Talk like a pro on day one. Every term a dispatcher or broker will throw at you.
Extra charges beyond line haul: detention, lumper, TONU, layover. Always negotiate them into the rate con.
A load that gets you home (or toward home) instead of deadheading. The difference between profit and loss on long hauls.
The middleman between shipper and carrier. Books the load, sets the rate, pays in ~30 days. Vet every new one.
Driving empty. Every empty mile costs fuel + wear and earns $0.
Pay for waiting past free time at pickup/delivery. Document arrival/departure or it didn't happen.
Fraud: a 'broker' re-books your load to another carrier and pockets the spread — or vanishes with the freight.
Selling your invoices for cash now (minus 1–3%) instead of waiting 30+ days for the broker to pay.
First come, first served — no appointment. Arrive early.
Per-mile add-on tied to diesel prices: (current price − base) ÷ MPG. Know the number.
Fuel tax agreement: report miles per state quarterly, pay tax where you burned fuel.
The base rate for moving the freight, before fuel surcharge and accessorials.
Paid unloading labor, usually at grocery DCs. Get reimbursed — keep the receipt.
Your motor carrier authority number from FMCSA. No MC, no interstate freight.
The contract for the load: rate, lane, dates, detention terms. Read every line before wheels turn.
Truck ordered, not used — pay when the load cancels after you committed. Get it on the rate con.
Unified Carrier Registration — annual federal filing, required to operate interstate.