G
Goal Posts
Sit’s upside down on vehicle bed. Used when carring round timber or pipes.
G.P.S.
Global Positioning System. Satellite based position location system. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Greasy Spoon
Transport Café of dubious quality
Greedy Boards
Extra panels fixed on top of the sides of tipper bodies to enable more cargo to be carried.
Gross Weight
Total weight of vehicle and cargo.
Groupage
Consolidated load made up of many different consignments.
Guy Rope
Rope attached to sheet
H
Hand Ball
Loading or unloading a vehicle by hand.
Half Hitch
Knot used for tying off rope ends. Make a loop in a rope and then with the trailing part push another loop through the first one. Put this second loop over a rope hook and pull tight.
Half Shaft
Transfers motive power from differential gear to wheel hub. Can break with sloppy clutch use.
Head Board
Bulkhead across front of load carrying unit.
Hours
Driver’s hours. The rules that govern the number of hours a driver may work. A fuller explanation can be found here
Hub
A central receiving depot in a major distribution network. Often found in overnight parcel or pallet systems. All outlying depots send their cargo to this central hub timed to arrive at the same time where it is sorted and loaded onto it’s receiving depot’s vehicle for onward shipment
I
I.A.T.A.
Regulations covering the carriage of Dangerous Goods by air
I.M.D.G. Code
Regulations covering the carriage of Dangerous Goods by sea
Intermodular unit
Non ISO swap body. Which can be carried by road or rail
Inverter
A device that plugs into the 12/24v cigarette socket and converts 12/24 volts DC power to 230 volts AC power
I.R.U.
International Road Transport Union the controlling body of International Road Transport IRU Website
ISO
(International Standards Organisation) Body which sets size standards as in sea container sizes
J
Jack Knife
Happens when the tractor unit is stopping quicker that it’s trailer. Ends with trailer tight against Tractor cab. Not recommended!!
Jake Brake
Engine speed regulator made by the Jacobs Company. Used as a secondary braking system.
J.I.T.
Just In Time. A system where goods are delivered into a factory as and when needed. This puts great pressure onto drivers who could cause a production line to close down if a time slot is missed.
Jo-Loda
Unloading system from the Jo-Loda company comprises of channels in the cargo floor into which roller skids can be fitted.
K
Kerb Weight
The unladen weight of a vehicle when ready to work. i.e. with full fuel tanks, spare wheel, fifth wheel and all necessary equipment.
King Pin
Stud under front of trailer which couples with the Fifth Wheel on tractor unit.
L
Lancashire Flat
A demountable flatbed body that predated the ISO twistlock flats of today. These were basicly a strengthened flat body which in some cases was secured to a skellital trailer with screwbolts, but more often sat on a flatbed trailer where they were held down with chains or even rope!!! They were used for Irish traffic where they could be loaded directly onto freight boats for the sea crossing to Ireland. Preston docks being one of the centres for this trade.
Landing Legs
A pair of legs that are wound down to support the front of a trailer when detatched from tractor unit.
Lift Axle
An axle on vehicle or trailer which can be raised up clear of the road when not required.
Lines
Scottish word for delivery note
Loading dock
Raised area that vehicles back onto for loading/unloading
Loading Ramp
Mobile loading devise which can be positioned behind vehicle to allow a forklift truck access into vehicle from floor level
Lorry Park
Overnight off road parking area for lorries. Sadly lorry parks are disappearing at an alarming rate. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Low Loader
Special trailer with low ground clearance used for carrying plant or machinery.
M
Master Switch
Switch that cuts off all electrical power to vehicle.
Maut
Road tax system for German autobahns. All goods vehicles over 12 tonnes GVW must now pay a mileage based toll to use the autobahns.
Mid-Lift
Axle between steering axle and Drive axle on Tractor Unit.
MSA
Motorway Service Area. Rest area on or adjoining a motorway offering fuel and refreshment 24/7 (Rob Knapp)
Multi-drop
A load which is delivered to many different places.
N
N.D.C.
National Distribution Centre. A main receiving and consolidation point between manufacturers and retailers. Goods are taken in here before onward shipment.
Nett Weight
Unladen weight of vehicle.
Night Heater
Auxiliary heater for keeping cab warm when vehicle stopped.
Night Out
When a shift ends away from home base and driver is unable to get home.
Notes
Delivery paperwork also know as “Lines” in Scotland
O
On the wire
Driving a vehicle with an illegle cut out switch which can isolate the tachograph and so make it seem the vehicle is parked. Severe penalties are incurred if caught.
Open Top
Container with tarpaulin roof. Used for crane loaded cargo. (Rob Knapp)
Operator Licence
Permit required to operate any goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes Gross weight.
Over Weight
When the gross weight of vehicle or axle exceeds permitted limits.
O.T.R
Over The Road; American term. Equivalent to U.K. “Tramper” or “Roamer”
Out Riggers
Swing out arms along the sides of low loaders to widen the load bed. Also extending legs used for extra stability on vehicle mounted cranes.
P
Pad or Grid
Designated parking area in container terminals. Where container is lifted off truck. (Rob Knapp)
Pallet
Wooden or plastic base on which goods are transported.
Blues or Cheps. Blue painted pallets owned by a leasing company and interchangable between various users
Euro Pallet, the standard pallet used throughout Europe 120 x 80 cms
Four by Four the UK standard pallet 120 x 100 cms.
Palm Coupling
Air coupling standard in most of Europe but not of course in UK.
Pantechnicon
Large van usually used for furniture removals.
Payload
Maximum weight of cargo allowed to be carried. Gross weight, minus Nett weight=Payload.
P.D.A.
The Professional Drivers Association. The PDA A group of like minded transport professionals who have joined forces to try and improve the lot of the British lorry driver. Run mainly by drivers for drivers.
Péage
French toll road.
Pig’s Ear
A method of securing a sheet corner when no eyelet is available. Ruffle up the edge of the sheet until you have a hand sized roll. Using the rope from a nearby eyelet pull the rope tight before putting a half hitch around the ruffle. Again tighten the rope and tie off onto a rope hook. Usually used for tidying up the corners of a load.
Plant
Machinery, wheeled or static used in road making or quarrying.
P.O.D.
Proof Of Delivery Signed delivery note with legible name, date and where possible a company stamp.
Puddle Jumper
Another name for a 7.5ton HGV
Pump Truck
Hand operated trolley for moving pallets on trailer or in warehouse (Rob Knapp)
Q
Queen Mary
Long Trailer used by the R.A.F. for carrying aircraft.
Queue
The place where many drivers spend much of their time, be it on the road or at a warehouse.[/b][/b][/b]