| Glossary of Terms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Truck - Also called "straight truck" and bobtail,"
this is a non-articulated power unit built to carry a load by itself.
Tractor - Power unit built to carry a portion of a tow the load-carrying vehicle, which is the… Trailer - Non-powered unit built to carry a payload. Usually it has a set of axles and wheels at rear none up front. Its nose rests on rear of tractor. For this reason, technically it is called a "semitrailer." A "full" or "pull" trailer has axles and wheels front and rear, and is pulled by means of a drawbar, either behind a lead semitrailer. Fifth Wheel - Circular platform attached to the tractor's frame which carries the front of the semitrailer, and locks onto the… Kingpin - A stout shank extended downward from the underside of the trailer's nose to lock into jaws within the fifth wheel. Body - Platform of enclosure on truck or trailer that carries, contains or houses the load. Chassis-Cab - Truck with cab but no body. This is the as-manufactured state of straight trucks Stripped Chassis - Also called rail chassis, these are running but bodyless and cabless. Form the basis for step vans (walk-in vans) and recreational vehicles. Bogie - Axle-and-Suspension assembly under the tractor and trailer. It employs twin, or "tandem," axles. Curb Weight - Weight of the vehicle alone; also called "tare" weight. Payload - Weight of the load alone. Revenue from hauling the load pays for everything. Gross Vehicle Weight - (GVW) Sum of a truck's curb and payload poundage. Gross Combination Weight - (GCW) Sum of a combination vehicle's curb and payload poundage. Measurements are also part of the spec'ing language. Most are done in inches. Cab-Over-Engine - (CABOVER) Cabs sit over their engines, and the entire cab must be tilted for inspections and maintenance. Advantages include shorter length, better forward visibility and greater maneuverability than the… Conventional - uses a hood in front of the cab to house the engine and other components. Conventionals are the style preferred by most drivers in North America, though cabovers still have their place. Over-the-road fleets running longer trailers favor Cabovers. Working Load Limits - D.O.T. requirements and C.V.S.A. guidelines state the aggregate static working load limit (W.L.L.) of the tie-down assemblies used to secure an article against movement in any direction must be at least 1/2 (.5) times the weight of the article. Additional tie-down assemblies may be required to meet other industry, local, state and federal regulation. Warning: Do not exceed Working Load Limits.
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