is a financial document showing outstanding invoices organized by how long they have been unpaid — typically in buckets of 30, 60, 90, and 90+ days; a schedule of accounts is a list of invoices submitted to a factoring company for purchase, typically submitted with each funding request.
Fuel Network vs Truck Stop Network
A fuel network is the set of locations where a specific fuel card is accepted and provides discounted pricing — defined by the card program and may include multiple truck stop chains; a truck stop network is a group of individual truck stop locations or brands that operate under shared ownership, loyalty programs, or purchasing agreements.
New Entrant Safety Audit vs Terminal Audit
A new entrant safety audit is a mandatory review conducted by FMCSA within the first 18 months of a new motor carrier's interstate operation, focused on verifying basic safety management practices; a terminal audit (also called a compliance review) is a more comprehensive FMCSA investigation of a carrier's records, programs, and safety management that can be triggered at any time by safety data, complaint, or enforcement priority.
Fuel Tax vs IFTA
Fuel tax is the general term for excise tax levied on motor fuel by each state or province — every jurisdiction sets its own fuel tax rate, and trucks consume fuel across multiple jurisdictions; IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) is the multi-state agreement and quarterly reporting system that allows interstate carriers to file a single return with their base jurisdiction rather than filing separately with every state they operate in.
Fuel Controls vs Fuel Card
A fuel card is a payment card or account used to purchase diesel and other fleet expenses at truck stops and fuel networks; fuel controls are the configurable restrictions applied to that card — limits on which products can be purchased, how many gallons per transaction, which locations are authorized, which driver IDs are valid, and what time windows allow purchases.
Debtor vs Verification Call
In freight factoring, the debtor is the broker, shipper, or other customer who owes payment on a factored invoice; a verification call is a specific step in the factoring process where the factoring company or carrier contacts the debtor to confirm that a load was delivered, the invoice amount is correct, and there are no disputes before advancing funds.
Blind Shipment vs Consignee
A consignee is the party named on the bill of lading to receive the freight at delivery; a blind shipment is a specific arrangement where the consignee's identity is intentionally hidden from the carrier on the shipping paperwork — typically because the shipper does not want the carrier to know who the end customer is, often to protect a business relationship or pricing arrangement.
Freight Class vs LTL
LTL (less than truckload) is a shipment type where cargo that does not fill a full trailer shares space with other shippers' freight; freight class is the rating category assigned to an LTL shipment based on its characteristics — density, stowability, handling difficulty, and liability — which determines the pricing rate per 100 pounds that the LTL carrier charges.
Fuel Surcharge vs Linehaul
Linehaul is the base rate paid to transport freight from pickup to delivery; the fuel surcharge is a separate per-mile charge that adjusts the total pay based on current diesel prices.
TL vs FTL
TL and FTL both describe a freight move where a single shipper's cargo fills or is priced for an entire trailer from one pickup to one delivery — the terms are interchangeable in practice.
Reefer Fuel vs DEF
Reefer fuel is diesel purchased to run a refrigerated trailer's separate refrigeration unit; DEF is diesel exhaust fluid used in a tractor's emissions system — both appear on fuel card statements but serve completely different systems.
Adverse Driving Conditions vs HOS
HOS is the federal hours-of-service framework governing how long a driver can drive and must rest; adverse driving conditions is a specific HOS exception that allows up to 2 additional driving hours when unexpected weather or road conditions are encountered en route.
Hazmat Endorsement vs CDL-A
A CDL-A is the license class authorizing operation of tractor-trailer combinations; a hazmat endorsement is a separate add-on credential that authorizes the CDL holder to transport qualifying hazardous materials — a driver needs both to haul hazmat on a tractor-trailer.
Landing Gear vs Fifth Wheel
Landing gear is the retractable trailer legs that hold the trailer up when it is not connected to a tractor; the fifth wheel is the coupling plate on the tractor that locks onto the trailer kingpin to form the tractor-trailer combination.
Appointment Freight vs Delivery Appointment
Appointment freight describes loads that require a pre-scheduled arrival window at pickup or delivery rather than an open-door policy; a delivery appointment is the specific scheduled time the receiver confirms for accepting a particular load.
Drayage vs Cross-Docking
Drayage is a short truck move connecting a port, rail ramp, or intermodal terminal to a nearby origin or destination; cross-docking moves freight from an inbound trailer directly to an outbound trailer with little or no warehouse storage time.
Billable Miles vs Loaded Miles
Billable miles are the miles used to calculate the carrier's pay, typically based on the broker's routing tool; loaded miles are the miles the truck actually drives with freight on board, which may differ from the billable figure.
Solo Driver vs Owner-Operator
A solo driver operates a truck alone — one driver per truck — describing the team staffing of the vehicle; an owner-operator drives a truck they own or lease and runs as an independent business, describing the business and ownership structure.
TONU vs Layover
TONU (truck ordered not used) is a charge billed when a truck is dispatched for a load but the load is canceled before or at pickup; layover is compensation for a driver held at a location overnight or for an extended period because the load cannot move as planned.
All-In Rate vs Fuel Surcharge
An all-in rate bundles linehaul and fuel costs into a single freight price; a fuel surcharge is the separate per-mile diesel price adjustment shown as its own line item on a rate confirmation.
Break-Even Rate vs CPM
CPM (cost per mile) is the per-mile operating cost of running the truck; the break-even rate is the minimum gross pay per mile a load must earn to cover all trip costs, including deadhead miles that CPM is also applied to.
BOL vs Load Tender
A load tender is a pre-pickup offer or assignment that gives the carrier the shipment details before the truck is dispatched; a BOL (bill of lading) is the freight document created at pickup that records what was actually loaded and travels with the freight to delivery.
Operating Ratio vs CPM
Operating ratio measures operating expenses as a percentage of revenue — it tells you what share of every dollar earned goes to costs; CPM (cost per mile) measures operating costs in dollars per mile — it tells you the per-mile cost in absolute terms regardless of what the load paid.
Spot Rate vs Contract Rate
A spot rate is a one-time price for a single load based on current market conditions — it is negotiated fresh every time; a contract rate is a pre-agreed price for a lane or volume commitment over a set period, offering rate stability in exchange for volume or exclusivity obligations.
Drop and Hook vs Live Load
Drop and hook is a loading method where the driver drops an empty trailer at the facility and picks up a pre-loaded trailer without waiting — the driver is in and out in minutes; live load is a pickup where the driver waits at the dock while the shipper loads the trailer, which may take one to several hours.
Lumper Fee vs Driver Assist
A lumper fee is a charge paid to a third-party unloading service hired by the receiver or shipper — the driver is not expected to help and the fee appears as an accessorial on the invoice; driver assist is a load requirement where the driver is expected to actively help with loading, unloading, or count checks as part of the dispatch agreement.
Intermodal vs Drayage
Intermodal describes any freight move that uses two or more transportation modes — typically rail and truck — with freight staying in the same container across modes; drayage is the short truck leg that connects a port, rail ramp, or intermodal terminal to the nearby origin or destination, and is one component of an intermodal shipment.
Fixed Cost vs Variable Cost
Fixed costs are operating expenses that stay due whether the truck runs many miles or sits idle — truck payment, insurance, and permits are examples; variable costs are expenses that change based on how much the truck operates — fuel, tires, and some maintenance costs rise with miles driven and fall when the truck is not running.
Dedicated Lane vs Contract Rate
A dedicated lane is a specific recurring origin-destination route assigned to a carrier on a planned basis — the lane itself; a contract rate is the agreed per-mile or flat price the carrier receives for freight on that lane — the pricing arrangement. A carrier can have a dedicated lane without a formal contract rate, and a contract rate can apply to several lanes without each being called dedicated.
Intermodal vs Transloading
Intermodal is a freight move that uses two or more transportation modes — typically rail and truck — with freight staying in the same container across modes; transloading is a warehouse operation where freight is physically moved from one mode or container type into another, such as from a 20-foot ocean container into a 53-foot domestic trailer, breaking the single-container chain that defines true intermodal.
Drop Trailer vs Drop and Hook
A drop trailer is any trailer left at a facility to be loaded or unloaded later — the driver leaves without the freight; drop and hook is a specific pickup operation where the driver drops an empty trailer and immediately hooks to a pre-loaded trailer — the driver never waits at the dock. All drop and hooks involve dropping a trailer, but not all drop trailers are drop-and-hook loads.
Practical Miles vs Loaded Miles
Practical miles are the miles calculated by a standard truck routing system — the mileage a broker uses to price and pay for a load; loaded miles are the miles the driver actually drives with freight on board, which may differ from the practical mile calculation depending on the route taken, detours, or actual GPS routing.
Rate Per Mile vs CPM
Rate per mile is a load's gross freight rate divided by the loaded miles — it tells you what the load pays per mile; CPM (cost per mile) is your total operating expenses divided by total miles — it tells you what the truck costs per mile. When the rate per mile exceeds the CPM, the load generates gross margin; when it falls below CPM, the load loses money even before accounting for deadhead.