Truck Accident Terms and Definitions

Bobtail Tractor Tractor operating without a trailer. Also refers to straight truck. Bogie (also spelled bogey) Assembly of two or more axles, usually a pair in tandem. Brake Horsepower (bhp) Engine horsepower rating as determined by brake dynamometer testing. (see Horsepower) AVL (Automated Vehicle Location) Class of technologies designed to locate vehicles for fleet management purposes and for stolen vehicle recovery Dead-Heading Operating a truck without cargo. Sliding Tandem (Slider) Mechanism that allows a tandem axle suspension to be moved back and forth at the rear of a semitrailer, for the purpose of adjusting the distribution of weight between the axles and fifth wheel. LTL Carrier company which consolidates less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle. Container (Shipping Container) Standard-sized rectangular box used to transport freight by ship, rail and highway. International shipping containers are 20 or 40 feet long, conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) standards and are designed to fit in ships' holds. Yard Jockey Person who operates a yard tractor. Landing Gear legs which support the front of a semitrailer when it is not coupled to a tractor. GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) Total weight of a vehicle and everything aboard, including its load. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) Maximum weight an axle is rated to carry by the manufacturer. Includes both the weight of the axle and the portion of a vehicle's weight carried by the axle.

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	Did You Know?
	A Driver May Be On Duty For More Than 14 Hours. A driver may remain on duty for more than 14 hours; however, the driver cannot drive a CMV after the 14th hour after coming on duty. Also, the additional on-duty time will reduce on-duty time available under the 60/70-hour time limit.