If you're even reading this blog, you likely already know the lingo, but it never hurts to have a refresher. There are many other words and phrases that I could have added here, but I thought I would just make a quick list of some that come to mind.
Please add some acronyms, phrases and names without thinking much about it. Just go with the stream of consciousness and see how many you can add.
ABS
Anti-lock Braking System – separate autonomous systems are used on the tractor and semi trailer to limit wheel slip, prevent wheel lock, and assist the driver in maintaining control and stability of the vehicle
Bill of lading
In general, a document which specifies the content, weight and other aspects of the payload
Bobtail
Driving a tractor without the trailer
Cab over
Tractor with flat front end (no hood), as opposed to a conventional cab(with hood)
CDL
Commercial Driver’s License
CMV
Commercial Motor Vehicle
Computer Simulation
Engineering analysis performed by using a computer
Computer Animation
Graphical presentation of a computer simulation or other analysis
Conspicuity
Ability to attract attention to itself. Conspicuity tape is reflective red and white tape installed on trucks
Deadhead
tractor pulling an empty trailer
Delta V
Change in speed of a vehicle during a collision
Fifth Wheel
Device on tractor in the shape of a horse shoe used to connect the trailer, via the king pin, to the tractor
FMCSR
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations – 49 CFR
LLCW
Lightly Loaded Combination Weight – i.e., having zero payload (other than weight of instrumentation, driver, and test engineers)
GCW
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight – for tractors and semi-trailers, all axles are loaded to GAWR
Glad Hands
Connection between tractor and trailer for air lines
Governor
Device designed to limit the tractor engine maximum speed
GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
ICC Bar
Horizontal bar in rear of trailer designed to minimize under ride
Illuminance
Amount of light falling on a surface, measured in foot candles
Inter modal
Multiple modes of transportation
Jake Brake
Slows the truck by acting on the engine directly and slowing the rpm.
King Pin
Pin at front of trailer used to connect the trailer to the tractor via the fifth wheel
Landing Gear
Legs used to set down the front of the trailer when it is unhooked from the tractor
Low Boy
Low flatbed type trailer used to carry oversized equipment
Luminance
Amount of light reflected by a surface
NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Photogrammetry
Method, using several photographs, used to measure features seen in the photographs
Pigtail
connection between tractor and trailer electrical lines
PM
Preventive Maintenance
Reefer
Refrigerated trailer
Shock
Refers to effect of impact on filaments in light bulbs when energized or not (hot or cold shock)
Slack Adjuster
Device used to keep brakes in adjustment
Tandems
Set of 2 wheels
T Bone
Collision occurring between 2 vehicles at 90 degrees from each other
Under ride
Submarining action of a vehicle. This occurs when the vehicle under riding the other has a significantly lower bumper
Yard Mule
Vehicle used in yards to move trailers. These vehicles are illegal on public streets
Hey,
ReplyDeleteThis post was inspired by a long weekend I spent browing your blog! So thanks for what you do, and thanks for your comments here.
Cruciate ligament reconstruction
Tandem definition is incorrect. Should read:
ReplyDeleteTandems: A set of two axles, one behind the other. (Often, but not always, with interacting suspension system). A set of three axles may be called a tridem.
Dual: A set of two, as in dual wheels or dual rear wheels (DRW)
Trailer: An unpowered vehicle towed behind a powered vehicle (power unit). "Full Trailer" means the entire cargo weight in the trailer is supported by axles under the trailer. "Semi-trailer" means that a portion of the trailer cargo weight rests on the power unit.
Tractor: Power unit with a fifth wheel designed to haul semi-trailers. Also called truck-tractor (to distinguish from farm tractor).
Cab: The driver or operator compartment of a vehicle
Day Cab: A tractor that is not fitted with a sleeper
Sleeper: Added space behind a tractor cab, typically outfitted with a mattress where long-distance truck drivers sleep
Semi: short for semi-trailer (see trailer), often misused to mean the tractor-semitrailer combination
Dolly: One or more axles with a tow bar and a fifth wheel, often used to convert a semi-trailer to a full trailer or between a power unit and trailer to add weight-carrying capacity
(REVISE)Cab over: Short for Cab Over Engine (COE), a tractor configuration where the engine is positioned under the cab, eliminating the projection of the hood forward of the windshield and reducing the overall length of the tractor
Conventional: A tractor configuration where the engine is positioned forward of the cab such that the hood extends forward of the windshield.
Combination: A group of vehicles attached together including the power unit and all trailing units.
Train: A combination that includes more than one trailer
Pup trailer: The last trailer in a train
A-train: A two-trailer combination where the second (pup)trailer is a full trailer (or a semi-trailer with a dolly)
B-train: A two-trailer combination where the lead trailer is equipped with an integral fifth wheel at the rear and the pup trailer is a semi-trailer.
(REVISE) Fifth wheel: Horse-shoe shaped device that is used to connect a semi-trailer's king pin to the rear of a power unit, trailer, or dolly
(REVISE) King pin: Pin at the front of a semi-trailer used to connect to the fifth wheel
Pintle Hook: A hook with a lockable closure used to connect a draw bar to the rear of a power unit or trailer.
Draw bar: The device on the front of a full trailer or dolly used to connect to the pintle hook.
Safety chains: Chains used as a redundant connection between a trailer and its towing vehicle. In the case of a failure of the main connection method the chains keep the trailer attached to the towing vehicle. Safety chains are normally not required when using a fifth wheel connection but often are required when using a pintle hook.