Air Ride Suspension
Suspension which supports the load on air-filled rubber bags rather than steel springs. Compressed air is supplied by the same engine-driven air compressor and reservoir tanks which provide air to the air brake system.

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.

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 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. or Canadian Customs to carry Customs-controlled merchandise.

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

B-Train
Consists of two open trailers. Usually a 28' flat-deck trailer and a 32' flat-deck trailer. Both trailers will be attached by a fifth wheel. Maximum cargo weight is 88,000 lbs.

Cargo Van
Usually used to expedite shipments. Can handle a maximum of two 4' x 4' x 4' pallets with a total weight of 2000 lbs.

Cartage Agent
A carrier who performs pickup or delivery on behalf of Road Shark Transportation.

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. Claims must be filed within 7 days.

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.

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.

Container (Shipping Container)
Standard-sized rectangular box used to transport freight by ship, rail and highway. International shipping containers are 20 or 40 feet long, conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) standards and are designed to fit in ships' holds. Containers are transported on public roads atop a container chassis towed by a tractor. Domestic containers, up to 53 feet long and of lighter construction, are designed for rail and highway use only.

Customs Broker
A customs broker is a licensed specialist in customs laws and regulations on import & exports. Businesses hire customs brokers to save time & money because of the many complexities that face importers and exporters.

Container Chassis
Single-purpose semi trailer designed to carry a shipping container.

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.

Dry Van Trailer
Most commonly used trailer. Standard inside trailer dimensions are 53' long by 8' 2" wide. There are also 48' long trailers and also 8' 5" wide trailers.

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.

Flat-Bed Trailer
Open trailer, has no sides or roof. Dimensions are 53' L and 48' L, 8' 6" W. Mostly used to haul steel or lumber. Maximum cargo weight is 44,500 lbs.

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
An invoice prepared by Road Shark Transportation Inc. Gives a description of the freight, its weight, amount of charges, taxes, and whether the bill is collect or prepaid. If the bill is prepaid, freight charges are are paid by shipper. If bill is collect, freight charges are paid by the receiver of the goods. The billing party must have an account that has been approved by Road Shark Transportation Inc., otherwise this shipment becomes a c.o.d shipment.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The combined weight of the vehicle (tractor and trailers) and its cargo.

Hazardous Material
Hazardous materials are defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Ministry Of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law. A substance or material may be designated as hazardous if the transportation of the material in a particular amount and form poses an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property.
Hazardous material may include: an explosive, radioactive material, etiologic agent, flammable or combustible liquid or solid, poison, oxidizing or corrosive material and compressed gas. For more general information, go to the U.S. DOT web site at http://hazmat.dot.gov.

In Bond
Shipments move under bond from point of entry to an interior U.S. or Canadian destination for clearance or to another border location for clearance.

Intermodal (also called Multimodal)
Shipment moves by more than one mode of transportation (ground, air, rail, ocean).

JIT (Just-In-Time)
Manufacturing system which depends on frequent, small deliveries of parts and supplies to keep on-site inventory to a minimum.

Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)-
Freight, typically less than 10,000 pounds, from several shippers loaded onto one trailer. Road Shark specializes in Less-Than-Truckload shipments.

Lift gate (also called Tailgate)

Logbook
Book carried by truck drivers in which they record their hours of service and duty status for each 24-hour period. Required in interstate commercial trucking by the U.S Department of Transportation and the Ministry of Transportation.

Lowboy
Open flat-bed trailer with a deck height very low to the ground, used to haul construction equipment or bulky or heavy loads.

Minimum Charge
The lowest charge for which a shipment will be handled after discount and/or adjustment.

Multimodal Transportation (also called Intermodal)
Freight movement involving more than one mode of transportation (ground, air, rail, ocean).

NAFTA
It is a trade agreement among U.S, Canada & Mexico. It is designed to encourage trade among the three countries by eliminating trade barriers & duties.

Order Notify (also called Negotiable Bill of lading)
A shipment requiring the consignee to surrender the original endorsed bill of lading at the time of delivery. This is a method for the shipper to use to guarantee payment for goods shipped. More commonly used with truckload shipments.

Overage
Number of units received is in excess of the quantity shown on shipping documents. Overages should not be delivered to a customer. They’re returned to the terminal unless more info is received while the driver is out.

Overcharge Claims
The payer of the freight charges files an overcharge claim to dispute a discrepancy in charges that can stem from overpayment, weight or description corrections, etc.

Payment Terms
Generally, the shipper is responsible for payment of prepaid shipments and the consignee is responsible on collect shipments unless a third party is indicated as payer on the shipping papers.

PRO
An acronym for “progressive rotating order”; it is a five-digit number assigned to each shipment and serves as a tracking number and a Road Shark Transportation invoice number.

PARS
Pre-Arrival Review System is a system developed by Canada Customs that allows for release information to be processed before goods arrive at the border. It expedites clearances and reduces traffic congestion at the port of entry.

PAPS
Pre-Arrival Processing Systems is a U.S Customs & Border Protection (CBP) system designed to provide CBP with advance information on goods entering the U.S. It expedites clearances and reduces traffic congestion at the port of entry.

Reefer
Refrigerated trailer with insulated walls and a self-powered refrigeration unit. Most commonly used for transporting food and chemicals.

Roll-tite trailer
Trailers that have retractable, accordion style tarps. Roll-tite trailers allow you to load, unload from the sides, rear or with an overhead crane. Length is 48' or 53', width is 8' 6". Maximum cargo weight is 44,000 lbs.

Shipper Load and Count
the process by which the shipper places goods into the trailer without the driver present. With shipper Load and Count there is no opportunity for joint check of the goods by shipper/ driver. The shipper is responsible for the proper load count.

Shipping Documents
Papers accompanying a shipment, including bills of lading, packing slips and
customs paperwork.

Step-deck Trailer
Open trailer, has no sides or roof. Trailer with two levels. Top platform is 12' L, then there is a step connecting to a lower platform which is 36' L. The width is 8' 6". This trailer can handle over-dimensional freight, height can be a maximum of 120". Maximum cargo weight is 44,500 lbs.

24' Straight truck
Vehicle which carries cargo in a body mounted to its chassis, rather than on a trailer towed by the vehicle.

Team (Driver Team)
Team of two drivers who alternate driving and resting.

Third Party
Someone other than the principals who are involved in a transaction.

Truckload (TL)
Large-volume shipment from a single customer that takes up the entire trailer space so no other shipment can be loaded.

UN Number
An internationally accepted 4-digit number used to identify hazardous material.

US Customs Power Of Attorney
A legal document completed by the importer or exporter authorizing a customs broker to act as its agent.