Trucker Slang for Loads & Freight
From hot loads to gravy loads to suicide loads — truckers have colorful names for every type of freight. Understanding these terms helps owner-operators, dispatchers, and industry professionals communicate more effectively about the freight that keeps the economy moving.
Ahmad Qazi
Founder & CEO, O Trucking LLC
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years dispatching loads of every type — we know the good, the bad, and the 'suicide' loads
Written by Ahmad Qazi, founder of O Trucking LLC, drawing on 9+ years dispatching for owner-operators. Learn more about us.
O TruckingTrucker Slang for Loads & Freight (2026)
Key Takeaways
- A 'hot load' is an urgent, time-critical shipment that pays premium rates — not the same as hotshot trucking.
- A 'gravy load' is the ideal load: short deadhead, quick loading, good rate, easy delivery area.
- A 'suicide load' pays well outbound but strands you in a dead market, killing your total-trip revenue per mile.
- 'Grossed out' means you are at or near the 80,000 lb federal maximum gross vehicle weight.
- Always calculate total-trip RPM (including the return leg) before accepting any load, not just the outbound rate.
Load Type Slang: Complete Reference
| Slang Term | Meaning | Example / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Load | Urgent, time-critical shipment | Pays premium rates; needs immediate pickup. NOT the same as hotshot trucking. |
| Gravy Load | Easy, high-paying load with no hassle | Short deadhead, quick loading, good rate, nice delivery area |
| Suicide Load | Load going to a dead freight market | Pays well outbound but forces long deadhead on the return — kills profitability |
| Backhaul | Return trip load | Load picked up near delivery to haul back toward home — the flip flop load |
| Grossed Out | At maximum legal weight (80,000 lbs) | “I'm grossed out at 79,800” — cannot add any more weight |
| Partial / LTL | Less-than-truckload shipment | Does not fill the entire trailer — multiple partials may share a truck |
| Full Load / FTL | Full truckload — fills the trailer | Standard for most owner-operator loads |
| Blind Load | Load with hidden shipper/receiver info | Broker hides the actual shipper to prevent drivers from going direct — common in double brokering |
| Bounce Load | Load that gets cancelled repeatedly | Gets posted, assigned, cancelled, reposted — unreliable freight |
| Touch Freight / Driver Assist | Load requiring driver to physically handle freight | Driver must help load/unload — common with floor-loaded trailers |
| No-Touch Freight | Driver does not touch the freight | Preferred by most drivers — shipper/receiver handles loading/unloading |
| TONU | Truck Ordered Not Used | You show up but the load is cancelled — you deserve compensation |
Watch Out for Suicide Loads
Related Slang Guides
Trucker Job Title Slang
Nicknames for people in the industry
Trucker Slang for Companies
What truckers call organizations
Hot Load (Glossary)
Full guide to urgent shipments
Flip Flop (Glossary)
Return trip — where you need backhaul loads
A Good Dispatcher Filters Out Suicide Loads
Load Slang FAQ
Questions about trucker slang for loads and freight
What is a hot load in trucking?
A hot load is an urgent, time-critical shipment that needs fast delivery and pays premium rates. See our full hot load glossary entry for details on rates, handling, and the difference between hot loads and hotshot trucking.
What is a gravy load?
A 'gravy load' is a highly desirable load — easy to pick up, easy to deliver, good rate, short deadhead, and no hassle. It is the 'gravy' on top of your regular work. Gravy loads are rare and compete for; having good broker relationships and a reliable reputation helps you access them.
What is a suicide load?
A 'suicide load' is a load that sends you to a dead market — a location where there is almost no outbound freight, forcing you to deadhead long distances at your own expense. The 'suicide' refers to the financial damage of accepting a load to a place with no return freight. Smart operators calculate total-trip RPM before accepting any load.
What does 'grossed out' mean in trucking?
Being 'grossed out' means your truck and load combined weight is at or very near the 80,000 lb federal maximum gross vehicle weight. A grossed-out truck cannot take on any additional weight and must be careful at weigh stations. It is not related to the non-trucking meaning of 'grossed out' (disgusted).
What is the difference between a backhaul and deadhead?
A backhaul (also called a 'flip flop') is a paying load you pick up near your delivery to haul back toward home, generating revenue on the return leg. A deadhead is the opposite — driving empty with no load and no pay. A good backhaul turns dead miles into paid miles, which is why drivers chase them after every delivery.
What does 'no-touch freight' mean and why do drivers prefer it?
No-touch freight means the driver never physically handles the cargo — the shipper loads it and the receiver unloads it, usually palletized or drop-and-hook. Drivers prefer it because it saves time, reduces injury risk, and avoids unpaid manual labor. The opposite is 'touch freight' or 'driver assist,' where you help load or unload, common with floor-loaded trailers.
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