Old road dogs whose rigs have traveled more miles than most airplanes know trucking terms, inside and out. But trucking industry lingo can be confusing for those just beginning a truck driving career.
Thankfully we’ve compiled a long list of words and phrases worth knowing. They may help add a little clarity to the trucking business in general, and a few of them are downright amusing.
Anti-lock brakes use short applications of pressure to prevent wheels from locking up during braking.
An authorized carrier is one that’s included on a list of pre-approved transportation providers for a particular shipper.
Suspensions that use air bags to provide a much smoother ride which may be necessary for sensitive freight like household goods and electronics.
A tractor without a trailer attached.
Citizens Band (CB) radios allow person-to-person communication over relatively short distances. CB radios have been popular with truckers since the early ‘70s.