Trailer Glossary

Trailer Glossary

Does trailer terminology have you confused? No problem! Use the Trailer Technician Trailer Glossary to learn more about some of the most commonly used terminology in the trailer industry.

Glossary

Click on a trailer-related term to be taken to the definition.

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A

B

  • B-Train
  • Blink Codes
  • Bobtail
  • Bogie
  • Brake Actuator
  • Brake Chamber
  • Brake Drag
  • Brake Fade
  • Brake Force
  • Brake Monitoring System (BMS)
  • Brake Stroke
  • Bridge Formula
  • Brinell Hardness
  • Bulkhead

C

  • Camber
  • Chassis, Container
  • Class 6 Truck
  • Class 7 Truck
  • Class 8 Truck
  • Clearance Lights
  • Clevis
  • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
  • Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs)
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP)
  • Commercial Trailer
  • Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program (CSA)
  • Conestoga
  • Connector, Bullet
  • Connector, Butt
  • Conspicuity Tape (DOT Tape, Reflective Tape)
  • Container
  • Continuity Tester
  • Crossmember
  • Curbside

D

  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)
  • Dock Lock
  • Dolly
  • Door Seal
  • Doubles
  • Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR)
  • Drop and Hook
  • Drop Deck Trailer
  • Dry Van Trailer

E

  • Electronic Braking Systems (EBS)
  • Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
  • Extendable Double Drop Trailer
  • Extendable Flatbed Trailer

F

  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
  • Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)
  • Fiberglass Reinforced Composite (FRC)
  • Fifth Wheel
  • Fixed Tandem
  • Flaps
  • Flash Code
  • Flatbed Trailer
  • Float Trailer
  • Foundation Brake

G

  • Galvanized
  • Gooseneck Trailer
  • Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
  • Gross Combination Weight (GCW)
  • Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
  • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
  • Ground Bearing

H

I

  • ICC Bumper

J

  • Jackknife
  • Johnson Bar

K

  • Kingpin
  • Kingpin Lock
  • Kingpin Plate

L

  • Landing Gear
  • Lash Ring
  • Lift Axle
  • Lift Gate
  • Load Concentration
  • Load Locks
  • Long Stroke
  • Lowboy Trailer

M

N

  • Non-Ground Bearing
  • Nose Cone

O

  • Out of Service (OOS)
  • Outrigger
  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

P

  • Piggyback
  • Pigtail
  • Pintle Hook
  • Placard
  • Platooning
  • Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI)

Q

R

S

  • SAE J560
  • Safety Measurement System (SMS)
  • Sand Shoe
  • Scuff Liner
  • Semi-trailer
  • Short Stroke
  • Side Rail
  • Side Skirts
  • Sidekit Trailer
  • Slack Adjuster
  • Sliding Fifth Wheel
  • Sliding Tandem
  • Smart Trailer
  • Specialty Trailer
  • Spindle
  • Spread Axle
  • Step Deck Trailer
  • Stretch RGN Trailer
  • Stretch Single Drop Deck Trailer
  • Super Single
  • Suspension
  • Suspension, Air Ride
  • Suspension, Leaf Spring

T

  • Tandem
  • Tare Weight
  • Tautliner
  • Telematics
  • Terminal Tractor
  • Thermal Event
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
  • Tone Ring
  • Tractor
  • Trailer Technician
  • Tri-axle

U

  • United States Department of Transportation (USDOT)
  • Upper Coupler

V

W

  • Wheel Base
  • Wheel End
  • Wheel Speed Sensor
  • Wheel Torque

X

Y

  • Yard Check
  • Yard Jockey
  • Yard Management System (YMS)
  • Yard Tractor
  • Yoke

Z