LTL Trucking Terms

Link: http://www.ltlfreightcarriers.com

Less-than-truckload (LTL) trucking has its own jargon and terminology that you should learn in order to work in or with the industry. Whether you are an owner, driver, dispatcher or customer, learning the terms and phrases will help you better make your way in the field. LTL trucking key terms can include LTL documentation, people in the process, regulations, locations and more. Whatever the word, make sure that you understand it in context for your next conversation with the businesses that you are working with.

POD

The proof of delivery is when the driver gets his bills sign by the shipper or consignee. The driver needs this to gett paid by his company and for the customer to track his/her inventory.

Bill of lading

The bill of lading is the document that the carrier issues to a shipper that says that the particular goods have been received as cargo for transit to the specified destination. Through bills of lading are used when there are at least two different modes of transportation; for example, rail, air, road or water.

Invoice or Bill

The invoice is the commercial documentation from the seller to the buyer that notes the product and the quantity, as well as the agreed upon price for the products or services. The invoice also indicates the payment terms.

Consignee

The consignee in an LTL relationship is the person that the shipment is being delivered to.

Hours of service regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed 'hours of service regulations,' which limit the working hours of anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle. This is done to protect the drivers and passengers, as well as other motorists on the road.

Linehaul

A linehaul is when you move cargo between two major cities or areas, usually more than 1,000 miles apart. LTL drivers collect freight from various shippers as they drive from city to city and consolidate that freight onto enclosed trailers for linehaul to the next delivering terminal or to a hub terminal where the cargo is sorted and usually passed along for the next leg of its journey.

Terminal

The terminal is the place where cargo is delivered and sorted out for the next leg of the linehaul.