Trucking Glossary

The glossary below is a collection of Trucking Terms. if you feel there are terms missing, please email elton@uk-trucking.net with your suggestions.

After Cooling
Air is cooled before entering the combustion chamber, used in turbo charging.

Artic
Trucks that have a tractor unit and Trailer.

Bhp
Abbreviation for Brake Horse Power. This is a measurement of the power created by an engine. It is usually measured on a dynamometer.

Bonneted
Where the cab is behind the engine, these where quite rare in the UK until recently when Scania and Volvo introduced models in this format.

Box Van
rigid construction of load area (on rigids or trailers) where access is usually through the back doors only.

Cab Over
The more usual format for UK Trucks where the cab is over the engine.

Curtainsider
Load area has 'curtains' to the sides of the vehicle/trailer allowing wider access to unload the vehicle especially by fork lift truck.

Derv
Diesel fuel

Diff
'Differential' Each axle has its own differential which transmits the drive created by the engine and gear box to the road wheels. each axle having its own differential allows opposite wheels to travel at different speeds as when cornering.

Drawbar
Trucks that have a rigid front unit with a 'drawbar' trailer pulled behind.

Eight Legger
Term given for a truck with 4 axles, usually the front two would steer, commonly used in tipper trucks.

Fifth Wheel
the device used to couple a tractor unit to a semi trailer.

GRP
Glass Reinforced Plastic. Can be used for cab body work, but usually in the construction of trailer walls.

Gew
Gross Combination Weight. This is the gross vehicle weight of tractor and trailer or complete drawbar.

Gtw
Gross Train Weight. Maximum allowed total weight of a towing vehicle with its trailer when loaded.

Gvw
Gross Vehicle Weight. The total allowed weight of the vehicle when loaded.

HGV
Heavy Goods Vehicle. This term was superceded by Large Goods Vehicle, but is still widely used.

Intercooling
This is a term given for aftercooling.

Jack Knife
This is a term given when an axle slides and the side of the trailer turns to meet the back of the cab i.e. at a 90 degree angle.

Kerb Weight
The full weight of the vehicle without driver or load.

LGV
Large Goods Vehicle. This term superceded the term Heavy Goods Vehicle.

Payload
The weight of load that can be carried on the vehicle to stay with the Gvw.

Plate
A plate on the vehicle displaying Gvw and individual axle weights.

P.T.O.
Power Take Off. Where auxiliary equipment uses the vehicle's engine or gearbox.

Reefer
Refrigerated or temperature controlled truck / trailer.

Rigid
A non articulated truck.

Semi Trailer
The type of trailer used with a tractor unit. These come in various types for a wide range of applications.

Skeletal
Used for containers, this trailer type is a simple frame.

Sleeper
where a cab has sleeping accommodation.

Susies
The pipes and cables that are used to connect a tractor unit to a trailer

Tachograph
An instrument used to record speed and activity type and time of a driver/vehicle.

Telematics
On board systems for collecting and transmitting data about the truck, its movements and mechanical condition.

TIR
transport Internationale Routiers. European carnet system to facilitate international movement of goods.

Torque
measured in Newton metres or pounds-feet, this is the measurement of the force of an engine at the crankshaft output flange.

Tri Axle
a trailer with three axles.

Turbo charging
Where air is forced into the engine at higher than atmospheric pressure using a device (turbo) powered by exhaust gasses.