Here are some helpful trucking terms and definitions: * Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) refers to the maximum allowable weight a vehicle has been engineered by manufacturers to safely carry. This weight rating is regulated by the United States federal government and does not include the weight specs of any accompanying trailers. * Bobtail - A bobtail truck does not have a trailer attached. Bobtailing means driving a cargo carrying truck (semi-truck) without a trailer. Bobtailing often happens when a contracted truck driver is first sent out from dispatch to their pick up site. * Cab - In trucking, the “cab” or “cabin” is the driver compartment of the truck or tractor. The cab is the area of the vehicle where the driver sits. It comes from the word cabriolet. * Deadhead - A deadhead truck has a trailer attached but carries no freight. Deadheading means driving a cargo carrying truck (semi-truck) pulling an empty trailer. Deadheading often happens when a trucker returns or backhauls the empty cargo container to the point of origin. * Reefer - In trucking, a “reefer” is a refrigerated trailer that gets attached to a semi-truck in order to transport perishables and other temperature-sensitive goods. It was originally the ice cream industry that gave birth to the reefer around 1925. Reefers may also be used for heated goods. * Jake Brake - The generic trademark name for a compression release engine brake, a Jake Brake is most commonly used in large diesel engines on semi-trucks. Derived from Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc. (Jacobs), it is an extra supplement to the friction brake system on wheels. Using an air compression and release mechanism, the engine itself works to slow the vehicle.

1. Trucking 101:
Popular Trucking
Terms You Should
Know

2. “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)”
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
refers to the maximum allowable
weight a vehicle has been engineered
by manufacturers to safely carry. This
weight rating is regulated by the
United States federal government and
does not include the weight specs of
any accompanying trailers.
https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/gross-vehicle-weight-rating

3. “Bobtail”
A bobtail truck does not have a
trailer attached. Bobtailing means
driving a cargo carrying truck
(semi-truck) without a trailer.
Bobtailing often happens when a
contracted truck driver is first sent
out from dispatch to their pick up
site.
https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/bobtail

4. “Cab”
In trucking, the “cab” or “cabin”
is the driver compartment of the
truck or tractor. The cab is the
area of the vehicle where the
driver sits. It comes from the
word cabriolet.
https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/cab

5. “Deadhead”
A deadhead truck has a trailer
attached but carries no freight.
Deadheading means driving a cargo
carrying truck (semi-truck) pulling
an empty trailer. Deadheading often
happens when a trucker returns or
backhauls the empty cargo
container to the point of origin.
https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/deadhead

6. “Reefer”
In trucking, a “reefer” is a refrigerated
trailer that gets attached to a semi-
truck in order to transport perishables
and other temperature-sensitive goods.
It was originally the ice cream industry
that gave birth to the reefer around
1925. Reefers may also be used for
heated goods.
https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/reefer

7. “Engine Braking (“Jake Brake”)”
The generic trademark name for a
compression release engine brake, a Jake
Brake is most commonly used in large
diesel engines on semi-trucks. Derived
from Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
(Jacobs), it is an extra supplement to the
friction brake system on wheels. Using
an air compression and release
mechanism, the engine itself works to
slow the vehicle. https://www.isaacsandisaacs.com/glossary/jake-brake

8. FOR MORE TRUCKING TERMS
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