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Definitions, as published

The definition of each term exactly as its official source words it, with the article or page it comes from.

1,785 records · page 31 of 36

Term slugDefinition textCitation
commercial-waterway-facilities Waterway facilities as counted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are piers, wharves, and docks. Not included are those facilities used exclusively for recreational or active military craft and generally those providing nonmaritime use. Glossary entry “Commercial waterway facilities”.
draft The depth of water a vessel draws, loaded or unloaded. Glossary entry “Draft”.
intermodal Transportation activities involving more than one mode of transportation, including transportation connections, choices, cooperation, and coordination of various modes. Glossary entry “Intermodal”.
light-truck Trucks of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or less, including pickup trucks, vans, truck-based station wagons, and sport utility vehicles. Glossary entry “Light truck”.
metric-ton A unit of weight equal to 2,204.6 pounds. Glossary entry “Metric ton”.
nonself-propelled-vessels Includes dry cargo, tank barges, and railroad car floats that operate in U.S. ports and waterways. Glossary entry “Nonself-propelled vessels”.
passenger-mile One passenger transported one mile. For example, one vehicle traveling 3 miles carrying 5 passengers generates 15 passenger-miles. Glossary entry “Passenger-mile”.
self-propelled-vessels Includes dry cargo vessels, tankers, and offshore supply vessels, tugboats, pushboats, and passenger vessels, such as excursion/sightseeing boats, combination passenger and dry cargo vessels, and ferries. Glossary entry “Self-propelled vessels”.
short-ton A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds. Glossary entry “Short-ton”.
ton-miles A unit of measure equal to the movement of one ton over one mile. Glossary entry “Ton-miles”.
vehicle-mile One vehicle traveling one mile. Glossary entry “Vehicle-mile”.
air Air service for shipments that typically weigh more than 100 pounds using commercial or private aircraft. Includes air freight and air express. TranStats entry “Air”.
air-freight Property, other than express and passenger baggage transported by air. TranStats entry “Air Freight”.
air-taxi A classification of air carriers established by 14 CFR 298 which operate small aircraft, and do not hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity. TranStats entry “Air Taxi”.
air-time The airborne hours of aircraft computed from the moment an aircraft leaves the ground until it touches the ground at the end of a flight stage. TranStats entry “Air Time”.
aircraft-configuration The type of payload an aircraft was designed to carry: passenger, cargo, or both. TranStats entry “Aircraft Configuration”.
airport-code A three character alpha-numeric code issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation which is the official designation of the airport. The airport code is not always unique to a specific airport because airport codes can change or can be reused. TranStats entry “Airport Code”.
arrival-delay Arrival delay equals the difference of the actual arrival time minus the scheduled arrival time. A flight is considered on-time when it arrives less than 15 minutes after its published arrival time. TranStats entry “Arrival Delay”.
carrier-code Code assigned by IATA and commonly used to identify a carrier. As the same code may have been assigned to different carriers over time, the code is not always unique. TranStats entry “Carrier Code”.
commodity Products that an establishment produces, sells, or distributes. This does not include items that are considered as excess or byproducts of the establishment’s operation. For the Commodity Flow Survey, respondents reported the description and the five-digit Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG) code for the major commodity contained in the shipment, defined as the commodity with the greatest weight in the total shipment. TranStats entry “Commodity”.
deep-draft-vessel A barge, ship, or ferry operating primarily in the open ocean. (Shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway is classified with shallow draft vessels.) TranStats entry “Deep Draft Vessel”.
distance-shipped The distance between origin and destination for a shipment. For the distance shipped intervals table, the distance is calculated based on the great circle distance between the origin and destination ZIP Code centroids. All other distance-related data (i.e., ton-miles and average miles per shipment) are based on the mileage calculations produced by Oak Ridge National Laboratories. TranStats entry “Distance Shipped”.
express-freight Property, other than passenger baggage transported by air, with a premium paid over standard freight charges for more rapid delivery. TranStats entry “Express Freight”.
fips Federal Information Processing Standards. Usually referring to a code assigned to any of a variety of geographic entities (e.g. counties, states, metropolitan areas, etc). FIPS codes are intended to simplify the collection, processing, and dissemination of data and resources of the Federal Government. TranStats entry “FIPS”.
for-hire-truck Trucks that carry freight for a fee collected from the shipper, recipient of the shipment, or an arranger of the transportation. TranStats entry “For-Hire Truck”.
gateway In international travel, the port where customs clearance takes place. TranStats entry “Gateway”.
great-circle-distance The shortest distance between two points on the earth’s surface. TranStats entry “Great Circle Distance”.
intermodal Transportation activities involving more than one mode of transportation, including transportation connections, choices, cooperation, and coordination of various modes. BTS Pocket Guide Glossary entry “Intermodal”.
accessorial-additional-services Services such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking, or piano stair carries that you request to be performed (or that are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances). Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges . FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Accessorial (Additional) Services”.
bill-of-lading The receipt for your goods and the contract for their transportation. NOTE: It is your responsibility to understand the bill of lading before you sign it. If you do not agree with something on the bill of lading, do not sign it until you are satisfied that it is correct. The bill of lading is an important document. Do not lose or misplace your copy. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Bill of Lading”.
broker A person who, for compensation, arranges or offers to arrange, the transportation of cargo by an authorized carrier. A broker does not provide the actual truck transportation. A broker does not assume responsibility for the cargo and usually does not take possession of the cargo. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Broker”.
carrier The mover transporting your household goods. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Carrier”.
consignee The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Consignee”.
consignor The person from whom the shipment is picked up. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Consignor”.
deadhead Empty (unloaded) miles traveled by a driver in order to move his or her truck to pick up a paying load. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “deadhead”.
freight-forwarder A company that arranges for truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation. A freight forwarder assumes responsibility for the cargo from origin to destination and usually takes possession of the cargo at some point during the transportation. Freight forwarders typically assemble and consolidate less-than-truckload shipments into truckload shipments at origin, and disassemble and deliver shipments at destination. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Freight Forwarder”.
household-goods-when-used-in-connection-with-transportation A Motor Carrier of Household Goods (HHG) is an authorized for-hire Motor Carrier that transports only household goods for the public in exchange for payment based on published tariff rates. HHG carriers are paid to transport/move someone’s possessions from one “dwelling/office” location to another “dwelling/office” location. HHG motor carriers also offer some or all the following additional services: binding and nonbinding estimates; inventorying; protective packing and unpacking of individual items at personal residences; and/or loading and unloading at personal residences.” FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Household Goods (when used in connection with transportation)”.
interstate-move The transportation of goods from one state to a different state (including outside the United States); OR between two places in one state THROUGH another state or place outside of the United States. See more on the FAQ page. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Interstate Move”.
motor-carrier A company that provides truck transportation. There are two types of motor carriers: private and for-hire carriers. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Motor Carrier”.
shipper The person (customer) whose goods are being moved. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Shipper”.
tariff A list (in whole or in part) containing rates, rules, regulations, classifications or other provisions related to a motor carrier’s transportation services. The Surface Transportation Board requires that a tariff contain three specific items. First, an accurate description of the services the mover offers to the public. Second, the specific applicable rates and service terms for services offered to the public. Third, the mover’s tariff must be arranged in a way that allows you to determine the exact rate(s) and service terms applicable to your shipment. Each mover publishes its own tariffs and these must be provided to you upon request. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Tariff”.
released-value-basic-value This is the most economical protection option available. This no-additional-cost option provides minimal protection. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound ($1.32 cents per kilogram), per article. Loss or damage claims are settled based upon the pound (kilogram) weight of the article multiplied by 60 cents per pound ($1.32 cents per kilogram). FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Released Value (Basic Value)”.
storage-in-transit-sit The temporary warehouse storage of your shipment pending further transportation, with or without notification to you. FMCSA Moving Glossary entry “Storage-in-Transit (SIT)”.
commercial-motor-vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle - 1. Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or 2. Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or 3. Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or 4. Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C. FMCSA URS Glossary, Miscellaneous Definitions, “Commercial Motor Vehicle”.
for-hire-motor-carrier Transportation by a motor carrier for compensation, including: FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “For-Hire Motor Carrier”.
private-motor-carrier Interstate Transportation by commercial motor vehicle, not for compensation, as defined in 49 CFR part 390. FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “Private Motor Carrier”.
property-broker An entity that arranges for the interstate transportation of cargo belonging to others, using for-hire motor carriers subject to the commercial registration requirements to provide the actual transportation. FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “Property Broker”.
freight-forwarder An entity that holds itself out to provide transportation of cargo belonging to others, using for-hire motor carriers subject to the commercial registration requirements to provide the actual interstate transportation. In the ordinary course of business, freight forwarders: (1) assemble and consolidate shipments, (2) conduct break bulk and distribution operations, and (3) assume responsibility for transportation of property from place of receipt to the place of destination. Freight Forwarders may or may not operate vehicles. FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “Freight Forwarder”.
intermodal-equipment-provider Any person who interchanges intermodal equipment with a motor carrier pursuant to a written interchange agreement or has a contractual responsibility for the maintenance of the intermodal equipment. FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “Intermodal Equipment Provider”.
driveaway-towaway-operation An operation in which an empty or unladen motor vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the surface of the roadway is being transported: (1) between a vehicle manufacturer’s facilities; (2) between a vehicle manufacturer and a dealership or purchaser; (3) between a dealership, or other entity selling or leasing the vehicle, and a purchaser or lessee; (4) to a motor carrier’s terminal or repair facility for the repair of disabling damage (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5) following a crash; (5) to a motor carrier’s terminal or repair facility for repairs associated with the failure of a vehicle component or system; or (6) by means of a saddle-mount or tow-bar. FMCSA URS Glossary, Operation Classification, “Driveaway/Towaway Operation”.

Sources

1,049 further records are on file but not shown, because the publisher's terms do not clearly allow them to be republished.