Air ride suspension: A type of suspension system that uses air springs instead of traditional metal springs to provide a smooth ride.
Auto carrier: A vehicle specifically designed to transport multiple vehicles.
Auto transport: The process of moving a vehicle from one location to another, often over long distances.
Auto transport carrier: A vehicle specifically designed to transport multiple vehicles.
Auto transport quote: An estimate of the cost to transport a vehicle.
Break bulk cargo: A type of cargo that is not packaged in containers or on pallets, and must be loaded and unloaded individually.
Bulk cargo: A type of cargo that is shipped in large quantities, such as grain or coal.
Bill of lading: A document that outlines the terms of a transportation agreement and serves as a receipt for the goods being shipped.
Broker: A company that arranges for the transportation of vehicles and acts as a go-between for shippers and carriers.
Brokerage: The act of acting as a broker and arranging for the transportation of goods.
Chassis: The frame of a vehicle, to which the wheels, engine, and other components are attached.
Container shipping: A type of shipping where goods are loaded into standardised containers for transport.
Car hauler: A trailer or truck used to transport cars.
Carrier: A company that transports goods, such as a trucking company.
Car shipping: The process of transporting a vehicle by truck, train, or ship.
Capacity: The maximum amount of goods that a car carrier can transport.
COD (cash on delivery): A payment option where the recipient pays the carrier when the goods are delivered.
Consignee: The person or company to whom goods are shipped.
Consignor: The person or company that ships the goods.
Customs broker: A person or company that helps with customs clearance and other paperwork required to import goods into a country.
Customs broker fee: The fee charged by a customs broker for their services.
Customs duties: Taxes that are levied on imported goods.
Customs clearance: The process of obtaining permission to bring goods into a country.
Customs declaration: A document that lists the goods being imported and their value.
Deadhead: A trip made by a truck without a load.
Delivery receipt: A document signed by the recipient to acknowledge receipt of the goods being shipped.
Delivery window: The time frame in which a shipment is expected to be delivered.
Dispatch: The act of sending a truck to pick up and deliver a load.
Door-to-door service: A car transportation service that picks up and delivers vehicles directly to and from the specified addresses.
Drop-off location: The location where a vehicle is delivered for transportation.
Enclosed transport: A type of car transportation where the vehicle is shipped in a fully enclosed trailer for added protection.
Estimated delivery date: The expected date that a shipment will be delivered.
Export: The act of sending goods to another country.
Export declaration: A document that lists the goods being exported and their value.
Flatbed: A type of truck with a flatbed trailer used to transport vehicles.
Flatbed trailer: A trailer with a flatbed that is used to transport goods.
Forklift: A machine with a platform and prongs used to lift and move goods.
Freight: The goods being transported on a car carrier.
Freight forwarder: A company that arranges for the transportation of goods and handles the paperwork required for shipping.
FTL (full truckload): A type of shipping where a carrier transports a full load of goods that fills an entire truck.
GPS (global positioning system): A satellite-based navigation system used to determine the location of a vehicle.
Hazmat (hazardous materials): Dangerous or hazardous materials that require special handling and transportation.
Hazmat endorsement: An endorsement on a commercial driver’s license that allows the holder to transport hazardous materials.
Hitch: A device that connects a trailer to a vehicle.
Import: The act of bringing goods into a country.
Intermodal container: A standardised container that can be used for transportation by multiple modes, such as truck, rail, and ship.
In-transit storage: Storage of goods while they are being transported from one location to another.
Insurance coverage: Protection for vehicles and their contents during transportation.
Intermodal: A type of car transportation that involves using multiple modes of transportation, such as truck and rail.
Open transport: A type of car transportation where the vehicle is shipped on an open trailer and is exposed to the elements.
Lease: A contract in which a carrier agrees to provide transportation services to a shipper.
Live load: A load that is being picked up by a carrier while the driver waits.
Load: The vehicles being transported on a car carrier.
Load capacity: The maximum weight that a car carrier can transport.
Loading ramp: A ramp used to load and unload vehicles onto a car carrier.
Long haul: A car transportation route that covers a long distance, typically over 500 miles.
Logbook: A record of a truck driver’s hours of service and other important information.
Lowboy: A type of trailer with a lower deck and a very low loading height, used to transport heavy equipment.
LCL (less than container load): A type of shipping where a carrier transports a small shipment that does not require a full container.
LTL (less than truckload): A type of shipping where a carrier transports a small shipment that does not require a full truckload.
Ocean shipping: A type of shipping that involves transporting goods by sea.
On-time delivery rate: The percentage of shipments that are delivered on time.
Origin: The location where a car transportation journey begins.
Overweight cargo: Cargo that exceeds the weight limit for a particular mode of transportation.
Pallet: A platform used to load and transport goods.
Pick-up location: The location where a vehicle is picked up for transportation.
POD (proof of delivery): A document that provides proof that a shipment was delivered.
Power of attorney: A legal document that gives someone the authority to act on behalf of another person.
Pallet jack: A device used to lift and move pallets.
Rate: The price charged for transporting goods.
Receiving dock: The area where goods are unloaded from a truck or trailer.
Relocation services: Services that assist with moving a vehicle to a new location.
Roadside assistance: A service that provides help to drivers in the event of a breakdown or other emergency while on the road.
Roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO): A type of shipping where vehicles are driven on and off a special vessel.
Routing: The route that a car carrier takes to transport vehicles.
Shipment tracking: The process of tracking the movement of a shipment in transit.
Shipper: A person or company that is shipping a vehicle.
Shipping quote: An estimate of the cost of transporting a vehicle.
Short haul: A car transportation route that covers a short distance, typically under 500 miles.
Tariff: A tax on imported goods.
Transit time: The time it takes for a shipment to be delivered.
Terminal: A location where vehicles are loaded onto or unloaded from a car carrier.
Tilt bed: A type of trailer with a tilting bed, used to load and unload vehicles.
Tractor trailer: A combination of a tractor unit and a trailer used to transport goods.
Trailer: A vehicle designed to be pulled by a truck or tractor, used to transport goods.
Transport insurance: Insurance coverage for vehicles during transportation.
Transport order: A document issued by a broker or shipper that specifies the details of a car transportation job.
Trucking company: A company that transports goods using trucks.
Truckload: A type of shipping where a carrier transports a full load of goods that fills an entire truck.
Truckload carrier: A carrier that transports full truckloads of goods.
Underride: A collision where a smaller vehicle strikes the underside of a larger vehicle.
Vehicle inspection report: A document that lists the condition of a vehicle at the time it is shipped.
Vehicle identification number (VIN): A unique 17-digit number that identifies a specific vehicle.
Vehicle transport: The process of moving a vehicle from one location to another, often over long distances.
Weight limit: The maximum weight that a car carrier can transport.