--- frontmattername: freight-domain-glossary
description: Freight brokerage industry terminology and domain concepts. Use when working with laneweaverTMS to understand loads, tenders, carriers, accounts, facilities, stops, financial terms, status workflows, equipment types, and common abbreviations.
keywords: [freight, glossary, terminology, tms, domain-knowledge]
Freight Brokerage Domain Glossary
Quick reference for freight brokerage terminology used throughout laneweaverTMS.
Core Entities
| Entity | Description | ID Format |
|---|
| Load | A shipment transaction between shipper and carrier | L-XXXXXX |
| Tender | Customer request for freight capacity (often from EDI 204) | T-XXXXXX |
| Carrier | Motor carrier transporting freight (has MC#, DOT#, SCAC) | UUID |
| Account | Customer organization (not individual contacts) | UUID |
| Facility | Physical location: warehouse, shipper, consignee, or distribution center | UUID |
| Stop | Pickup or delivery point on a load; loads have 2+ stops | UUID |
Entity Relationships
Account (customer) -> Tender (request) -> Load (shipment) -> Carrier (transporter)
|
v
Stops (pickup/delivery at Facilities)
Carrier Identifiers
| Identifier | Issuing Authority | Format | Example |
|---|
| MC Number | FMCSA | MC-XXXXXX | MC-123456 |
| DOT Number | USDOT | Numeric | 1234567 |
| SCAC Code | NMFTA | 2-4 alpha chars | ABCD |
Financial Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Customer Rate | What the customer pays the broker for the shipment |
| Carrier Rate | What the broker pays the carrier |
| Gross Profit | customer_rate - carrier_rate |
| Net Profit | Gross profit adjusted for accessorials and fees |
| Accessorials | Additional charges beyond base linehaul rate |
| Factoring | Third-party purchase of carrier invoices for immediate payment |
Common Accessorials
| Accessorial | Description |
|---|
| Detention | Charge for driver wait time exceeding free time |
| Lumper | Fee for third-party loading/unloading services |
| TONU | Truck Ordered Not Used - cancellation fee when carrier arrives but load cancelled |
| Layover | Compensation for overnight wait between pickup and delivery |
| Fuel Surcharge | Variable charge tied to diesel fuel prices |
| Deadhead | Miles driven empty to reach pickup location |
Status Workflows
Load Status Lifecycle
uncovered -> assigned -> dispatched -> at_origin -> in_transit -> at_destination -> delivered
| Status | Description |
|---|
uncovered | No carrier assigned |
assigned | Carrier committed, not yet dispatched |
dispatched | Driver confirmed and en route to pickup |
at_origin | Driver arrived at pickup facility |
in_transit | Loaded and moving to destination |
at_destination | Driver arrived at delivery facility |
delivered | Freight delivered, awaiting POD |
Tender Status
| Status | Description |
|---|
pending | Awaiting broker acceptance |
accepted | Broker accepted, capacity search in progress |
planned | Load created from tender |
cancelled | Customer cancelled request |
Invoice Status
| Status | Description |
|---|
draft | Invoice created, not sent |
sent | Invoice sent to customer |
partial_payment | Partial payment received |
paid | Fully paid |
void | Invoice cancelled/voided |
Equipment Types
| Type | Description | Common Cargo |
|---|
| Dry Van | Enclosed trailer, no temp control | General freight, palletized goods |
| Reefer | Refrigerated trailer | Produce, meat, pharmaceuticals |
| Flatbed | Open platform, no sides | Steel, lumber, machinery |
| Step Deck | Lower deck height, easier loading | Tall equipment, vehicles |
| Conestoga | Flatbed with retractable tarp system | Weather-sensitive flatbed freight |
Operational Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| POD | Proof of Delivery - signed document confirming receipt |
| BOL | Bill of Lading - shipping document with freight details |
| Drop and Hook | Driver drops loaded trailer, hooks to pre-loaded trailer |
| Live Load/Unload | Driver waits while freight is loaded/unloaded |
| Deadhead | Miles driven with empty trailer |
| Bounce | Carrier backing out of a committed load |
| Hot Load | Urgent shipment requiring immediate capacity |
Regulatory Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| FMCSA | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
| USDOT | United States Department of Transportation |
| CSA Score | Carrier Safety Administration score (safety rating) |
| HOS | Hours of Service - driver work time regulations |
| ELD | Electronic Logging Device - tracks driver hours |
Common Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Term |
|---|
| TMS | Transportation Management System |
| TONU | Truck Ordered Not Used |
| POD | Proof of Delivery |
| BOL | Bill of Lading |
| A/R | Accounts Receivable (customer invoices) |
| A/P | Accounts Payable (carrier bills) |
| LTL | Less Than Truckload |
| FTL | Full Truckload |
| OTR | Over The Road (long-haul) |
| P&D | Pickup and Delivery |
| RPM | Revenue Per Mile |
| CPM | Cost Per Mile |
Database Conventions in laneweaverTMS
- •Load numbers:
L-XXXXXX format (generated via trigger)
- •Tender numbers:
T-XXXXXX format (generated via trigger)
- •All monetary values:
NUMERIC(10,2) type
- •All status fields: PostgreSQL ENUM types
- •Carrier identifiers stored as
TEXT (MC#, DOT#, SCAC)