TruckDisp Load Planning and Optimization Flashcards
7 cards from real Truck Dispatcher practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 TruckDisp Load Planning and Optimization flashcards as text
What does 'freight density' mean in the context of load planning?
Answer: The weight of freight per cubic foot of space it occupies
Freight density is calculated as weight divided by cubic volume (lbs per cubic foot), which is used to determine freight class and the appropriate trailer type.
Which loading method places the heaviest freight toward the front of the trailer near the cab?
Answer: Nose-loading method
Nose-loading places the heaviest freight at the front (nose) of the trailer to properly distribute weight over the tractor's drive axles and prevent rear axle overloading.
What is 'headhaul' in trucking terminology?
Answer: The primary outbound load moving away from the carrier's home terminal in a profitable direction
A headhaul is the primary, typically higher-paying outbound load moving away from the carrier's home base, as opposed to the backhaul which brings freight back.
What is the maximum legal weight on a single axle under federal US highway law?
Answer: 20,000 lbs
Federal law caps single-axle weight at 20,000 lbs; tandem axles have a combined limit of 34,000 lbs, and total GVW is capped at 80,000 lbs.
What is the purpose of sliding the tandem axles on a semi-trailer?
Answer: To redistribute cargo weight across axles and comply with legal axle weight limits
Sliding the tandem axles repositions the trailer's rear axle group forward or backward to shift how weight is distributed across axles and bring individual axle weights within legal limits.
What is a 'team load' in truck dispatching?
Answer: A load requiring two drivers so the truck can operate continuously without mandatory HOS rest stops
A team load uses two drivers who alternate driving and sleeping, allowing the truck to run nearly 24 hours a day and cover long distances far faster than a solo driver could.
What factor primarily determines whether a load needs a step-deck (drop-deck) trailer rather than a standard flatbed?
Answer: The freight is too tall for a dry van but does not require the extremely low deck of a full lowboy
A step-deck's lowered rear deck accommodates taller freight (up to about 10 feet) that exceeds a dry van's interior height (~8.5 feet) but doesn't need the ultra-low deck of a lowboy trailer.