Knowing correct terminology will help ensure clear communication and minimise the risk of unnecessary costs. Here are some industry names you should know:
Freight
- Freight – generally refers to cargo that is palletised for shipment.
- Shipper – the origin location of a shipment. The shipper is not necessarily the freight owner.
- Consignee – the destination location of a shipment. The consignee is not necessarily the freight owner.
- Blocking and Bracing – the method used to secure freight inside a trailer or shipping container.
- Cube – refers to the amount of space inside a trailer or shipping container expressed in volume.
- Gross Weight – the total weight of a shipment of freight, including all packaging and pallets.
- Net Weight – the weight of a freight shipment without any packaging or pallets.
Pricing
- Linehaul – refers to the standard cost of moving freight from one location to another, usually city-to-city.
- Tariff – establishes the cost and contract of a freight shipment between the shipper and the carrier.
- Capacity – refers to a carrier’s ability to transport specific freight. Capacity is subject to freight seasons, fluctuations in fuel costs, and the availability of trucks and drivers.
Organisations
- Carrier – a commercial business used to transport various types of freight shipments to and from customers and suppliers. Just like Lee Transport.
- Dispatch – organises freight, driver and equipment movement from one place to another while keeping close communication with drivers.
- Broker – an intermediary between a freight shipper and a carrier who can transport their freight. Brokers are used to connect carriers and trucks to shipment that need transportation.
Truck & driver
- Driver – the individual behind the wheel of the truck & trailer. The “driver” is not necessarily the owner of the truck, or the motor carrier company who operates it.
- Owner-Operator – self-employed commercial truck driver or a small business owner that operates truck for the transporting of freight shipments.
- Sleeper Cab – a compartment attached to the cabin of a truck used for rest or sleeping.
- Van – a standard semi-trailer used to transport non-temperature sensitive freight. A basic van trailer is 16 metres long.
- Bulk & Bulk Trailer – a type of cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities and requiring of a trailer designed for such cargo.
- Shipping Container – a large standardised freight container designed for intermodal freight transport. Shipping containers are easily moved from ship to rail to truck without the need to unload the container.
- Lane – the route routinely served by the carrier.
- Backhaul – a route or shipment that returns a carrier to its primary area of operations. A backhaul shipment generally costs less to secure as it is the preferred shipment for most carriers.
- Drop & Hook – when a driver “drops” their trailer at a designated location and “hooks” to another trailer.
Want to know more? Please call our friendly staff at Lee Transport – Gympie on 07 4630 4599 and we’d be happy to answer all your questions and arrange a free quote.