Shipping Glossary
Freight terms in plain words
Logistics comes with a lot of shorthand. Here is what the most common terms mean, so you can plan shipments with confidence.
- FTLFull Truckload
- One shipper's freight fills an entire trailer, or is large enough that the trailer is dedicated to it. It travels directly from pickup to delivery with no stops to move other customers' goods, which means fewer touches and faster transit.
- LTLLess Than Truckload
- Smaller shipments that do not need a whole trailer share space with freight from other shippers. You pay only for the space you use, though the load may stop at terminals along the way.
- Hot-shotExpedited, time-critical delivery
- A fast, dedicated run for urgent freight, often on a smaller truck that can leave right away. It is what we use when a facility needs supplies quickly, such as emergency or disaster relief shipments.
- Cold-chainTemperature-controlled shipping
- Moving products that must stay within a set temperature range, such as medications or vaccines, using refrigerated equipment and monitoring from pickup to delivery.
- IntermodalMore than one mode of transport
- A shipment that moves in the same container or trailer by truck, rail or other modes, without the freight itself being handled when it changes mode.
- 3PLThird-Party Logistics
- A company that manages freight, warehousing and delivery on your behalf so your team can focus on its core mission.
- BOLBill of Lading
- The shipping document that lists what is being moved, where it is going and who is responsible for it. It acts as a receipt and a contract for the carrier.
- PODProof of Delivery
- A signed or electronic record confirming that freight arrived and who received it.
- CarrierThe company that moves the freight
- The trucking company that provides the driver and equipment. We vet every carrier in our network before offering loads.
- AccessorialExtra service charge
- A fee for something beyond standard pickup and delivery, such as a liftgate, inside delivery or waiting time at a dock.
- Dwell timeTime a truck waits
- How long a truck sits at a dock waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Long dwell times can delay the next delivery.
- DispatchCoordinating the truck and driver
- The team that assigns loads to drivers, tracks them on the road and keeps partners updated on progress.
Still not sure which service fits?
Book a briefing and our team will walk you through the right option for your freight.