Air Brake Endorsement: A provincial mandatory course for operating vehicles equipped with air brakes, regardless of the class of licence the driver holds. Students learn to inspect and adjust air brake components and understand the operation of air brake systems.
Big Rig: See semi-truck
Bill of Lading (BOL): A paper document between a shipper and a carrier acknowledging the receipt of goods for transport. Usually describes the nature of the cargo; hazardous materials classification (if any); amount of cargo by weight, size, and/or number of pallets, boxes, barrels, etc; and the origin and destination of the cargo.
Blocking: A structure, device, or another substantial article placed against or around an article to prevent horizontal movement of the article.
Bobtailing: Operating a tractor unit with no trailer attached.
Cargo: All articles or material carried by a vehicle, including those used in operation of the vehicle.
Chock: A tapered or wedge-shaped piece used to secure round articles against rolling.
Class 1: With a Class 1 license, an operator can drive any class or vehicle, including motorcycle as a learner; A Class 1 license is required to drive a tractor or truck pulling an air brake equipped trailer. Regardless of how many drive axles on the vehicle, if the trailer is air brake equipped, you must have a Class 1 license.
Class 3: With a Class 3 license, an operator can drive any motor vehicle that the holder of a Class 5 license may drive; a single motor vehicle with 3 or more axles; a motor vehicle with 3 or more axles that is towing a trailer with one or more axles (if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes); a Class 2 or 4 type vehicle without passengers (bus, taxi, ambulance); a Class 1, 2 or 6 vehicle as a learner; A Class 3 vehicle is a single motor vehicle with 3 or more axles; a motor vehicle with 3 or more axles that is towing a trailer with one or more axles (if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes); a Class 2 or 4 type vehicle without passengers (bus, taxi, ambulance); a Class 1, 2 or 6 vehicle as a learner; If the vehicle itself has air brakes, a Q endorsement is required to drive these vehicles.
Class 1/Class 3 written test: A written test which must be performed at a registry office prior to purchasing a Road Test permit. Can be attempted once every 24 hours.
Clutch: the "next 2-3 inches of pedal travel"; this is the range when the drive line engages and disengages
Clutch Brake: "Floor Position"; the select any gear from the neutral position on shifter; *do not use for stopping tractor
Combination Vehicle: A vehicle composed of two or more separate units, a tractor (powered unit, semi-truck) and a trailer (unpowered unit, semi-trailer).
Dangerous Goods (TDG): Products and substances are classified as dangerous goods if they could be hazardous during transport or when they spill or leak. Everyone involved in transportation has to understand the hazards of dangerous goods. This includes shippers, handlers, drivers and emergency responders.
Deadheading: Operating a truck empty.
Driver’s Medical: A medical that must be performed by a physician prior to obtaining a Road Test permit for Class 1; not required for Class 3.
Engine Brake: A braking system that utilizes the back pressure from the engine’s pistons to slow down the vehicle. Commonly used to prevent heavy trucks from accelerating out of control while driving on steep downhill grades.
Float Shifting: Shifting gears without using the clutch pedal. Also called "slip shifting" or "dead sticking".
Freeplay: the "first inch of pedal travel"
Friction Point: where the clutch plates start to engage
Glad Hands: Interlocking connectors attached to air hoses that supply air from the tractor to the trailer for air brakes.
Gross Combination Weight Rating: The value specified for the vehicle by the manufacturer as being the maximum of the sum of the "gross vehicle mass" of the drawing vehicle plus the sum of the "axle loads" of all vehicles being drawn.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The maximum laden weight of a motor vehicle as specified by the manufacturer.
In-Vehicle Training: The actual time of instruction a student may expect to receive ‘behind the wheel’ of a training vehicle. Lessons incorporate all aspects of ’truck’ operations followed by an evaluation of performance. This may include time spent driving, as well as conducting pre-trip inspection, coupling/uncoupling, and other truck operations.
Jake Brake: A popular brand of engine brake. See also engine brake.
King Pin: A large pin, underneath the front of a trailer, which interlocks with the fifth wheel.
Landing Gear: A set of retractable, crank-up legs that support the front of a trailer when it is not connected to a tractor
Lateral/Transverse: Sideways, transverse, crosswise, or across a vehicle.
Lengthwise/Longitudinal: Along the length of a vehicle.
Lift Axle: An air-powered axle that may be raised or lowered to the ground to provide greater load-carrying capacity, or to comply with axle weight requirements
Log Book: A form which describes the working duties of truck drivers for each 24-hour period.
M.E.L.T: Mandatory Entry Level Training
Retarder: A device used to assist braking that does not use friction. such as engine braking or axle-mounted electromagnetic retarders.
Secured: Contained or restrained.
Semi-truck: An articulated (jointed) combination vehicle, often composed of a 10-wheeled (three axle) tractor and an 4-wheeled (two axle) trailer. There are also two axle tractors, single axle trailers, and occasionally combinations with extra lift axles. In some applications a semi can pull additional full trailers (doubles and triples) with the use of a single axle or tandem axle converter dolly. The use of the term "semi" in the name comes from the semi-trailer, a vehicle whose load is carried partly by its own axles and partly by the pulling vehicle, which is commonly included in tractor-trailer rigs.
Straight Truck: A single vehicle, with no articulation. Normally 2 or 3 axles, sometimes with lift axles.
Tandem Axle: A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart
Tractor: A semi-truck (powered unit) used to pull a load or semi-trailer (unpowered unit) by means of a fifth wheel mounted over the rear axle(s) in a semi-truck/semi-trailer combination.
Tractor Trailer: See semi-truck.
Vehicle: A truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semi-trailer individually or in combination.
