Common Carrier

A common carrier is anything and everything that transports people or goods from one place to another for a fee. This could be a truck, train, courier, airplane, taxi, tow truck, Uber car, bus, garbage truck, segway-built-for-two...whatever. Most types of common carriers need to have a state permit before they start driving people or products around, and the vehicles are inspected often. A special class of driver’s license might also be required, and if you are hauling anything considered hazardous, you will need a permit for that, too.

Large grocery store chains, for example, most likely own their own trailers and paint them accordingly, but contract out for the driver who might own the cab, or where the engine is located. If the grocery chain or any other company owns the entire truck, they are called private carriers. But whether they are common or private, there are strict federal rules the drivers must follow...such as how long they can operate a truck or any other kind of carrier, and the maximum number of hours they can drive in seven consecutive days. There are different rules depending on whether people or goods are being transported.

So give a driver a nice wave the next time you're on the road to thank them for their service. Just make sure they don't mistake it for a different gesture.