| AL | Alburquerque Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. |
| DoE | Department of Energy - DoE (aside from it's main mission) is also responsible for the transportation and protection of nuclear materials when not under the control and storage at U.S. Military installations. |
| NMC | Nuclear Materials Couriers - Couriers are tasked with the driving of the SSTs as well as the protection agents accompanying each SST convoy. Disposition of protection crews, which includes number and tactics are classified. Crew regulations prohibit individual crew members from exceeding 32 hours of continuous travel without an 8 hour, stationary, sleep period. NMCs undergo a 12 week basic training course which include driving, communcations, regulations, and firearms. First year of operation is probationary and the NMCs receive OJT with experienced personnel. During their careers they are trained in team tactics, terrorist tactics, and new adversary techniques. |
| SECOM | Security Communications - a nationwide secure communications system operated by AL in order to "monitor the status and location, and maintain real-time communications 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, with every convoy." Also maintains an up-to-date regional contact directory for use in emergencies involving TSD missions. |
| SNM | Special Nuclear Materials - i.e. those nuclear materials useful in the production, fusing, and otherwise building of nuclear weapons. This may even be (speculation) material such as high accuracy tools or chemical processing gear for separation of various components of nuclear material. |
| SST | Secure-Safe Trailer - specially designed part of the 18 wheel vehicle providing for the total safety of the cargo. SSTs have a self imposed 55 mile an hour speed limit and are trained to avoid inclement weather with indentified safe and secure holding facilities en route. |
| TSD | Transportation Safeguards Division - the division within the DoE responsible for transportation and protection of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons components, and "special nuclear material". |