TruckDisp Load Planning and Optimization Flashcards

What is a 'blind shipment' in freight dispatching?

Answer: A shipment where the carrier conceals the original shipper's identity from the consignee

In a blind shipment, the broker or intermediary instructs the carrier to conceal the original shipper's name on documents so the consignee cannot bypass the middleman and deal directly with the supplier.

What is the primary purpose of a load plan diagram?

Answer: To show how freight should be positioned, oriented, and secured inside the trailer

A load plan diagram visually specifies the exact placement, orientation, and securement of each piece of freight to ensure safe transport and proper weight distribution throughout the trailer.

Which type of commodity typically requires a refrigerated (reefer) trailer for transport?

Answer: Fresh produce

Fresh produce is perishable and temperature-sensitive, requiring refrigerated trailers to maintain food safety and product freshness as mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

What is 'freight consolidation' in dispatch planning?

Answer: Combining multiple small shipments from different shippers into one full truckload moving in the same direction

Freight consolidation combines multiple LTL shipments from different shippers heading in the same direction into one truckload, improving trailer utilization and reducing per-unit shipping costs.

When planning an LTL (Less-than-Truckload) shipment, what is a critical factor that directly determines the freight charge?

Answer: The NMFC freight class of each shipment, based on density, stowability, handling, and liability

NMFC freight class (ranging from 50 to 500) is the primary pricing variable for LTL shipments; a higher class indicates lower density or greater handling difficulty and commands a higher rate.

What does 'payload capacity' refer to for a standard 53-foot dry van trailer?

Answer: The maximum legal weight of cargo the trailer is rated to carry

Payload capacity is the maximum allowable cargo weight (freight only, excluding the tractor and trailer tare weight), typically around 44,000–45,000 lbs for a standard 53-foot dry van.

What defines an 'over-dimensional' (OD) load in US trucking?

Answer: A load that exceeds standard legal limits for width, height, or length

An over-dimensional load exceeds standard legal size limits (typically width over 8'6", height over 13'6", or length over 53'), requiring special permits, possible pilot cars, and pre-approved routing.