R
R.D.C.
Regional Distrbution Centre. Central point of delivery for major retail chains. Good place to find a “Queue”
Ram
Hydraulic lifting post on tipping vehicles.
Ramp
To drive a vehicle harshly, using excessive engine revs.
Ratchet Strap
Load restraint comprising of a webbing strap and ratchet devise to tension it. Used more now than ropes or chains.
Rear Steer
Steering rear axle on trailer.
Reefer
A refrigerated vehicle or trailer.
R.I.D.
Regulations covering the carriage of Dangerous Goods by rail
Rigid
Vehicle where cab and cargo section are on same chassis.
Road Train
A multi trailer combination. Usually a motive power tractor pulling two or more trailers. Much used in Australia.
Roller Bed
Vehicle or trailer fitted with four or five sets of rollers arranged in lines front to back. Raised by air they are used mainly in the airfreight industry for loading and unloading aircraft pallets and containers. Lift the rollers and roll the load on, drop them to travel and raise them to unload. Usually accompanied by air suspension to ease operation (sloping the vehicle to help move the load). (Thanks to Gary A Wright)
Rope Hook
Used to attach ropes. Set along underside edges of cargo platform.
R.T.G.
Rubber Tyre Gantry. Enormous mobile gantry type cranes which run on giant wheels. Used at container terminals for loading/unloading trucks and stacking the boxes. These alien looking creatures, often 50 feet high with 4 or 6 long legs, drive over the truck their wheels passing either side. They then lower their spreader frame onto the top of the container lifting it off and taking it away. Also know as Stradlers.(Rob Knapp)
S
Sat. Nav.
A route finding system based on G.P.S. An electronic map. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Scammel Hitch
Automatic trailer coupling system once favoured by British Railways for their fleet of delivery lorrys.
Scotch
Wedge (usually of timber) placed behind wheels or reels of paper.
Shackle Hitch
Fasten the rope in the normal way to a shackle and throw the rope over the load, go to the other side of the trailer but do not pull all the rope through the shackle but pull a loop through the shackle about three foot or so, put the loop back to the rope that has come over the load and pull that through the loop what you have made and create a normal hitch ear with the rope go round the ear twice keeping it all tight because you will not be able to put a twist in the hitch because of this method from now on it is self explanatory (he says), when doing this hitch you need plenty of slack which you will find out if you try it but it works. (Thanks to Camel)
Sheet
Canvas or plastic cover spread over load to keep it dry and clean.
Showboat
Originally a fairground attraction powered by a traction engine the word then began to be used to describe any large well turned out vehicle. The 8 wheeled pantechnicons of Fisher and Renwick were a good example as they travelled between London, Manchester and Glasgow during the dark wartime years.They were always clean and well painted and their striking signwriting attracted attention where ever they went. (Suggested by Oliver Manton with thanks to Frank and Jack Spittle)
Showman’s Truck
A road train usually comprising of a tug tractor, fitted with a large generator as balast, pulling two trailers and maybe a caravan. These vehicles are outside all C&U regulations are used solely for fairground or circus work. (Ian)
Shunter
Either a dedicated vehicle used to move trailers around a depot or for short distances between sites, or the driver of such a vehicle.
Skelly
Skeleton trailer without a floor just cross members at relevent positions. Used to carry sea contaners.
Sleeper
Large piece of timber used as “Dunnage”
Sleeper Cab
Vehicle with bunk and other home comforts if you’re lucky.
Sliding Skelly
A skeleton trailer which extends to carry either 20 or 40 foot containers (Rob Knapp)
Slider
A Mechansim that allows the “Fifth Wheel” to be moved along the chassis.
Snow Chain
Fitted around the drive wheels to obtain traction.
Spreader
Framework for lifting containers. Has twistlocks which fit into top lugs of container. (Rob Knapp)
Stacker Truck
Forklift truck. Used for loading /unloading
Steering Axle
Front axle of vehicle.
Steering Wheel Attendant
Derogatory term for ignorant, aggresive, arrogant or discourteous drivers (Ian Bentley)
Step Frame
A two level trailer bed. Normal height over the “Fifth Wheel” then lower for the rest of bed.
Super Singles
Double width tyres. Mainly used as trailer tyres in place of twin wheels. Can also be found on steering axles
Susie (Suzie Suzy)
An air line or electrical cable connected from tractor unit to trailer.
Swan Neck
Front section of Low Loader trailer. Conects the high coupling section to the much lower bed.
Swap Body
Demountable cargo unit.
T
T Forms
Customs forms used when Duty is payable on cargo.
Tacho
TACHOGRAPH. Instrument for recording vehicle movement, speed and hours worked.
Tachograph Disc
The wax coated disc which records vehicle usage and hours worked. More infomation on how the disc is filled out can be found here.
Tag Axle
Extra axle fitted behind the drive axle of a tractor unit or rigid vehicle. Can usually be lifted clear of the road when not required.
Tail Lift
Powered Loading Platform at rear of vehicle to aid loading/unloading.
Tank Farm
Storage area for liquids usually chemicals or oil products. Huge storage tanks are sited over a wide area to reduce the risk of explosions.
T.H.A.
Temporary Holding Area. A set aside area for trucks waiting to unload at container terminals. Usually involves a long wait. (Rob Knapp)
Tilt
A cargo carrying unit with a removable framework covered by a sheet (or Tilt). Used mainly on cross continental transport.
Tip
- To unload.
Tipper
Vehicle or trailer on which the load bed can be raised at one side or end to enable the load to slide off the opposite side.
T.I.R.
“Transports International Routier.” World agreement that allows cargo to cross borders under customs seal. Used for trips outside of the EU or exhibition goods.
T.M.
Transport Manager. The person with the ultimate responsibity of keeping the fleet on the road and earning money. (Suggested by Spardo)
Traction
Pulling another companies trailer on their work.
Tractor Unit
The motive power and cab section of an articulated vehicle.
Trade Plates
Special number plates which allow unlicensed or untaxed vehiles to be driven on public roads.
Traffic Office
The hub of any haulage company where the planning and routing of vehicles and loads takes place. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Tramper (Roamer)
A driver who goes where ever the next load takes them.
Trombone Trailer
A trailer that can be extended to carry long loads.
Trucknet.UK
Trucknet.UK TrucknetUK A UK based website used by drivers to help each other. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Truckstop
A restaurant or café with it’s own parking area. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Trunker
A vehicle or driver who runs the same route every shift. Often at night.
Tug
Specialised tractor unit used at ports and container terminals for moving trailers. (Rob Knapp)
Twin Steer
Two sets of steering axles at front of vehicle.
Twist Locks
Used to hold sea container in place on vehicle.
U
Ullage
Space left in tank or drum to allow for expansion of liquid.
Unaccompanied Trailer
A trailer that is shipped by train or ferry without a tractor unit. The trailer is loaded/unloaded by dock workers and saves the expense of a driver staying with the trailer on a long ferry crossing. The trailers are pulled at either end of their journey by drivers on traction work
Unladen Weight
The weight of the vehicle when empty
V
Van
Panel sided vehicle or trailer.
VOR
Vehicle Off Road. i.e. out of service waiting repair.
VOSA
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. The body which enforces road transport regulations
W
Wagon and Drag
A rigid vehicle towing a separate trailer.
Walking Floor
A cargo ejection system where moving slats in the floor carry the load to the rear. (Suggested by Steve Margrave)
Wendy House
Derogatory term for a low roofed sleeper cab especially the FL range from Volvo.
Woods
Timbers to lay under steel etc. Dunnage.
W.T.D.
Working Time Directive. A law designed to bring transport workers into line with other industries by limiting their working hours to an average of 48 per week.
X Y Z
Yo Yo
In and around the docks and warehouses of Liverpool the hoist’s on the warehouses where known as “YO-YO’s”. Operating on a counter balance system a bale would be slung one end of the rope and it would come flying down to you stood on the back of the flatbed but on the other end of the rope would be another bale waiting to come down once the first bale had been positioned and released. (Thanks to ‘Camel’)
Zoll
German customs post
Z Plates
German equivalent of trade plates.