Hey Dispatch University Dispatchers, Possibly, the most common thing I've been told by new dispatchers is that they don't have any experience. And, that they really want this. Our course covers everything we need to know to get started, up and running in a very short time. It is not uncommon to be making money in a matter of weeks. I want to do my part too. So, I thought of these terms that may help us all get more familiar with the dispatching and trucker lingo. Let me know if you like it. We're going to do it one alphabet at a time. This is the next one. The M's. I ask that you add any others that begin with M that you think are missing. M 1. Managed Transportation – A service in which a company handles all shipping and logistics needs for a shipper or manufacturer. Ryan Transportation offers transportation management services. 2. Manifest Invoice – Invoice a customer for multiple loads in a batch. Each load is 1 line on the invoice whereas normally each load is a page of invoice. 3. Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) – A set of basic requirements for class time and mentored road driving for any prospective CDL driver. 4. MC Number (Motor Carrier number) – Carrier number or docket number. This is being replaced by a DOT number. In both cases you apply for a number, provide proof of public liability insurance, then the agency issues a unique number for the company. 5. Mile Marker – The name for posts marking miles on interstate highways. 6. Miler – software that maintains geo location data or anything that can be used to do routes and mileage. Many drivers rely on products like Trimble Maps (Formerly PCMiler) or ProMiles Prime for these tasks. A software to run your miles and do routes. Typically means software meant to handle over-the-road trucks vs consumer products like Apple Maps. 7. Motor Carrier – A for-hire commercial vehicle and transportation business hauling freight. 8. Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) – A report insurance and trucking companies can access while screening employees, including unpaid tickets, traffic violations, convictions, etc. 9. Multi mode – When a load takes multiple travel methods from point A to B (ship to yard to truck to yard to warehouse to box truck). Same as Intermodal. Multimodal and Intermodal need to be may mean the same thing. 10. Net pay – This is gross pay less advances and expenses.

Hey Dispatch University Dispatchers, Possibly, the most common thing I've been told by new dispatchers is that they don't have any experience. And, that they really want this. Our course covers everything we need to know to get started, up and running in a very short time. It is not uncommon to be making money in a matter of weeks. I want to do my part too. So, I thought of these terms that may help us all get more familiar with the dispatching and trucker lingo. Let me know if you like it. We're going to do it one alphabet at a time. This is the next one. The L's. I ask that you add any others that begin with L that you think are missing. L 1. Labels – For hazard class; look like small placards, placed near the proper shipping name and identification number. 2. Laboratory – Any U.S. lab certified by HHS for federal workplace drug testing; or approved foreign labs under DOT. 3. Laden Weight – Weight of vehicle and its load. 4. Lading – The freight in a vehicle. 5. Lamp – A device used to produce artificial light. 6. Landing Gear – Retractable leg supports to hold up trailer front when detached from tractor. 7. Lane – Specific routes trucks are dispatched. 8. Large Truck – Truck over 10,000 pounds GVWR including single units and truck tractors. 9. Layover Time – Non-working time a driver spends away from home terminal before next dispatch. 10. Layover – Waiting more than a day to load/unload; flat-rate charge when delays occur. 11. LCV – Long Combination Vehicle; longer than double trailers (e.g., triples, twin 48s). 12. Leaf Spring – Suspension using stacked narrow steel plates. 13. Leaf Spring Suspension – Narrow metal strips bolted together and attached to frame hangers. 14. Lease Agreement – A legally binding contract where one party (the lessor) grants another party (the lessee) the right to use property, such as a truck or trailer, for a specified period in exchange for payment. 15. Lease-On to a Carrier – An arrangement in which an independent owner-operator or trucking company contracts their truck(s) and services to a larger carrier, allowing the carrier to assume responsibility for dispatching, contracts, and often insurance, while the owner-operator earns a percentage of the revenue. 16. Lessee – 1) One who pays to use another’s property. 2) The owner - operator using another carrier's authority. 17. Lessor – 1) A company or person who owns property being rented. 2) The carrier allowing the owner-operator to use their authority. 18. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) – Small shipment, usually under 10,000 lbs, charged differently than full truckload. 19. License Plate Lamp – Lamp to illuminate rear license plate. 20. Licensing Entity – State agency authorized to issue drivers’ licenses. 21. Lift Axle – 1) Extra axle lowered for heavy loads to meet weight standards. 2) Unpowered axle, raised when empty; uses air spring suspension. 3) Raised off pavement when loaded to reduce wear; usually kept raised. 22. Limit of Detection (LOD) – Lowest concentration at which analyte is reliably present. 23. Line Haul – Freight movement between cities/terminals; excludes pickups/deliveries. 24. Line-haul Driver – Travels set city-to-city route; usually returns home each shift. 25. Line Sheet – List of all components in manufacturing a truck/tractor/trailer. 26. Liquid Cargo Tankers – For liquids like gasoline or milk; smooth interiors make driving challenging. 27. Liquid Surge – Wave action of liquid cargo in tanker. 28. Live Axle – Supports vehicle weight, sends power to wheels, hollow inside. 29. Livestock Body – Truck/trailer for transporting farm animals. 30. Livestock Trailer – Trailer for livestock transport. 31. Livestock Transport Trailer – Designed for live animals; movement affects stability and braking. 32. Load Board – List of active working loads or online freight marketplaces. 33. Load Lock – Bar device to secure cargo in trailer. 34. Load Number – Unique numeric ID for loads, also used as invoice number. 35. Load Posting – Module posting available loads to Internet load boards. 36. Local Driver – Picks up/delivers packages within a city route; home daily. 37. Local Pickup and Delivery – Operates in cities; delivers freight to final destination. 38. Local Truck Routes – Designated truck routes within cities/towns. 39. Lock Ring – Holds side ring firmly on rim base in two-piece wheel rims. 40. Locking Main Differential – Locks both shafts for equal torque to wheels. 41. Log Body – Truck/trailer for transporting long items. 42. Logbook – Record of driving hours, mileage, rest time (paper or electronic). 43. Logistics – Planning movement of people/materials to the right place/time. 44. Long-Haul – Long-distance drive, usually hundreds of miles; also called OTR. 45. Lowboy – Flatbed trailer with low deck for tall loads. 46. LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) – Freight quantity less than a truckload rate, usually under 10,000 lbs. 47. LTL Carrier – Company combining small shipments from multiple customers. 48. Lumper – Person hired to unload trailer freight; cost may be part of rate breakdown.

Hey Dispatch University Dispatchers, Possibly, the most common thing I've been told by new dispatchers is that they don't have any experience. And, that they really want this. Our course covers everything we need to know to get started, up and running in a very short time. It is not uncommon to be making money in a matter of weeks. I want to do my part too. So, I thought of these terms that may help us all get more familiar with the dispatching and trucker lingo. Let me know if you like it. We're going to do it one alphabet at a time. This is the next one. The K's. I ask that you add any others that begin with K that you think are missing. K 1. Keying Up – Talking on the radio constantly, cutting off other drivers. 2. Kingpin (axle) – An axle’s wheels pivot around a kingpin. 3. Kingpin (trailer) – Connects the truck to trailer. 4. Kingpin Weight – Weight of the trailer at the kingpin or the trailer weight applied to the fifth wheel. 5. Kojak with a Kodak – Law Enforcement Officer with a radar gun. 6. KW – A Kenworth truck. 7. K-Whopper – A Kenworth truck.

🎯 THE 7 CRITICAL STEPS (Don't Skip Any!) STEP 1: Business Formation ⚖️ - Form LLC ($50-$500) - Get EIN from IRS (FREE) - Open business bank account - Timeline: Week 1 STEP 2: USDOT Number 🆔 - Apply at portal.fmcsa.dot.gov - NEW 2025: Identity verification required - Cost: FREE - Timeline: 20-25 business days STEP 3: MC Authority 📋 - File OP-1 form ($300) - Choose "Property - For Hire" - Critical: Start BEFORE USDOT approves - Timeline: 20-25 business days STEP 4: Insurance 🛡️ - Minimum: $750K liability + $100K cargo - Reality: Most brokers want $1M+ - Insurance company files MCS-90 for you - Timeline: 3-7 days STEP 5: BOC-3 Filing 📄 - Process agents in all 50 states - Deadline: 90 days from authority publication - Cost: $30-$300/year - Timeline: Same day STEP 6: UCR Registration 🗳️ - Annual interstate fee: $190 (0-2 trucks) - Deadline: December 31st for next year - 2025 WARNING: Strict enforcement starts Jan 1 - Penalty: Up to $5,000 per state STEP 7: Load Boards & Vetting 📱 - Sign up: DAT ($625-1200/mo) + Truckstop ($450-900/mo) - CRITICAL: Complete carrier vetting profiles - Highway, RMIS, Carrier 411 - ALL required - Do this IMMEDIATELY or lose loads ⚠️ 2025 COMPLIANCE ALERTS 🚨 Identity Verification: New FMCSA requirement🚨 MC Number Phase-Out: Coming but still need one🚨 UCR Enforcement: $5K fines starting Jan 1🚨 Carrier Vetting: Mandatory for most brokers

Hi Guys! I came across a very important information which I thought to share with you all and to give all of you heads up. You can also review it on FMCSA website in detail. As per FMCSA update of 31st July 2025, two devices from their approved list of registered Electronic Logging Devices or ELD's have been removed as below: 1. Walker ELD, Model No. WAL-R (ELD Identifier: WLK790 by Walker ELD System INC). 2. SR ELD, Model No. SR-E (ELD Identifier: SRE288 by SR ELD LLC). The above devices have been placed on the Revoked Devices List due to not meeting minimum requirements by the manufacturer, effective July 31, 2025. The Carriers will have a period upto 60 days to replace revoked ELDs if these are installed in their vehicles. FMCSA have communicated to the carriers on the same through email. However as a Dispatcher please touch base with your respective contracted Carriers to have the revoked ELDs replaced by September 29, 2025 adopting the following steps: - Revert to paper logs or logging software to record required HOS Data. - Replace revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs from Registered ELD List before cut off date. After September 29, 2025, carriers will be considered operating without ELD if they continue to use revoked ELDs. Failure to do so, Carriers may undergo with compliance issues.