Quick answer
Plain-English definitions of the terms carriers hear most often from dispatchers and brokers, from BOL and POD to TONU, detention, and factoring.
Booking and agreements
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rate confirmation | The document that confirms the rate and terms for one load between carrier and broker. |
| Carrier packet | Documents a broker needs before booking you: authority, insurance certificate, W-9, and similar. |
| MC number | Motor carrier number identifying a company’s FMCSA operating authority for interstate for-hire transport. |
| USDOT number | Identifier assigned by the U.S. Department of Transportation to track a company’s safety information. |
| Spot load | A one-time load booked at the current market rate, as opposed to contracted freight. |
On the road
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deadhead | Miles driven with an empty trailer, usually to reach a pickup. |
| Backhaul | A load that brings the truck back toward home or its base after a delivery. |
| Drop-and-hook | Dropping a trailer and picking up a pre-loaded one instead of waiting for live loading. |
| Live load / live unload | The driver waits while the trailer is loaded or unloaded. |
| Check call | A status update to the broker during a load. |
Documents and pay
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BOL (bill of lading) | Shipping document describing the freight, signed at pickup and delivery. |
| POD (proof of delivery) | The signed delivery receipt, usually required before payment. |
| Detention | Pay for waiting beyond the free time allowed at a shipper or receiver. |
| TONU | Truck ordered, not used: a fee when a booked load is canceled after the truck was dispatched. |
| Lumper | A third-party worker paid to load or unload freight. The fee is usually reimbursed per the rate confirmation. |
| Factoring | Selling invoices to a factoring company for faster payment, minus a fee. |
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Check current requirements with FMCSA and your own advisers.