From BOL to BMC-84. Short definitions written from the dispatcher's chair, not the textbook.
- BOL
- Bill of Lading. The document signed at pickup that names you as the carrier and lists what you're hauling. Without a signed BOL/POD, brokers won't pay.
- POD
- Proof of Delivery. The signed BOL after delivery. Send it with your invoice or your factor won't advance.
- Rate Confirmation
- The signed contract between you and the broker for a single load. Rate, pickup/delivery, accessorials, and broker contact info.
- Detention
- Money the broker pays you when a shipper or receiver holds you over a set "free time" (usually 2 hours). Typically $40–$75/hr after free time. Has to be in writing on the rate con or you won't collect.
- Lumper
- Third-party labor that loads or unloads your trailer (common at grocery DCs). The broker reimburses you, usually with a Comchek or Efs check sent to your phone.
- Drop-and-hook
- A load where you drop an empty trailer and pick up a pre-loaded one (or vice versa). Faster, less detention risk than live load/unload.
- Live load
- You wait at the dock while they load your trailer. Common in produce + LTL. Detention risk is high.
- Deadhead
- Empty miles between drop-off and your next pickup. Tracked because it's pure cost.
- MC#
- Motor Carrier number — your operating authority from FMCSA. Required to haul interstate freight for hire.
- DOT#
- USDOT number — your federal carrier ID. Goes on the side of the truck. Also required for intrastate operation in most states.
- IFTA
- International Fuel Tax Agreement. Quarterly fuel-tax filing across all jurisdictions you ran in. Required for any truck >26,000 lbs operating in 2+ states.
- IRP
- International Registration Plan. The "apportioned plates" system that lets your one license plate work in every state you run, with fees split by mileage.
- HOS
- Hours of Service. Federal driving-time limits. 11 hours driving / 14-hour workday / 70 hours per 8 days for property carriers.
- ELD
- Electronic Logging Device. Mandatory for almost every interstate truck. Replaces paper logs.
- DAT
- A major load board. Subscription-based. Most dispatchers run on DAT + Truckstops simultaneously.
- Truckstops.com
- The other major load board. Some lanes have better visibility on Truckstops than DAT, especially specialized.
- Factoring
- Selling your invoice to a third party for an immediate cash advance (usually 90–97 cents on the dollar) instead of waiting 30+ days for the broker to pay.
- NOA
- Notice of Assignment. The letter your factor sends a broker telling them to pay the factor instead of you. Required before the broker can legally pay anyone other than you.
- QuickPay
- Broker option to pay you faster (usually 1–2 days) for a 1.5–3% fee. Sometimes cheaper than factoring if you only need it occasionally.
- Carrier411
- A subscription service brokers use to vet carriers — payment history, insurance, inspection record. Brokers also check FreightGuard and SaferWatch.
- MCS-90
- Federal financial-responsibility endorsement attached to your liability insurance. Filed by your insurer with FMCSA. Required for operating authority.
- BOC-3
- A filing naming process agents in every state. Required for new MCs before authority becomes "Active."
- UCR
- Unified Carrier Registration. Annual fee due Dec 31. Based on fleet size.
- HVUT / Form 2290
- Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. $550/year for trucks 75,000+ lbs gross. Filed with the IRS. Required for plates renewal.
- Per Diem
- A flat daily expense allowance for meals when you're away from home — currently $80/day for transportation workers. Big tax deduction.
- Pre-pass / EZ-Pass / Bestpass
- Toll + weigh-station bypass services. Bestpass consolidates tolls across systems on one bill.
- DAT RateView
- Premium DAT subscription tier showing market rates per lane. Useful for negotiating against broker offers.
- Drayage
- Short-haul moves between port/rail terminals and a nearby warehouse. Pays per move, not per mile. Different rate logic.
- T-call
- A relay handoff at a terminal. Common in cross-border (Laredo) freight where one carrier brings a load to a yard and another takes it onward.
- CARB
- California Air Resources Board. CA-specific emissions regulation. Pre-2010 engines aren't allowed in California. Reefer trailers also have CARB compliance rules.
- Bond (BMC-84)
- The $75,000 broker bond. Required to operate as a freight broker (not a carrier). If a broker fails to pay you, you can claim against their bond.