Plain-English definitions for carrier, broker, lane, payment, accessorial, document, appointment, and load comparison terms. Use each term with the written load documents in front of you.
How to use the glossary
Definitions are useful only when they are tied back to the load file. If a term affects money, timing, equipment, accessorial approval, or billing, check the rate confirmation, broker messages, BOL, POD, receipts, and invoice instructions instead of relying on the term by itself.
Accessorial· An added charge for work or cost outside the basic linehaul move, such as detention, layover, lumper, or stop-off service.
Detention· Compensation requested when a truck is held at a shipper or receiver beyond the agreed free time.
Layover· Compensation requested when a truck is delayed into another day and cannot reasonably use the equipment for other freight.
Lumper· A third-party unloading service fee, often paid at a receiver and reimbursed if approved by the broker or shipper.
TONU· Truck ordered not used. A fee requested when a booked truck is canceled after the carrier has committed capacity.
Tarp pay· Compensation for tarping work on open-deck freight when required and approved.
Detention clock· The point when detention time begins under the written load terms.
Stop-off· An added pickup or delivery stop beyond the main origin and destination.
Driver assist· Driver labor beyond normal driving, such as helping load, unload, count, or move freight.
Accessorial approval· Written broker or shipper approval for an added charge before or during the load.
Redelivery· A second delivery attempt or revised delivery destination after the first attempt fails or changes.
Detention request· A carrier request for detention pay supported by written load terms, arrival and departure records, facility delay details, and billing documents.
Broker basics
Broker call· A booking or dispatch conversation used to confirm lane details, rate terms, appointment rules, accessorial approval, and payment requirements.
Compliance
MC number· An operating authority identifier used in FMCSA registration contexts for certain carrier, broker, and freight-forwarder records.
DOT number· A U.S. Department of Transportation identifier used for motor carrier registration and safety records.
New authority· A recently activated carrier authority that may face tighter broker credit, insurance, and load selection constraints.
Permit· A required authorization for certain oversize, overweight, or restricted moves.
Costs
Fuel discount· A per-gallon discount or network pricing benefit from a fuel card or carrier program.
Fuel card· A card or account used for diesel purchases, discounts, reporting, or cash advances.
Tolls· Road, bridge, or tunnel charges that can change trip cost and route decisions.
Documents
Rate confirmation· The written load agreement showing rate, lane, dates, charges, instructions, and payment terms.
Proof of delivery· Delivery paperwork showing the receiver accepted the freight, often needed for billing.
Bill of lading· A shipment document describing freight, parties, pickup, delivery, and receipt details.
Broker packet· A setup packet a broker may require before tendering freight, usually covering carrier identity, insurance, tax, payment, and billing details.
Carrier packet· A broker or shipper onboarding packet for a carrier, used to collect operating, insurance, payment, and document information before loads are booked.
Documentation trail· The organized record of confirmations, approvals, receipts, timestamps, BOL, POD, invoice, and messages that supports billing or accessorial follow-up.
Layover clause· Rate confirmation language describing when layover may apply and how approval is handled.
Detention clause· Rate confirmation language describing free time, documentation, approval, and detention pay.
Equipment
Dry van· An enclosed trailer for non-temperature-controlled freight where weight, appointments, drop/live handling, and driver-assist terms matter.
Flatbed· Open-deck equipment used for freight that may need tarps, securement, oversize checks, or crane/forklift loading.
Reefer· A refrigerated trailer for temperature-controlled freight where temperature, run instructions, washout, fuel, seals, and timing need written confirmation.
Truckload· A shipment using most or all of a trailer, commonly rated as a full-load move.
Partial· Freight that does not use a full trailer and may move with other compatible freight.
Power only· A move where the carrier supplies tractor power but pulls another party's trailer.
Lane economics
Backhaul· A return or repositioning lane that may have different demand than the outbound headhaul lane.
Deadhead· Unpaid empty miles driven to pick up a load, return home, or reposition to another market.
Headhaul· A lane direction with stronger freight demand relative to the opposite direction.
Lane· A freight origin-to-destination market, such as Dallas to Chicago or Atlanta to Miami.
Loaded miles· Miles driven while hauling the paying load from pickup to delivery.
Total miles· Loaded miles plus deadhead and other practical repositioning miles tied to the trip.
Load boards
Load board· A marketplace or posting tool where brokers, shippers, and carriers find available truckload freight.
Load selection
Freight booking· The process of reviewing and accepting a load after checking broker identity, equipment fit, appointment timing, total miles, and paperwork.
Load comparison· A side-by-side review of freight offers using revenue, total miles, time, trip costs, broker terms, accessorial risk, and reload position.
Operations
Appointment window· The pickup or delivery time range assigned for a facility.
Dwell time· Time spent waiting at a facility for loading, unloading, paperwork, or release.
Rescheduled delivery· A delivery appointment changed after dispatch, which may affect detention, layover, or redelivery.
Appointment change· A revised pickup or delivery time that can affect hours, detention, layover, parking, reload timing, and whether a revised confirmation should be requested.
Check call· A status update during a load, commonly used to confirm pickup, in-transit progress, delivery timing, delay issues, and paperwork status.
Delivery window· The time range a receiver provides for delivery, which can affect routing, parking, detention risk, driver hours, and the chance of a same-day reload.
Parties
Broker· A company or person arranging freight between shippers and authorized carriers.
Carrier· The trucking company or owner-operator responsible for hauling freight under its authority or leased arrangement.
Dispatcher· A person coordinating load search, booking support, scheduling, and communication for a carrier.
Owner-operator· A driver or small business operating a truck, either under its own authority or leased to a carrier.
Shipper· The party shipping the freight, often the pickup location or freight owner.
Receiver· The delivery location or party receiving freight, often controlling appointment rules, check-in process, unloading method, POD signing, and delay records.
Payment
Quick pay· A broker payment option that pays faster than standard terms, usually with a fee or discount.
Factoring· Selling invoices to a factoring company for faster cash, usually with fees and approval rules.
Broker credit· A carrier's review of a broker's payment reliability before accepting a load.
Invoice· The billing document a carrier or factoring company sends to request payment for the load.
Settlement· The payment statement showing load revenue, deductions, fees, advances, and final pay.
Rates
All-in rate· The total agreed freight price for a load, usually including linehaul and any included fuel or known charges.
Contract rate· A rate agreed under a longer-term shipper or broker arrangement, separate from one-off spot market pricing.
Fuel surcharge· A fuel-related charge or formula sometimes used to account for diesel price movement.
Gross revenue· The money paid for the load before trip costs, fuel, tolls, factoring fees, and other expenses.
Linehaul· The base freight charge for moving the load, separate from accessorials unless the rate is all-in.
Net profit· Estimated load revenue after subtracting trip costs. It is an estimate unless all costs are known.
Rate per mile· Revenue divided by miles. Carriers often compare loaded-mile and total-mile rate.
Spot market· One-off freight bought and sold for near-term movement rather than under a long contract.
Risk
Cargo claim· A claim related to freight loss, shortage, damage, or rejected product.
Rejected load· Freight refused by a receiver, often requiring written instructions and careful documentation.