Glossary
Freight Terminology Guide
Freight conversations are full of shorthand, and most of it is never explained. This glossary defines the terms that come up most often when arranging a shipment, written for people who do not work in logistics day to day.
These are general industry definitions. They describe how a term is used across freight, not a statement that SENA Logistics offers the related service.
Common freight and logistics terms
A
- Accessorial charges
- Fees for services beyond a basic dock-to-dock pickup and delivery — things like liftgate use, inside delivery, driver assistance with loading, or waiting time. They are usually billed on top of the base rate and are the most common source of an invoice that comes in higher than expected.
B
- Bill of lading (BOL)
- The document that accompanies a shipment and acts as the receipt, the contract of carriage, and, in some cases, evidence of title. It records what is being shipped, how many units, the weight, and the origin and destination. What is written on the BOL is what the carrier is obligated to move, which is why accuracy matters.
C
- Carrier
- The company that physically transports freight and holds the operating authority to do so — the one that owns or leases the truck and employs the driver. A carrier is directly responsible for the movement of the load.Carrier information at SENA Logistics →
- Consignee
- The party receiving the shipment at its destination. The consignee is not necessarily the party that bought the goods or arranged the freight — it is simply whoever takes delivery at the receiving end.
D
- Detention
- A charge that applies when a driver is held at a facility beyond the free time allowed for loading or unloading. It compensates the carrier for the truck and driver sitting idle. Detention is different from layover, which involves the driver being held overnight.
- Drayage
- The movement of freight over a short distance — most commonly trucking a container between a port or rail terminal and a nearby warehouse or yard. It is a short-haul, often local service. Including the term here defines it; it does not mean SENA Logistics provides drayage.
- Dry van
- The standard enclosed trailer — a fully boxed, unrefrigerated trailer that protects freight from weather. It is the most common equipment type and suits general palletized and boxed freight that does not need temperature control or an open deck.Full truckload and dry van coordination →
F
- Flatbed
- An open-deck trailer with no sides or roof, loaded from the top or side by crane or forklift. Used for freight that cannot be enclosed — building materials, steel, machinery — and requiring load securement appropriate to the cargo.
- Freight broker
- A company that arranges transportation between shippers and carriers rather than moving freight itself. A broker does not own trucks, employ drivers, or hold motor-carrier operating authority — it sources capacity, coordinates the shipment, and manages communication. SENA Logistics is a freight broker.
- Freight class
- A designation from 50 to 500 assigned under the NMFC that reflects how much effort a particular commodity takes to move. Lower classes generally mean freight that is dense and easy to handle; higher classes generally mean freight that is bulky, fragile, or hazardous. Freight class is a factor in LTL pricing.Freight classification guide →
- FTL (full truckload)
- A shipment that uses an entire trailer, dedicated to one shipper's freight and typically moving directly from origin to destination without the load being broken up along the way. It is the alternative to LTL for larger shipments.Full truckload freight →
I
- Intermodal
- Freight that moves by more than one mode during its journey — most commonly rail for the long haul and truck for the pickup and delivery legs. A container transfers between the two rather than the goods being unloaded and reloaded.
L
- Layover
- A charge that applies when a driver is held overnight at or near a facility because loading, unloading, or delivery cannot be completed that day. Like detention, it compensates the carrier for time the equipment and driver are tied up.
- Liftgate
- A hydraulic platform mounted on the back of a trailer that raises and lowers freight between ground level and the trailer bed. It is used where there is no dock or forklift — a common requirement for store deliveries, residential addresses, and locations without loading equipment.
- LTL (less than truckload)
- A shipment that occupies only part of a trailer and shares space with freight from other shippers. LTL is priced with more factors than truckload — including freight class, weight, and dimensions — and typically involves more handling along the way, since the trailer may be loaded and unloaded at terminals in transit.Less than truckload freight →
- Lumper
- A worker hired to load or unload freight at a facility, often at grocery distribution centers and large warehouses. A lumper fee is charged for that labor, usually separately from the carrier's linehaul, and is commonly paid at the dock.
N
- NMFC
- The National Motor Freight Classification — the standard that establishes how freight is identified and classified for LTL shipping in North America. It sets out commodity descriptions, packaging provisions, and the basis on which a commodity's freight class is determined.Freight classification guide →
P
- Proof of delivery (POD)
- Documentation confirming that a shipment was delivered and, usually, in what condition — typically a signed BOL or a delivery receipt noting any exception, damage, or shortage. The POD often determines whether a claim can be supported, which is why noting exceptions at the time of delivery matters.
R
- Reefer
- A temperature-controlled trailer used for freight that must be kept at a specific temperature — food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and other climate-sensitive goods. It is also called a refrigerated trailer. Including the term here defines it; it does not mean SENA Logistics provides refrigerated transport.
S
- Shipper
- The party sending the goods — the origin end of the shipment. The shipper is generally responsible for preparing the freight, packaging it appropriately, providing an accurate commodity description, and loading it unless other arrangements have been confirmed.Information for shippers →
Broker or carrier? The distinction that matters most
A carrier
Holds motor-carrier operating authority and moves the freight itself. It owns or leases the equipment and employs the driver, and it is responsible for the physical transportation of the load.
A freight broker
Arranges transportation between a shipper and a carrier. It does not own trucks, employ drivers, or operate as a motor carrier. Its role is sourcing capacity, coordinating the shipment, and managing communication across the move.
SENA Logistics is a freight broker. When you work with us, the freight is moved by a qualified, insured motor carrier we have coordinated with — not by trucks we operate.