Glossary of Truck Industry Terms V – Y
V W Y
Valve.
A device that opens and closes openings in a pipe, tube or cylinder.
Van Trailer.
Type of trailer designed with an enclosed body for transporting freight.
Variable Load Suspension Axle (VLS).
Allows adjustment of the weight carried by each axle. One type uses air or hydraulic suspension. The other type has springs.
Vehicle.
A motor vehicle unless otherwise specified.
Vehicle Braking Distance.
The distance your rig travels from the time you apply pressure to the brake pedal until the rig stops.
Vehicle Condition Report (VCR).
A daily report filed with the supervisor by each driver that states the true condition of each truck he or she drove that day.
Vehicle Group.
A class or type of vehicle with certain operating characteristics.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The numbers and letters assigned to a vehicle for the purpose of titling and registration.
Vehicle Scale.
Scale designed to determine weight of motor truck or other vehicle, loaded or unloaded.
Verified Test.
A drug test result or validity testing result from an HHS-certified laboratory that has undergone review and final determination by the MRO.
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
The number assigned by the manufacturer to each vehicle for registration and identification purposes, appears on the vehicle’s title.
Violation Rate.
The number of drivers (as reported under 382.305) found during random tests given under this part to have an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, plus the number of drivers who refuse a random test required by this part, divided by the total reported number of drivers in the industry given random alcohol tests under this part plus the total reported number of drivers in the industry who refuse a random test required by this part.
Visibility.
The ability to see in front of you.
Vision.
The ability to see, or sight.
Void Filler.
Material used to fill a space between articles of cargo and the structure of the vehicle that has sufficient strength to prevent movement of the articles of cargo.
Voltage Regulator.
Controls the voltage produced by the alternator or generator. The regulator keeps the battery voltage from getting too high.
Voltmeter.
Gives an overview of the charging system. It tells the state of charge of the battery and whether the charging system is keeping up with the demands for electricity. During normal operation the meter needle should be between 13 and 14.5.
Walking Beam Suspension.
A type of truck and tractor rear suspension consisting of two beams, one at each side of the chassis, which pivot in the center and connect at the front to one axle of a tandem and at the rear to the other side. The Hendrickson walking beam suspension is one type of walking beam suspension.
Warehouse Receipt.
A receipt kept by the driver to prove the shipment was unloaded at a warehouse.
Warm-Up.
The period of time after starting the engine but before moving the rig.
Water Level Warning Light.
Lights up when coolant level in radiator drops below required level. Similar lights will indicate low oil pressure or high coolant temperature, depending on the type of engine.
Water Pump.
Pump that circulates the coolant through the engine cooling system.
Water Temperature Gauge.
Indicates temperature of engine coolant.
Waybill.
A document prepared by a transportation line at the point of origin of a shipment, showing the point of origin, destination , route, consignor, consignee, description of shipment and amount charged for the transportation service. Forwarded with the shipment, or sometimes direct by mail, to the agent at the transfer point or waybill destination. The waybill is basically a description of goods and shipping instructions.
Weigh Station.
Permanent station equipped with scales at which motor vehicles transporting property on public highways are required to stop for checking of gross vehicle and/or axle weights many states also use portable scales to check compliance with the state’s weight limits. Also often combined with port of entry facilities.
Weight Distance Tax.
Also called a mileage tax, ton-mile tax or axle tax. A tax paid by the carrier that is based on the annual ton mileage.
Weight Distribution.
The balancing of a load which is determined by the location of the fifth wheel.
Well.
The depression formed between two cylindrical articles of cargo when they are laid with their eyes horizontal and parallel against each other.
Western Double.
Standard A-train with two equal-length trailers, typically 24-31 feet long, and an overall length of 60-75 feet.
Wet Tank.
First air reservoir of 3 air reservoirs where compressed air from the air compressor enters and where most of the condensation forms.
Wheel.
The disc assembly which is attached to the axle. The tire is mounted on the wheel.
Wheel Cylinder.
A hydraulic cylinder that forces the shoes of a drum brake apart.
Wheel Horsepower.
The horsepower of the tire on the ground that generated at the tires will be less than net horsepower.
Wheel Speed Sensor.
Device designed to record the wheel rotation speed.
Wheelbase.
Longitudinal distance between the center line of the front (steering) axle and the center line of the rear axle, or the center of the space between the tandems.
Wheel Load.
The downward force of weight on a wheel.
Wheels.
To be inspected with each trip, carries each tire, attached with lug nuts.
Wheels Back Vehicle.
(1) A trailer or semitrailer manufactured on or after January 26, 1998, whose rearmost axle is permanently fixed and is located such that the rearmost surface of the tires (of the size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for the rear axle) is not more than 305 mm (12 inches) forward of the transverse vertical plane tangent to the rear extremity of the vehicle.
(2) A motor vehicle, not described by paragraph (1) of this definition, whose rearmost axle is permanently fixed and is located such that the rearmost surface of the tires (of the size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for the rear axle) is not more than 610 mm (24 inches) forward of the transverse vertical plane tangent to the rear extremity of the vehicle.
WIM (Weight-in-Motion).
Scale technology for determining a vehicle’s weight without requiring it to come to a complete stop.
Working Load Limit (WLL).
The maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service, usually assigned by the manufacturer of the component.
Wrecker.
Truck designed for hoisting and towing disabled vehicles.
Yard Jockey.
Slang for person who operates a yard tractor or yard mule, a special tractor used to move semi trailer around the terminal yard.
Yard Mule.
Special tractor used to move trailers around a terminal, warehouse or distribution center.
Year of Noncompliance.
Any Federal fiscal year during which:
(1) A State fails to submit timely certification as prescribed in subpart C of this part; or
(2) The State does not meet one or more of the standards of subpart B of this part, based on a final determination by the FHWA under 384.307(c) of this part.