Glossary
Plain-English definitions of US freight and brokerage terms. Every number is traced to a primary source or explicitly labeled as our estimate, with the method shown.
-
BMC-84 vs BMC-85: Broker Bonds After the 2026 Rule Change
Both satisfy the same $75,000 requirement — one is a bond, one is a trust. What changed on January 16, 2026, and how a carrier files a claim.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
Carmack Amendment: Cargo Claim Deadlines and Limits
The Carmack Amendment is the federal rule for cargo loss and damage claims. The four clocks, who it reaches, and how far liability can be limited.
Updated 2026-09-01 -
Co-Brokering vs Double Brokering: Where the Legal Line Is
Co-brokering is disclosed and consented between authorized brokers. Double brokering is not. The statutes, the penalty, and a pre-tender checklist.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
Deadhead Miles: What They Cost and Who Pays for Them
Deadhead miles are the empty miles a truck runs to reach a load. What they cost per mile, how they change a load's real rate, and who pays.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
Demurrage and Detention: When the Invoice Isn't Payable
Demurrage is charged while your container sits in the terminal. The FMC rules that make a late or incomplete invoice unenforceable, quoted in full.
Updated 2026-09-02 -
Detention Fees: Rates, Rules, and How to Actually Get Paid
Detention is what a carrier charges for waiting past free time. What the data says, why most invoices go unpaid, and the evidence that wins disputes.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
Freight Class: What Sets It, and What Density Cannot Decide
Freight class rests on four characteristics, not just density. What NMFTA actually says, the density arithmetic, and why reclassification bills arrive.
Updated 2026-09-04 -
LTL Freight vs Full Truckload vs Partial: How Each Gets Quoted
LTL freight, full truckload and partial are priced by three different systems — and each needs different inputs before you can quote it without a rebill.
Updated 2026-09-04 -
Lumper Fees: Who Pays, and What Federal Law Actually Says
A lumper fee is what a facility's unloading crew charges. 49 U.S.C. 14103 puts the cost on the shipper or receiver — here is how reimbursement works.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used): What It Is and What to Pay
TONU is the fee for a load cancelled after a truck is dispatched. No dataset sets the amount — here is how to compute one you can defend.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
What Is a Bill of Lading? Fields, Types, and Liability
A bill of lading is the carrier's receipt for freight. The five items 49 CFR 373.101 requires, straight vs order bills, and what SLC really does.
Updated 2026-09-01 -
What Is a Rate Confirmation? Fields, Template, and Records
A rate confirmation is the load-specific agreement between broker and carrier. Every field explained, a copy-paste template, and the 3-year record rule.
Updated 2026-08-10 -
What Is Cross-Docking? How It Works and Where Liability Breaks
Cross-docking moves freight from inbound door to outbound door without storage. How it works, what it adds to a quote, and where the paperwork fails.
Updated 2026-09-05 -
What Is Drayage? The Full Cost Stack and the Billing Rules
Drayage is the short container move between port, rail, and warehouse. Every invoice line explained, plus the FMC rule that voids a late charge.
Updated 2026-09-02 -
What Is in a Freight Quote: Linehaul, Fuel Surcharge, Accessorials
What a freight quote is actually made of, line by line, with a worked breakdown using real EIA diesel prices and ATRI operating-cost data.
Updated 2026-09-04