What does OTR mean in trucking?

OTR stands for Over-the-Road, referring to long-haul trucking that crosses state lines. OTR drivers typically travel 500-2,500+ miles per trip and may be away from home for 2-4 weeks at a time before getting home time.

What is deadheading in trucking?

Deadheading means driving without a load, either pulling an empty trailer or bobtailing (driving without a trailer at all). Deadhead miles cost money in fuel and wear without generating revenue. Minimizing deadhead is critical for profitability, especially for owner-operators.

What is the difference between a broker and a carrier?

A carrier owns or leases trucks and physically transports freight. A broker is a middleman who connects shippers with carriers but does not own trucks or haul loads. Brokers typically take 10-20% of the load rate as their fee. Both must have MC numbers from FMCSA, and brokers must maintain a surety bond.

What does drop and hook mean?

Drop and hook means dropping off a loaded or empty trailer at a facility and immediately picking up (hooking to) another trailer. This is faster than live loading/unloading, which can take 2-6+ hours. Most experienced drivers prefer drop-and-hook freight.

What is a lumper fee?

A lumper is a third-party worker who loads or unloads freight at a warehouse. The lumper fee ($100-$400) is the cost for this service. Some warehouses require the use of lumpers. The fee is typically paid by the carrier and then reimbursed by the broker or shipper via Comcheck or direct reimbursement.

Trucking Terms Glossary

88+ industry terms explained in plain English. From BOL to deadhead to HOS, everything you need to speak the language of trucking.

1

18-Wheeler: A tractor-trailer combination with 18 wheels total (10 on the tractor, 8 on the trailer). The most common configuration for over-the-road freight.

A

APU: Auxiliary Power Unit. A small engine or battery system that powers cab climate control and electronics while the main engine is off, reducing idling.
Authority: Operating authority (MC number) granted by FMCSA that allows a carrier to haul freight for hire in interstate commerce.

B

Backhaul: A load picked up for the return trip after delivering the original load. Reduces deadhead miles and increases profitability.
Bill of Lading (BOL): Legal document between shipper and carrier detailing the type, quantity, and destination of freight. Serves as a receipt and contract.
Blind Side: The right side of the truck where visibility is most limited. Blind-side backing is considered one of the most challenging driving maneuvers.
Bobtail: Driving a tractor without a trailer attached. Bobtailing requires caution as the truck handles differently without trailer weight on the rear axle.
Broker: A middleman who connects shippers with carriers for a fee (typically 10-20% of the load rate). Brokers do not own trucks or haul freight.
Bumping the Dock: Backing a trailer into a loading dock for freight loading or unloading. A fundamental skill tested during CDL road tests.

C

Cabover: A truck design where the cab sits over the engine rather than behind it. Common in Europe, less common in North America.
CAT Scale: Certified truck scales located at many truck stops. Used to verify axle weights and ensure compliance with weight limits.
CDL: Commercial Driver's License. Required to operate commercial motor vehicles over 26,001 lbs (Class A for tractor-trailers, Class B for straight trucks).
CMV: Commercial Motor Vehicle. Any vehicle used in commerce that weighs 26,001+ lbs, carries 16+ passengers, or transports hazardous materials.
Comcheck: A payment system used at truck stops for fuel, maintenance, and services. Carrier issues Comcheck codes to drivers for approved expenses.
Compliance Review: An FMCSA audit of a carrier's safety records, driver files, maintenance, and hours of service compliance. Can be triggered by accidents or complaints.
Consignee: The receiver of freight. The party that the goods are being delivered to, as named on the bill of lading.
CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine used to treat sleep apnea. Required for drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea to maintain DOT medical certification.
CPM: Cents Per Mile. The standard unit for measuring driver pay and operating costs in trucking. Company drivers typically earn $0.45-$0.70 CPM.
CSA Score: Compliance, Safety, Accountability score. FMCSA rating system tracking carrier safety across 7 categories (BASICs). High scores trigger interventions.

D

DAC Report: Drive-a-Check report. Employment history report that carriers use to verify a driver's work history, accidents, and reason for leaving previous companies.
Deadhead: Driving without a load (empty trailer or bobtailing). Deadhead miles cost money without generating revenue. A key metric for owner-operators.
Dedicated Route: A fixed route between specific locations on a regular schedule. Provides predictable home time and consistent miles.
Detention Pay: Additional compensation for time spent waiting at shippers/receivers beyond the free time allowance (usually 2 hours). Typically $25-75/hour.
DOT Number: A unique identifier assigned by the U.S. Department of Transportation to commercial carriers for identification and tracking purposes.
Double Brokering: When a broker re-brokers a load to another broker without the shipper's knowledge. Generally considered unethical and can be fraudulent.
Drayage: Short-distance hauling, typically moving containers between ports, rail yards, and local warehouses. Common in port cities.
Drop and Hook: Dropping off a loaded/empty trailer and immediately hooking up to another trailer. Faster than live loading/unloading. Preferred by most drivers.
Dry Van: An enclosed, non-temperature-controlled trailer. The most common trailer type, used for general freight, palletized goods, and packaged products.

E

ELD: Electronic Logging Device. Federally mandated device that automatically records driving hours and replaces paper logbooks. Required since December 2019.
ELDT: Entry-Level Driver Training. Mandatory training at a registered provider required for all new CDL applicants since February 2022.
Endorsement: Additional authorization on a CDL for specific vehicle types or cargo: HazMat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T), Passenger (P), School Bus (S).

F

Factoring: Selling freight invoices to a factoring company at a discount for immediate cash. Common among owner-operators who cannot wait 30-90 days for payment.
Fifth Wheel: The coupling device on the tractor that connects to the trailer's kingpin. Critical for safe trailer attachment.
Flatbed: An open trailer without sides or roof, used for oversized loads, construction materials, machinery, and lumber. Requires tarping and securement skills.
FMCSA: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The federal agency that regulates the trucking industry, issues operating authority, and enforces safety rules.
Freight Broker: See Broker. A licensed intermediary (must hold MC authority + broker bond) that arranges transportation between shippers and carriers.
Fuel Surcharge: An additional charge added to freight rates to offset fuel price fluctuations. Typically calculated based on DOE weekly diesel price index.

G

GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The maximum total weight of a loaded vehicle including the truck, trailer, cargo, passengers, and fuel.

H

Hazmat: Hazardous materials requiring special endorsement, placarding, and handling. Includes explosives, gases, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, and corrosives.
HOS: Hours of Service. Federal rules limiting driving time: 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty window, 30-minute break after 8 hours, 70-hour/8-day limit.
Hot Shot: Non-CDL or light-duty trucking using a pickup truck and gooseneck trailer (under 26,000 lbs GVWR). Common for time-sensitive, smaller loads.

I

IFTA: International Fuel Tax Agreement. Quarterly fuel tax filing that distributes fuel taxes across states based on miles driven in each state.
Intermodal: Freight that uses multiple transportation modes (rail + truck). Intermodal containers are loaded onto trains for long hauls and trucked for first/last mile.
IRP: International Registration Plan. Apportioned registration allowing trucks to operate across multiple states/provinces with a single registration plate.

J

Jackknife: When a tractor-trailer folds at the pivot point (fifth wheel), forming a V-shape. Usually caused by braking on slippery surfaces.

K

Kingpin: The coupling pin on the front of a trailer that locks into the tractor's fifth wheel to connect the two units.

L

Landstar: One of the largest owner-operator carriers. Business model centers on independent contractors rather than company drivers.
Layover Pay: Compensation for mandatory time off between loads, typically $100-200/day. Not all carriers offer layover pay.
Lease-Purchase: A carrier-offered program where a driver leases a truck with the option to buy. Can be beneficial or a financial trap depending on terms.
Live Load/Unload: The driver waits while the trailer is loaded or unloaded, as opposed to drop-and-hook. Can take 2-6+ hours.
Load Board: An online marketplace where brokers and shippers post available loads and carriers search for freight. Examples: DAT, Truckstop.com, Amazon Relay.
Logbook: Record of a driver's hours of service. Now electronic (ELD) by federal mandate. Shows driving, on-duty, sleeper berth, and off-duty time.
LTL: Less-Than-Truckload. Freight shipments that do not fill an entire trailer, consolidated with other shipments. FedEx Freight, XPO, and Old Dominion are major LTL carriers.
Lumper: A third-party laborer who loads or unloads freight at warehouses. Lumper fees ($100-400) are typically paid by the carrier or reimbursed by the broker.

M

MC Number: Motor Carrier number assigned by FMCSA. Required for carriers operating in interstate commerce for hire.
MVR: Motor Vehicle Record. A driver's state driving history including violations, accidents, and license status. Carriers pull MVRs annually.

N

No-Touch Freight: Loads where the driver does not physically handle the cargo. Loading and unloading is handled by shipper/receiver staff or lumpers.

O

OTR: Over-the-Road. Long-haul trucking crossing state lines, typically 500-2,500+ miles per trip. Drivers are usually out 2-4 weeks at a time.
Owner-Operator: A driver who owns or leases their truck and operates as an independent business. Higher earning potential but also bears all operating costs.

P

Per Diem: Daily allowance for meals and incidental expenses when away from home overnight. $69/day (2026) for transportation workers. Non-taxable when employer-paid.
Placard: Diamond-shaped hazmat sign displayed on trailers indicating the class of hazardous material being transported. Required by DOT regulations.
Power Only: Providing a tractor to pull a shipper's or broker's trailer, without owning or leasing the trailer yourself.
Pre-Trip Inspection: Required vehicle inspection before driving. Checks tires, brakes, lights, fluids, coupling, and safety equipment. Part of CDL test and daily legal requirement.
PSI: Pre-employment Screening Program. FMCSA program letting carriers check a driver's safety inspection history and crash data.
Pup Trailer: A short trailer (typically 28 feet) used in LTL operations. Two pups can be pulled together as doubles.

R

Reefer: A refrigerated trailer with a built-in cooling unit. Used for temperature-sensitive freight: produce, frozen food, pharmaceuticals.
Regional: Trucking that covers a multi-state area but not the full country. Typically home weekly. Example: Southeast regional, Midwest regional.
Relay: A driving arrangement where one driver takes a load partway and hands it off to another driver to complete the delivery.
Rest Area: State-operated roadside facility with restrooms and parking. Truck parking availability and overnight rules vary by state.

S

Scale House: A weigh station where trucks are inspected for weight compliance, equipment condition, and driver documentation.
Shipper: The party sending freight. The company or person that originates the load and pays for transportation.
Sleeper Berth: The sleeping compartment behind the cab. Must meet minimum size requirements. Sleeper berth provisions allow split 7/3 or 8/2 HOS breaks.
Slip Seat: A carrier practice where multiple drivers share the same truck in shifts. The driver does not have a permanently assigned truck.
SmartWay: An EPA program recognizing carriers and shippers that improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Spotter/Yard Jockey: A driver who moves trailers within a yard or terminal. Does not drive on public roads. Often non-CDL.
Straight Truck: A single-unit truck where the cab and cargo area are on the same chassis. Common for local deliveries. CDL-B or non-CDL depending on weight.

T

Tandem: A set of two axles close together. Sliding tandems adjusts weight distribution between the tractor's drive axles and trailer axles.
Tanker: A trailer designed to haul liquids (fuel, chemicals, milk, water). Requires Tanker (N) endorsement due to liquid surge handling characteristics.
Tarp: A cover used to protect flatbed loads from weather. Tarping is physically demanding and a required skill for flatbed drivers.
Team Driving: Two drivers sharing one truck, alternating driving and sleeping. Enables faster delivery times. Common for expedited and time-sensitive freight.
Toll Roads: Highways that charge a fee for use. PrePass and Bestpass are common transponder systems for commercial vehicles.
Trailer Interchange: When a driver drops a trailer at a designated location for another driver/carrier to pick up. Common in intermodal operations.
Trip Lease: A temporary agreement allowing an owner-operator to haul a single load under another carrier's authority.

U

UCR: Unified Carrier Registration. Annual registration required for carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders operating in interstate commerce.
USDOT: United States Department of Transportation. The federal department overseeing all transportation modes including trucking (via FMCSA).

V

Van (Trailer): See Dry Van. An enclosed box trailer, the most common trailer type for general freight.

W

Weight Station: See Scale House. Government-operated facility for checking truck weights and conducting safety inspections.
Wide Load: A load that exceeds the standard 8'6" trailer width. Requires oversize permits, escorts, and restricted travel times depending on the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does OTR mean in trucking?: OTR stands for Over-the-Road, referring to long-haul trucking that crosses state lines. OTR drivers typically travel 500-2,500+ miles per trip and may be away from home for 2-4 weeks at a time before getting home time.
What is deadheading in trucking?: Deadheading means driving without a load, either pulling an empty trailer or bobtailing (driving without a trailer at all). Deadhead miles cost money in fuel and wear without generating revenue. Minimizing deadhead is critical for profitability, especially for owner-operators.
What is the difference between a broker and a carrier?: A carrier owns or leases trucks and physically transports freight. A broker is a middleman who connects shippers with carriers but does not own trucks or haul loads. Brokers typically take 10-20% of the load rate as their fee. Both must have MC numbers from FMCSA, and brokers must maintain a surety bond.
What does drop and hook mean?: Drop and hook means dropping off a loaded or empty trailer at a facility and immediately picking up (hooking to) another trailer. This is faster than live loading/unloading, which can take 2-6+ hours. Most experienced drivers prefer drop-and-hook freight.
What is a lumper fee?: A lumper is a third-party worker who loads or unloads freight at a warehouse. The lumper fee ($100-$400) is the cost for this service. Some warehouses require the use of lumpers. The fee is typically paid by the carrier and then reimbursed by the broker or shipper via Comcheck or direct reimbursement.

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