Driveaway Glossary: Driveaway Trucking Terms Defined
What is driveaway trucking? Driveaway trucking (also spelled drive-away or drive away) is a segment of trucking in which a driver delivers a vehicle by driving it to its destination instead of hauling it on a trailer. The vehicle is the freight. Driveaway drivers move new and used trucks, buses and specialty vehicles, one at a time (singles) or several at once (decking).
Every trade has its own language. Ours just happens to include the word “saddle” without a single horse involved. Below are the terms you’ll hear at the plant, on the load board and at the truck stop, defined once and for all. Terms are listed alphabetically. New to the industry? Start with what driveaway trucking is and the types of driveaway work.
Jump to a Letter
B
bill of lading (BOL)
The shipping document that lists the unit being moved, where it’s going and its condition at pickup. In driveaway, the BOL usually doubles as the damage inspection record: you note every scratch, chip and ding before you roll, and the receiver signs off at delivery.
Example: “He documented the paint chip on the BOL at pickup, which is how a 30-second photo saved a 30-minute argument at delivery.”
Also called: BOL, bill. See also: damage inspection, POD, pre-trip inspection.
bobtail
To drive a tractor with no trailer attached. In driveaway, a single tractor headed to a dealer is technically running bobtail, though here it’s called “doing the job,” not “running empty.”
Example: “In regular trucking, bobtailing means you’ve got no load. In driveaway, the bobtail tractor IS the load.”
See also: singles, power unit.
boom
A driveaway method that uses a specialized boom (a heavy-duty tow frame or boom trailer) to connect and move more than one truck with one driver. Booming is typically used for tall trucks or units that can’t be decked, and it calls for its own onboarding and coaching to assemble, operate and break down safely.
Example: “That tractor was too tall to deck, so dispatch put it on a boom.”
Also called: boom driving, booming. See also: deck driving, saddle mount.
Learn more: Boom driving explained
C
cab and chassis
A truck that leaves the factory with a complete cab and a bare frame behind it, ready for an upfitter to add a body like a dump bed, box, wrecker or crane. Cab-and-chassis units are a driveaway staple because they need to get from the plant to the upfitter, and then to the dealer.
Example: “It looks unfinished because it is. That cab and chassis is on its way to become a dump truck.”
Also called: chassis cab, cab chassis. See also: chassis, cutaway, upfitter.
CDL (Class A / Class B)
A commercial driver’s license. A Class A CDL covers combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds. A Class B covers single vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more (like many straight trucks and buses). In driveaway, a CDL is not required, but it opens up more opportunities.
Example: “A Class A opens the most doors in driveaway, and nearly every one of those doors is attached to a truck.”
See also: non-CDL driveaway, deck driving.
Learn more: Driveaway driver requirements
chassis
The frame of a vehicle with its engine, drivetrain, axles and wheels, but without a finished body. Chassis are built by the manufacturer and often driven to an upfitter or body company for completion.
Example: “The plural of chassis is chassis, which is the kind of thing you’ll want to know before a dispatcher says ‘we’ve got six chassis going to Ohio.'”
See also: cab and chassis, cutaway, upfitter.
coach
An experienced driver who coaches a newer driver during onboarding on the skills a certain type of work needs, such as decking or booming, usually on real loads.
Example: “The new driver asked a hundred questions. The coach answered a hundred and one.”
See also: deck driving, boom.
Learn more: Driveaway onboarding
cutaway
A van-based chassis with a front cab that’s open at the back, so a body (like a shuttle bus, ambulance, RV or box) can be attached directly behind it. Cutaways are usually lighter-duty units and are common in driveaway.
Example: “From the front it’s a van; from the back it’s a construction project. That’s a cutaway.”
See also: cab and chassis, chassis, specialty driveaway.
D
deadhead
Miles a driver travels without a paying load. In traditional trucking, it means driving an empty truck. In driveaway, there’s no empty truck to drive after delivery, so “deadhead” usually means the unpaid trip back to the next pickup or home.
Example: “In driveaway, your deadhead has a seat number and a boarding group.”
See also: return trip.
dealer delivery
A driveaway move that delivers a vehicle to a dealership, either straight from the manufacturer or from an upfitter. Dealer deliveries are one of the most common kinds of driveaway loads.
Example: “Nothing makes a dealership happier than a dealer delivery that shows up clean, on time and with the paperwork done.”
See also: manufacturer, OEM, upfitter.
deck
To mount one or more trucks on a lead truck so that one driver can move them all as a single combination. The reverse is undeck: taking the combination apart at delivery.
Example: “We decked three units by lunch and undecked them in Texas the next afternoon.”
See also: deck driving, saddle mount, full mount.
deck driving
A type of driveaway in which one driver moves several trucks at once by connecting them in a decked, or saddlemount, configuration. The lead truck does the driving while each towed truck’s front axle rides on the truck ahead of it and its rear wheels roll on the road. Federal rules (49 CFR 393.71) allow up to three saddle-mounted trucks in one combination, plus one full mount, within a 97-foot overall length limit.
Example: “Deck driving: because sometimes one truck just isn’t enough truck.”
Also called: decking, saddlemounting, piggybacking. See also: deck, double deck, triple deck, quad deck.
Learn more: Deck driving explained
DOT number
The unique identification number the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assigns to a motor carrier. Officials use it to look up the carrier’s safety record, inspections and compliance history.
Example: “The DOT officer ran the USDOT number and was satisfied before the driver finished saying ‘good morning.'”
Also called: USDOT number. See also: MC number.
double deck
A deck load with two saddle-mounted trucks behind the lead truck, according to federal regulations. In everyday driveaway talk, though, some people count the total number of trucks instead, so “double” can also mean a lead truck plus one. When in doubt, ask how many trucks you’re moving, not how many decks.
Example: “‘Double deck,’ said the dispatcher. ‘Two trucks or three?’ asked the driver, who has been doing this a while.”
See also: deck driving, triple deck, quad deck.
driveaway
A segment of trucking in which drivers deliver vehicles by driving them to their destination instead of hauling them on a trailer. In driveaway, the truck is the freight.
Example: “In driveaway, nobody asks what you’re hauling. You’re sitting in it.”
Also called: drive-away, drive away, driveaway trucking. See also: driveaway-towaway operation, singles, deck driving.
Learn more: What is driveaway trucking?
drive-away / drive away (variant spellings)
Alternate spellings of driveaway. They mean exactly the same thing. “Driveaway” (one word) is the most common form in the industry; “drive-away” shows up in some federal highway rules and company names; “drive away” (two words) is mostly what people type into search engines.
Usage note: The spelling debate has been going on longer than some trucks’ warranties. The official ruling of this glossary: all three are correct, and the trucks don’t care.
Example: “Whether you spell it driveaway, drive-away or drive away, you’ll still need to be on time.”
See also: driveaway.
driveaway-towaway operation
The official federal term (49 CFR 390.5) for moving an empty or unladen vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the road: for example, from a manufacturer to a dealer or purchaser, or by saddle-mount or tow-bar. It’s the umbrella the regulations put over both driveaway and tow-away.
Example: “On paper it’s a ‘driveaway-towaway operation.’ On the CB it’s ‘I’m delivering a truck.'”
See also: driveaway, tow-away, saddle mount.
E
ELD (electronic logging device)
A device or app that automatically records a driver’s driving time for Hours of Service compliance. FMCSA exempts driveaway-towaway drivers from the ELD mandate when the vehicle being driven is the commodity being delivered. Those drivers still have to keep a record of duty status. At Norton, logs and inspections are handled in the Motive app.
Example: “The ELD exemption means you skip the device, not the logbook.”
See also: Hours of Service (HOS).
F
fifth-wheel mount
A deck setup in which the saddle that holds the towed truck’s front axle sits on the lead tractor’s fifth wheel rather than being clamped to its frame. Federal definitions allow a saddle to connect to either the frame or the fifth wheel of the vehicle in front.
Example: “On a fifth-wheel mount, the fifth wheel gets to do what it does best: hold up the next thing in line.”
See also: saddle mount, deck driving.
full mount
A smaller vehicle carried completely on the frame of another truck in a deck combination, with none of its wheels touching the road. Federal rules allow one full mount per saddlemount combination, on either the first or last vehicle.
Example: “The pickup rode as a full mount, which is the closest any truck gets to first class.”
Also called: fullmount. See also: saddle mount, deck driving.
H
Hours of Service (HOS)
The federal rules that limit how long commercial drivers can drive and work. For property-carrying drivers, the core limits are 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty, a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and a 60- or 70-hour limit over 7 or 8 days.
Example: “Hours of Service doesn’t care how close the dealer is. When the clock says stop, you stop.”
See also: ELD.
I
in-transit permit
A temporary permit, issued by a state, that lets an unregistered or not-yet-plated vehicle travel legally to its destination. Names, durations and rules vary by state.
Example: “The truck had no plates yet, but it did have an in-transit permit, which is the paperwork equivalent of a hall pass.”
See also: transport plate, trip permit.
L
load
In driveaway, a load is the vehicle (or group of vehicles) you’re delivering, not cargo inside a trailer. A deck load is one combination of decked trucks.
Example: “His load had leather seats and a heated mirror. Try saying that about a load of drywall.”
See also: unit, singles, deck driving.
Learn more: How driveaway works
M
manufacturer
The company that builds the vehicle or chassis. Manufacturer plants are where many driveaway trips begin.
Example: “Pickup is at the manufacturer, drop is at the dealer, and everything in between is your office view.”
See also: OEM, upfitter, dealer delivery.
MC number
A motor carrier operating authority number issued by FMCSA to for-hire carriers that move regulated freight across state lines. FMCSA has proposed phasing MC numbers out in favor of using the USDOT number alone, so check the current rules.
Example: “The DOT number says who you are. The MC number says you’re allowed to get paid for it.”
See also: DOT number.
N
non-CDL driveaway
Driveaway work moving vehicles light enough to drive on a regular license, such as pickups, vans and some cutaways.
Example: “Non-CDL driveaway proves you don’t need air brakes to have a good day on the road.”
See also: CDL (Class A / Class B), cutaway.
Learn more: Driveaway driver requirements
O
OEM (original equipment manufacturer)
The company that originally builds a vehicle or chassis, as opposed to the upfitter that adds a body later. In driveaway, “OEM” usually means the truck or bus maker whose plant is the pickup point.
Example: “The OEM built it, the upfitter finished it, and the driveaway driver introduced it to the open road.”
See also: manufacturer, upfitter.
owner-operator
A driver who works as an independent contractor, running their own business and choosing their own loads, rather than as an employee of a carrier. A company driver, by contrast, is an employee. Driveaway drivers are often independent contractors, and since the truck is the freight, a driveaway owner-operator usually doesn’t need to own a truck.
Example: “She’s an owner-operator who doesn’t own the truck, which is the most driveaway sentence ever written.”
Also called: independent contractor. See also: per-mile pay, same-day pay.
P
per-mile pay
Pay calculated on the miles of a trip. It’s one of the most common ways driveaway loads are paid, alongside flat per-load rates.
Example: “Per-mile pay rewards every mile you drive, which is the best argument yet for knowing your route.”
See also: same-day pay.
Learn more: Driveaway driver pay
POD (proof of delivery)
The signed document, photo record or electronic confirmation showing that a unit was delivered and accepted, with its condition noted. Submitting the POD is usually what closes out the load and gets pay moving.
Example: “No POD, no proof. No proof, a lot of phone calls.”
See also: bill of lading (BOL), same-day pay.
power unit
The vehicle in a combination that provides the power and does the driving. In a deck load, it’s the lead truck carrying the saddle for the truck behind it.
Example: “In a deck combination, the power unit does all the work and the rest of the trucks enjoy the ride.”
Also called: lead truck, drive unit. See also: deck driving, unit.
pre-trip inspection
The inspection a driver does before rolling. In driveaway, it covers the vehicle’s safety items (brakes, tires, lights, fluids) plus a full damage walk-around. For deck loads, federal rules (49 CFR 396.15) also require checking that the saddle-mount or tow-bar connections are secure, work without binding, and that the towed trucks track straight behind the lead truck. At Norton, inspections are recorded in the Motive app.
Example: “A good pre-trip takes ten minutes. A bad one can take the rest of your week.”
See also: bill of lading (BOL), deck driving.
Learn more: Your first driveaway load
Q
quad deck
Driveaway slang for a deck load of four trucks: a lead truck plus three saddle-mounted trucks. That’s the maximum the federal rules allow, which they call a “triple saddlemount.” It’s a long, eye-catching rig that demands real skill.
Example: “Four trucks, one driver, zero trailers. The quad deck is the closest thing driveaway has to a parade.”
See also: deck driving, triple deck, double deck.
R
return trip
How a driveaway driver gets home or to the next pickup after delivering, since the truck stays with the customer. Flights, buses, rental cars and rides all count. At Norton, an in-house travel department books the flights and rental cars; drivers plan their loads with online tools and their dispatcher.
Example: “The truck stays in Denver. Thanks to the travel department, the driver doesn’t.”
Also called: getting home, trip home, ride home. See also: deadhead.
Learn more: How driveaway drivers get home
S
saddle mount
The removable coupling device used to deck trucks. It does the job of a fifth wheel: its lower half clamps to the towing truck, its upper half clamps to the front axle of the truck being towed, and a kingpin connects the two so the towed truck can pivot in turns. Federal rules allow up to three saddle mounts in one combination.
Example: “A saddle mount is the only saddle in trucking. No cowboy hat required, but it helps.”
Also called: saddlemount, saddle. See also: deck, deck driving, fifth-wheel mount, full mount.
same-day pay
Getting paid on the same day the work is done, instead of waiting for a weekly or monthly pay cycle. At Norton, same-day pay is available when requirements are met, including getting your documents in by noon Eastern. It’s part of a pay package Norton considers the best in the industry.
Example: “Deliver the truck, get your paperwork in before noon Eastern, and same-day pay is available. Miss the cutoff and it’s still coming, just not today.”
See also: POD (proof of delivery), per-mile pay.
Learn more: Driveaway driver pay
school bus, RV and box truck moves
Driveaway loads that deliver vehicles other than standard trucks and tractors, such as school buses, motorhomes, and box or delivery trucks. Each brings its own handling quirks, length and sometimes license requirements.
Example: “Driving an empty school bus across three states is the quietest that bus will ever be.”
See also: specialty driveaway, cutaway.
singles
The simplest form of driveaway: one driver, one vehicle. The driver picks up a single unit, drives it to its destination, delivers it, and heads to the next opportunity.
Example: “Singles is driveaway without the assembly instructions.”
Also called: single driveaway, singles driveaway. See also: deck driving, unit.
Learn more: Singles driveaway explained
specialty driveaway
Driveaway moves of vehicles that aren’t standard trucks or tractors, such as buses, garbage trucks, fire trucks and ambulances, utility trucks and other specialized vehicles. These can need extra care, experience or licensing.
Example: “Specialty driveaway is how you end up driving a fire truck without having to be in a parade.”
See also: school bus, RV and box truck moves.
Learn more: Specialty driveaway explained
T
tow-away
The towed side of driveaway-towaway: delivering a vehicle with no engine of its own (most often a new trailer) by hooking it to a power unit and towing it, wheels on the road, to its destination.
Example: “Driveaway is when the truck is the freight. Tow-away is when the trailer is the freight and wants a ride.”
Also called: towaway. See also: driveaway-towaway operation, driveaway.
Learn more: Driveaway vs. traditional trucking
transport plate
A special license plate a state issues to licensed transporters or dealers so they can legally move vehicles that aren’t registered yet. The plate goes with the driver, not the vehicle. Rules vary by state.
Example: “He moved the plate from the last truck to the next one, which is the closest thing driveaway has to a family heirloom.”
Also called: transporter tag, transporter plate. See also: in-transit permit, trip permit.
trip permit (IRP / IFTA)
A short-term permit that lets a commercial vehicle travel through states where it isn’t registered (an IRP trip permit) or isn’t licensed for fuel tax (an IFTA fuel permit). Trip permits are common in driveaway because new trucks often aren’t registered for every state on the route.
Example: “Three states, three trip permits, one very organized glove box.”
See also: transport plate, in-transit permit.
triple deck
In everyday driveaway talk, a deck load of three trucks: a lead truck plus two saddle-mounted trucks. Federal regulations count only the towed trucks, though, so a “triple saddlemount” on paper is four trucks in total (what drivers usually call a quad deck).
Usage note: If anyone ever says “triple” with no context, ask a follow-up question. You’ll be glad you did.
Example: “It was a triple deck by the yard’s count and a double saddlemount by the government’s, and both were right.”
See also: double deck, quad deck, deck driving.
U
unit
Any single vehicle being moved in driveaway, whether it’s a tractor, straight truck, bus or chassis. Driveaway companies often measure their work in units delivered.
Example: “Every unit is somebody’s new truck, so drive it like the owner is watching from the passenger seat.”
See also: load, power unit.
upfitter
A company that installs bodies, equipment or modifications on a chassis after it leaves the factory, turning a cab and chassis into a dump truck, service truck, box truck or ambulance. Driveaway drivers often move units from the OEM to the upfitter, and from the upfitter to the dealer.
Example: “The chassis went into the upfitter as a frame with ambition and came out a wrecker.”
Also called: body company, body builder. See also: cab and chassis, OEM.
Driveaway FAQ
What does driveaway mean in trucking?
Driveaway means delivering a vehicle by driving it to its destination instead of hauling it on a trailer. The vehicle itself is the freight. Driveaway drivers move new and used trucks, buses and specialty vehicles from manufacturers, upfitters and sellers to dealers and buyers.
Is it driveaway or drive-away?
Both are correct, and so is “drive away.” “Driveaway” (one word) is the most common spelling in the trucking industry, “drive-away” appears in some federal highway rules and company names, and “drive away” is a common search spelling. All three mean the same thing.
What is decking a truck?
Decking is connecting several trucks so one driver can move them together. The front axle of each towed truck is mounted on a saddle attached to the truck ahead, while its rear wheels roll on the road. Federal rules allow up to three saddle-mounted trucks plus one full mount, within 97 feet.
What's the difference between driveaway and towaway?
In driveaway, the vehicle being delivered is driven under its own power. In towaway, the vehicle being delivered (usually a trailer) has no engine of its own, so it is towed behind a power unit. Federal regulations group both under “driveaway-towaway operations.”
How do driveaway drivers get home?
Because the delivered vehicle stays with the customer, driveaway drivers travel home or to their next pickup by plane, bus, rental car or other transportation. At Norton Transport, an in-house travel department books the flights and rental cars to get drivers home.
Ready to Drive the Freight?
You’ve learned the language. Now come put it to work. Check the driveaway driver requirements, then start your driveaway driver application. Norton offers best-in-industry pay with same-day pay available, and an in-house travel department that books your flights and rentals. Prefer to talk first? Email onboarding@nortontransport.com or call (423) 617-0218.
Want to hear it from people who live it? Listen to the Six-Figure Trucker podcast, hosted by John Madewell, or browse more driveaway resources.