Most Common LTL Freight Terms and Abbreviations
Entering a new industry that has it's own lingo can be daunting! Regardless of if you are a seasoned employee or a new addition into the logistics industry, we think that everyone could benefit from a refresher on the most common LTL Terms!
Accessorials: Additional services that enhance your shipping process; may be required or optional.
BOL or Bill of Lading: Document establishing a contract between customer and carrier. Utilize Roadrunner Freight's Online BOL Tool when shipping with us by clicking here!
Cargo Claim: Claim for goods allegedly lost or damaged while shipment was in the carrier's possession. Roadrunner Freight offers an online claim tool that helps make submission easy!
Commodity: Any kind of goods that are shipped.
Concealed Loss: Damages you are unable to see until the packaging is opened.
Consignee: Recipient of freight being shipped.
Consignor: Sender of shipment.
Density Calculator: Tool used to determine density of a shipment and used in calculating a shipment's freight class. Access Roadrunner Freight's Density Calculator here!
Dispatch: The action of sending a driver on his route.
Dock: Platform that is used to unload and load a trailer; typically same height as trailer.
EDI or Electric Data Interchange: Electronic transmission of business documents between computers. Learn more about Roadrunner Freight's system integration here!
Freight: Any boxed, palletized or crated product being transported.
Freight Class: Number ranging from 50 and 500 that classifies the commodities inside a shipment.
HazMat or Hazardous Material: Material that is considered to pose a health risk to human, machine or environmental safety when transported.
KD or Knock Down: Shipments that can be broken down and taken apart to save additional space.
Lane: Route that is commonly serviced by Roadrunner Freight.
Lift Gate: Hydraulic or electronic gate installed onto the back of a truck to assist in lifting heavy pallets.
LTL or Less than Truckload: Goods weighing less than 10,000 lbs. from several different shippers, all combined into one trailer.
Linehaul: Movements of goods between cities, terminals, etc. Does not include pickup and delivery service.
NMFC or National Motor Freight Classification: Industry standard tariffs published by NMFTA containing rules and regulations for how products should be packaged and moved properly.
NMFTA or National Motor Freight Traffic Association: Nonprofit membership organization that supports motor carrier industry and provides industry-wide updates.
NOI or Not Otherwise Indicated: Used when referencing classes and commodities through NMFTA.
Origin Consolidation: Roadrunner Freight's unique business model model that lowers costs by organizing shipments going to the same destination in one trailer, instead of making multiple stops along a route.
PRO or Progressive Rotating Order: Typically a 10 digit number associated with each shipment and can be used for tracking purposes. Track your Roadrunner Freight PRO here!
POD or Proof of Delivery: Document that is obtained at time of delivery; consignee must sign receipt of delivery.
SD or Set Up: Products or shipments that must be standing upright during transport.
Tariff: Document stating rules regarding specific commodities, shipments or lanes; can be used as a contract between consignee and shipper.
Terminal: A Roadrunner Freight building where shipments are prepared for transportation. Find your nearest terminal here.
TL or Truckload: A full trailer of shipment from one customer.
We hope that this list of most common terms will aid you in learning the logistics lingo quicker! If there are other types of how-to's or informational content you'd like to see from us, don't hesitate to comment below and suggest it!
