glossary

A zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) is a battery-powered vehicle that does not emit exhaust or other pollutants from its tailpipe. ZEVs are fully electric vehicles and must be plugged in to recharge.

Yard management refers to tracking and managing all activities within a warehouse or distribution center yard. Managing a yard is a complex process essential to keeping operations running smoothly. When managing a yard, many use a yard management system to increase efficiency, enhance visibility and reduce paperwork.

What Is WAIRE?

Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE), sometimes called the Indirect Source Rule, is a truck traffic-based credit and deficit system impacting class 2B to class 8 trucks. Under the rule, some facility operators must monitor and submit accurate vehicle travel data, and they must earn a specified number of points through emissions-reducing activities or pay mitigation fees. The regulation also requires warehouses with ≥100,00 ft2 of indoor space within a single building to complete emission mitigation actions and investments.

Transportation mode refers to the way in which products are moved from one place to another. In logistics, transportation modes include land, air and sea. Each mode of transportation offers unique advantages to the business. Some freight uses a combination of different transportation modes to move goods, which is called intermodal transportation.

Transportation infrastructure is the framework that supports the movement of a product. It’s a critical part of the supply chain, designed to efficiently move products from one place to another.

Transport refrigeration units (TRUs) are climate-controlled devices that provide essential cooling or heating for consumer products being transported in various containers. They maintain a steady temperature for goods during transport or storage and allow the trailer to be cooled when the engine is shut off.

TRUs are also subject to state and federal regulations, most recently in the CARB TRU regulation mandating that owners and operators of truck TRU fleets in the state of California switch to zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) TRUs by a specified date.

What Is Tonnage?

Tonnage is the total weight, measured in tons, of freight transported by a business over a specific period of time. The American Trucking Association’sTruck Tonnage Index provides an estimation of the total weight of freight transported by trucks each month within the United States.

A terminal call, or T-Call, occurs when a driver originally assigned to a load does not complete the delivery. Instead, the driver drops off the trailer or load at a terminal or drop yard where it is transferred to another driver to complete.

Supply chain velocity is the speed at which a supply chain moves from start to finish, from placing an order through production, distribution and consumption of goods. Supply chain velocity directly impacts a supply chain's efficiency.

Supply chain planning involves making plans to ensure that the right things get to the right place at the right time, ensuring a successful and efficient supply chain that meets demand. It includes identifying suppliers, planning production, fulfillment and distribution and finding the optimal balance between supply and demand.

Shipping containers are large, reusable standardized boxes, often made of steel. They are used for moving products between locations and can be moved between different transportation modes without unloading or reloading the container itself. They have a standard width of 8 feet but can range in size from 8 feet to 48 feet long. The standard height for a shipping container is 8 feet 6 inches with a high cube measuring 9 feet 6 inches tall.

Route optimization refers to the process of finding the most cost-effective way to travel between multiple destinations. When optimizing a route, many factors are considered, including the number of stops and where they’re located, promised delivery times and more.

Renewable diesel is an advanced fuel option that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is refined using plant-based oils and can be added to existing fuel truck systems to help lower a fleet’s carbon footprint.

Private carriage, also called contract carriage, is when shippers use a third-party service to transport freight on a contractual basis. Private carriage offers guaranteed capacity at a predetermined, agreed-upon price, allowing shippers to forecast freight expenses. It allows shippers and their logistics partners to develop strong, reliable relationships that can ensure access to capacity during peak periods.

The middle mile is part of the supply chain focused on moving products from the manufacturing facility to the warehouse, distribution center or retail facility. It typically falls between the first mile and the last mile.

A loaded call is a call a shipper makes to the dispatcher once the bills are signed and a truck’s trailer is loaded with freight and ready to go. During this call, shipping details, such as Bill of Lading number, freight weight, trailer number, ETA information and more are documented.

A load, also known as a truckload, is the freight being transported by a truck from one location to another. Load also refers to the quantity or weight of the cargo being transported, such as a full load or partial load.

A live unload is when a truck or container is unloaded at the delivery point while the driver waits nearby on site. Once empty, the driver will return to their truck and move it to the yard or leave the premises.

Last mile delivery, sometimes called final mile delivery, is the last leg of the delivery journey. Whether it’s from a warehouse shelf to the customer’s doorstep or from a transportation hub to any final delivery destination, the last mile is one of the most important parts of the supply chain as it directly impacts a customer’s satisfaction.

Last mile logistics involves a range of tasks aimed at improving the final stage of delivery, such as supply chain planning, coordination and route optimization. An efficient last mile can significantly reduce costs and boost customer loyalty.