Load tracking glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll see around truck load tracking.
- Load tracking
- Sharing a truck's location while it hauls a load, so the broker and shipper can see pickup, in-transit progress, and delivery in real time.
- ELD (Electronic Logging Device)
- A device connected to the truck that records driving hours and location. Providers include Samsara, Motive, Omnitracs, Geotab, and others.
- Telematics
- Vehicle data (location, speed, engine status) sent from an ELD/GPS device. A telematics connection lets loads track automatically by truck number.
- Driver app tracking
- Tracking a load with a phone app (such as Trucker Tools or MacroPoint for Truckers) when the truck isn't on a connected ELD. Needs location set to Always / Allow all the time.
- Live location link / Live Sharing
- A public web link (from Samsara or Motive) that shows a vehicle's live location to anyone you send it to, for a set time, with no login required.
- Asset ID (truck/trailer number)
- The truck or trailer identifier on a load. It must match exactly how the carrier names the device in their telematics account, or the load won't track.
- Geofence
- A virtual boundary around a stop (pickup or delivery). Crossing it records arrival and departure times automatically.
- BOL (Bill of Lading)
- The document listing the freight, shipper, and consignee. Drivers can scan it in the app so the broker gets it instantly.
- POD (Proof of Delivery)
- A signed document confirming the load was delivered. Often required for the carrier to get paid.
- Detention / Dwell time
- Time a truck waits at a stop beyond the scheduled window. Tracking timestamps help prove detention for accessorial pay.
- Late-delivery claim
- A claim that a load arrived late. Continuous tracking data helps a carrier defend against unjustified claims.
- Tracking ping
- A single location update sent from the app or ELD. Gaps in pings can show as 'not tracking' or 'waiting for update.'
- Always Allow / Allow all the time
- The phone location setting that lets a tracking app post location while the app is in the background — required for tracking to keep working while driving.
- VPN
- A virtual private network. A VPN can hide or fake a phone's real location and stop tracking — turning it off is the first fix when a driver app won't track.