CASHWAY BLOG: Insight, Tools & Tips

Common trucking phrases & slang you should know

Cashway Funding - The factoring company for trucking

by Cashway Web Team

October 31, 2024

Share 0
Post 0
Share 0

Popular trucking jargon we hear every day

Have you ever listened to conversations between experienced truck drivers and wondered how they almost seem to have their own language?  Everyone has a favorite list of popular trucker lingo!  

We asked the Cashway Web Team to share some of the most common trucking phrases & slang we hear every day that everyone should know.  

"Hammer Down!"

To drive at full speed or accelerate quickly.

Examples: 

  • "That driver just hammered down and blew past me."
  • "We're running late, so it's time to hammer down."
  • "The boss said to hammer down and get this load delivered ASAP."

    • "Jake Brake"

    Engine brake for slowing a truck down.

    Examples: 

    • "I had to use my jake brake coming down that steep grade"
    • "My jake brake saved my regular brakes over that long downhill stretch."
    • "Some towns have laws prohibiting jake brake use due to the noise."

    "Chicken Coop"

    A weigh station or inspection point for trucks.

    Examples: 

  • "There's a chicken coop up ahead, better get your paperwork in order."
  • "I got pulled into the chicken coop for a random inspection."
  • "The chicken coop was closed, so we sailed right through."

    • "Bobtail"

    Driving a truck without a trailer.

    Examples: 

  • "Nobody wants to bobtail because it's not profitable."
  • "I'm bobtailing back to the yard to hook up another trailer."
  • "Bobtailing can be tricky in bad weather due to reduced traction."

    • "Bear in the air"

    A police helicopter or aircraft that is monitoring traffic.

    Examples: 

  • "Watch your speed, there's a bear in the air."
  • "I just heard on the CB there's a bear in the air up near mile marker 20."
  • "The bear in the air caught me speeding and radioed a ground unit."

    • "Deadhead"

    Driving with an empty trailer or with no load.

    Examples: 

  • "I am deadheading back to the terminal after dropping off my load."
  • "I'd rather deadhead home than wait around here for a low-paying load."
  • "The company tries to eliminate deadhead miles to save money on fuel."

    • "Chicken Lights"

    Extra lights added to a truck for decoration.

    Examples: 

  • "That rig is lit up like a Christmas tree with all of those chicken lights."
  • "I spent my bonus check on some new chicken lights for my truck."
  • "You can see Joe from a mile away with all those chicken lights."

    • "Hammer Lane"

    The left lane or passing lane on a highway.

    Examples: 

  • "That four-wheeler is hogging the hammer lane!"
  • "I need to get in the hammer lane to pass this slow-moving truck."
  • "Stay out of the hammer lane unless you are passing."

    • "Reefer"

    A refrigerated trailer.

    Examples: 

  • "Reefer drivers need to chart trailer temperatures with a Ryan recorder."
  • "I'm hauling a reefer full of produce to the Jacksonville cold storage."
  • "The reefer unit broke down and the driver lost a full load of ice cream."

    • "Alligator"

    A piece of blown tire tread on the road.

    Examples: 

  • "Watch out for that alligator in the middle lane!"
  • "I hit an alligator and it damaged one of my mud flaps."
  • "After that truck blew its tire there were alligators all over the highway."

    • "Smokey"

    A police officer, especially a state trooper.

    Examples: 

  • "I just passed a smokey hiding behind the overpass!"
  • "Looks like smokey's got a customer pulled over at mile marker 75."
  • "Be careful, there are a lot of smokey's out there today."

    • "Yard Dog"

    A truck used to move trailers around a trucking or logistics terminal.

    Examples: 

  • "I started out as a yard dog driver before I hit the open road."
  • "The yard dog repositioned my trailer while I was on break."
  • "That older tractor makes a perfect yard dog for our small truck terminal."

    • "Dragon Wagon"

    A tow truck or wrecker.

    Examples: 

  • "The dragon wagon just showed up to clear away the accident!"
  • "I called for a dragon wagon after my truck wouldn't start this morning."
  • "That hot shot broke down and now the dragon wagon is hauling it away."

    • "Dock Rat"

    A worker who loads and unloads trucks at a warehouse.

    Examples: 

  • "The dock rats at this facility are the best; I'm always in and out in no time."
  • "That driver was a dock rat before he got his CDL."
  • "Some of these dock rats don't seem to care about safety."

    • "Flip-flop"

    To make a return trip or a u-turn.

    Examples: 

  • "The GPS had me flip-flop when I missed my exit"
  • "I'll flip-flop and head back home as soon as I deliver this load."
  • "I'm doing a flip-flop in Atlanta and picking up for the return trip."

    • "Skate board"

    A flatbed trailer.

    Examples: 

  • "I've got 10 loads of lumber lined up for my skateboard next week."
  • "She's got a massive piece of machinery on her skateboard."
  • "Strapping down loads on a skateboard can be rough in winter weather."
    • Factoring invoices with Cashway Funding can help

    Trucking business owners love factoring invoices with Cashway Funding.  If you are new to the business side of trucking and want to eliminate the headaches that can get in the way of success, Cashway is for you!

    ALL-INCLUSIVE

    Full-service features are included

    Every Cashway factoring account gives you unlimited access to premium features like same-day business funding, free back-end office support and industry-leading business intelligence, so you never have to worry about getting paid on time for the loads you haul.  
     Watch the video

    RECENT ARTICLES & NEWS

    Not all factoring companies are the same!

    Invoice factoring with Cashway Funding is a safe, effective and proven business financing tool that your trucking business can depend on over the long run.

    Dedicated professionals

    All Cashway staff work exclusively in the factoring business.  That means you are assured to receive specialized and dedicated freight factoring expertise every time you do business with us.  

    If we can't factor your invoices, you don't pay. 

    We are a direct funder

    Cashway Funding is a direct funding source for your business.  We are not a finance broker, trucking company, bank, data mining company, freight agent or marketing affiliate.   

    When you factor invoices with us, the funds you receive come directly from us and not from any other company or outside location.  Your funding transactions are private, secure and protected by law.

    All transactions are processed and funded in-house by the very same  people you speak and conduct business with every day.  Our offices are open to the public and Cashway factoring clients are always welcome to vist us in person.

    No conflict of interest

    We guarantee service quality of the very highest standard.

    Cashway Funding is 100% independent.  Factoring is our specialty and funding your business is our exclusive focus.  

    We are not a freight broker or carrier, dispatch service, fuel card company or insurance agency. 

    We will never solicit you to purchase additional services and we will not sell your information for marketing purposes.

    🇺🇸 Made in the USA

    We believe in helping local small businesses succeed all across America.

    All Cashway Funding factoring accounts are professionally managed in-house at our Woodstock, GA headquarters by friendly factoring specialists that you know and trust.  You can always speak with a live, knowledgable person and you can depend on us  to listen to what you have to say.  

    We sincerely appreciate every Cashway factoring client and it is our pleasure to deliver the results you expect and deserve from us, every single day. 

    Take the next step toward a more profitable & successful trucking business

    Create your Cashway account online and start factoring invoices today. Same-day funding is only a few clicks away.

     CREATE ACCOUNT

    Take the next step toward a more profitable & successful trucking business

    Create your Cashway account online and start factoring invoices today. 

     CREATE ACCOUNT