Roadway

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HowToAdvice.com Trucking Terms Web Definitions & Links NMFC web site

Accessorial Charges (also called "Assessorial Charges")
Charges made for performing services beyond normal pickup and delivery such as inside delivery or storage charges.

Air Freight Forwarder
An air freight forwarder provides pickup and delivery service under its own tariff, consolidates shipments into larger units, prepares shipping documentation, and tenders shipments to the airlines. Air freight forwarders do not generally operate their own aircraft and may therefore be called "indirect air carriers." Because the air freight forwarder tenders the shipment, the airlines consider the forwarder to be the shipper.

Air Waybill
An air waybill is a shipping document used by the airlines. Similar to a bill of lading, the air waybill is a contract between the shipper and airline that states the terms and conditions of transportation. The air waybill also contains shipping instructions, a description of the commodity, and transportation charges.

Articles of Extraordinary Value
Carriers are not liable for "documents, coin money, or articles of extraordinary value" unless the items are specifically rated in published classifications or tariffs. Exceptions may be made by special agreement. If an agreement is made, the stipulated value of the articles must be endorsed on the bill of lading. Articles may include precious stones, jewels, and currency. Many tariffs include restrictions on commodities with values in excess of a specified amount.

Bill of Lading (B/L)
A bill of lading is a binding contract that serves three main purposes: (1) a receipt for the goods delivered to the carrier for shipment; (2) a definition or description of the goods; and (3) evidence of title to the relative goods, if "negotiable". Complete the BOL online.

Bill of Lading Exceptions
The terms and conditions of most bills of lading release carriers from liability for loss or damage arising from: (1) an Act of God, (2) the public enemy, (3) the authority of law, or (4) the act or default of the shipper. In addition, except in the case of negligence, a carrier will not be liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by: (1) the property being stopped and held in transit upon the request of the shipper, owner, or party entitled to make such request, (2) lack of capacity of a highway, bridge or ferry, (3) a defect or vice in the property, or (4) riots or strikes.

Bonded Carrier
A carrier licensed by U.S. Customs to carry Customs-controlled merchandise between Customs points. Roadway is a bonded carrier.

Break bulk
To separate parts of a load into individual shipments for routing to different destinations.

Breakbulk Terminal
Consolidation and distribution center. A facility in the Roadway system that unloads and consolidates shipments received from both its smaller terminals and from other breakbulks. This facility may have its own city operation. Example: Freight destined for Texas from several New England states will be consolidated at our Stroudsurgh, PA, breakbulk for forwarding to Texas.

Broker
A broker is an independent contractor paid to arrange motor carrier transportation. A broker may work on behalf of a carrier or shipper.

Carmack
An industry term regarding loss or damage of cargo. Carmack is governed by 49 U.S.C 14706, which states that a motor carrier must (1) issue the Bill of Lading and (2) pay the actual loss or injury to the property. However, carriers do limit their liability for release value commodities, and can limit their damages to $25.00 per pound or $100,000 per shipment.

Cartage Agent
A carrier who performs pickup or delivery in areas that Roadway does not service.

• Cartage agents use their own paper work while transporting the shipment.
• Roadway does not track the shipment while it is in the cartage agent's possession.
• When Roadway gives a shipment to a cartage agent for delivery, the shipment is considered to be "delivered" in Roadway's tracking tool.

Claim
Cargo Claim -A "Cargo Claim" is a demand made upon a transportation company for payment, due to freight loss or damage alleged to have occurred while shipment was in the possession of carrier. Pursuant to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) Uniform Bill of Lading, all cargo claims must be filed within 9 months.

Overcharge/Undercharge Claim-"Overcharge or Undercharge Claims" are demands upon a transportation company for the refund of an overcharge from the erroneous application of rates, weights, and assessment of freight charges.
Help with claims

COD
A shipment for which the carrier is responsible for collecting the sale price of the goods shipped prior to delivery.

Commodity
Any article of commerce. Goods shipped.

Common Carrier
Company that provides transportation services to the public in return for compensation.

Concealed Loss
Shortage or damage not evident at delivery. Help with concealed loss.
Help with concealed loss.

Consignee
The person or place where a shipment will be transferred for the last time (destination); the individual or organization to whom the freight is addressed.

Deck Trailers
Trailers with rows of tracking on each sidewall and deck load bars. The load bars fit into the tracks to form temporary "decks" on which freight can be loaded. Decks allow more freight to be loaded in the trailer, reduce damage, and speed loading and unloading.

Delivery Receipt
Document dated and signed by consignee or its agent at the time of delivery stating the condition of the goods at delivery. The signed delivery receipt is returned to the driver for retention at the terminal. The customer retains the remaining copy.

Dispatch
The act of sending a driver on his/her assigned route with instructions and required shipping papers. Contact is maintained with the driver throughout day via phone, pager, radio, satellite communication, or cellular phone.

Dock
A platform, generally the same height as the trailer floor, where trucks are loaded and unloaded.

Dolly (Jifflox)
Converter that provides an extra axle and fifth wheel and is used to connect multiple trailers.

Doubles
Vehicle configuration in which a tractor pulls two trailers connected by a dolly or jifflox.
See the trailer dimensions
See a photo

Drayage
Also known as connecting road haulage.

1. The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides (dray).
2. Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the stuffing place.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
The electronic transmission of routine business documents, such as purchase orders, invoices, and bills of lading, between computers in a standard format. The data formats, or transaction sets, are usually sent between mainframe computers. Learn more in the EDI Resource Center.

Exceptions
An exception is any delivery in which the receiver or driver notes a problem on the delivery receipt before signing it. Typically, exceptions concern shortages and damages.

Exclusive Use
Shipper pays a premium rate for the sole use of the trailer. The trailer will be sealed at loading and the seal number is recorded on the manifest. The seal number is verified before the trailer is unloaded at destination. When a shipper requests an exclusive use trailer, no other freight may be added to the unit even if space permits.

Exempt Commodity
Commodities that are exempt from federal regulation, such as agricultural and forestry products.

Free Along Side (F.A.S.)
A basis of pricing meaning the price of goods alongside a transport vessel at a specified location. The buyer is responsible for loading the goods onto the transport vessel and paying all the cost of shipping beyond that location.

Free On Board (F.O.B.)
An acronym for "free on board" when used in a sales contract. The seller agrees to deliver merchandise, free of all transportation expense, to the place specified by the contract. Once delivery is complete, the title to all the goods and the risk of damage become the buyer's.

F.O.B Origin
"F.O.B. Origin" means that title and risk pass to the buyer at the moment of the seller's delivery to the carrier. The parties may agree to have title and risk pass at a different time or to allocate freight charges by a written agreement.

F.O.B. Destination
"F.O.B. Destination" changes the location where title and risk pass. Under this arrangement, title and risk remain with the seller until they have delivered the freight to the delivery location specified in the contract.

Freight
Any commodity being transported.

Freight Bill
Shipping document prepared by Roadway to confirm delivery of the freight and indicate the terms of payment (prepaid or collect). Gives a description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid. If bill is prepaid, freight charges are paid by shipper. If bill is collect, freight charges are paid by the receiver of the goods.

Freight Broker
A "Freight Broker" is any person who sells transportation without actually providing it. The term usually refers to an agent for TL shipments, matching small shippers with carriers. Freight brokers often do not accept any responsibility for their shipments. (Also see Freight Forwarder and Shipper's Agent.)

Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder combines less-than-truckload (LTL) or less-than-carload (LCL) shipments into carload or truckload lots. Freight forwarders are designated as common carriers. They also issue bills of lading and accept responsibility for cargo. The term may also refer to the company that fills railroad trains with trailers. (Also see Freight Broker and Shipper's Agent.)

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