What Is A Semi Truck? 10 Things You Need To Know

A Semi Truck is the large 18-wheeler that many of us are familiar with. Semi trucks are large, heavy duty trucks used to transport goods over long distances by road. The first production Model T Fords were delivered to a railroad station by a semi truck.

Semi Trucks have been in use since the 1930’s and come in a variety of sizes, from 14,000 pound ~ 53,000 pound. There are six different types of semi trucks that vary by weight: Light Duty 8,500-10,500 lbs., Medium Duty 11,001-26,000 lbs., Heavy Duty Over 26,001 lbs., Extra Heavy Duty Over 52,000 lbs., and Special Use Vehicles.

Initially used to carry cargo more economically over long distances on highways using a system of roads known as “trucking”, they were quickly supplemented with trains and aircraft which could not only carry much larger loads but do so at higher speeds over longer distances. Currently freight rail transport is preferred over road transport for cost and environmental efficiency reasons.

A semi truck is very large and typically has two or more axles. A typical semi truck will have anywhere from two to four axles, as well as a wider cab than that of a normal car to allow the driver to sit higher to improve visibility, air brakes (which often fail due to poor design), and a trailer with double or triple tires on each axle. Many also have an additional fifth wheel coupling located below their cargo box. This allows the truck to drive itself while only hauling one trailer at a time.

Different types of semi trucks include:

-Semi Truck Tractors – Semi Truck Tractor trailers typically have a single, or a set of twin axles at the front and another set of twin axles at the rear. They also have anywhere from two to four axles, with a fifth wheel coupling located somewhere on the cargo box to allow it to haul multiple trailers at once. These types of trucks are Typically known as single or Doubles. The average length for these is anywhere from 50ft-77ft(14m-23m).

The average weight is 80,000lbs(36,287kg) when empty and anything from 160,000lbs(72,574kg)-270,000lbs(122,470kg) when fully loaded.

-Heavy Haulers – Semi Truck Heavy haulers are very similar to tractors but typically have only two axles at the front, with anywhere from three to five axles in the rear. The fifth wheel coupling is located somewhere between the cargo box and the back of the truck so it can haul multiple trailers at once. They also have a 360 degree rotating fifth wheel which allows them to safely drive on roads with steep turns or limited space . In some states they are known as Tridem models due to having 3 axles on each side of the truck

The average length for these is 60ft-86ft(18m-26m)

The average weight is 80,000lbs(36,287kg) when empty and anything from 230,000lbs(104,879kg)-780,000lbs(353,809kg) fully loaded.

-Heavy Haulers With Huge Payloads -The average weight for these is anywhere from 260,000lbs(118,248kg)-850,000lbs(386,639kg). In some states these trucks are known as Quad or Tridem models as they have four axles on each side of the truck

-Barges And Pontoons – A barge is a semi truck combined with a boat. The boat attaches to the bottom of the cargo box and fills up with water once underwater

Pontoon Semi Trucks are barges that stay afloat using air instead of water. This allows them to drive on roads -Double Stacks – Double Stacks are semi trucks that have two trailers, one stacked on top of the other.

-Buckets And Flatbeds – Buckets are semi trucks with large hydraulic arms attached, allowing them to transport small to mid-sized equipment and machinery

Flatbed Semi Trucks are similar but lack the boom arms . They allow larger equipment, such as steel beams or construction machinery, to be transported in an open environment .

As well as these there is also:

-Man Trailers (also known as Pull Behinds) These consist of a standard cargo box placed onto a smaller truck with its own engine (known as a Power Take Off or PTO) which drives the larger truck .

-Bicycle Trailers – These are self-propelled semi trucks capable of carrying up to 6 bikes at once.

-Bulldozers, Excavators And Compactors – Semi trucks with hydraulically attached arms that allow them to perform heavy duty tasks such as digging .

-Road Railers – Road railers are standard semi trucks with a rail track attached under their cargo box , allowing them to drive on both roads and train tracks. They are used for transporting shipping containers in ports.

They can also be found in many different types of trailer configurations including:

-Cable Reel Trailers – A Cable Reel Trailer is a traditional type of trailer consisting of a large rotating drum mounted on the back . It is used to transport steel coils .

-Reefer Trailers – Reefer Trailers are commonly used for transporting temperature sensitive goods, such as frozen food or medicine. They must be kept at temperatures between 0°F and 45°F (-17°C to 7°C) at all times

-Log Trailers – A log trailer is similar to a regular cargo box but has rail tracks attached so logs can roll onto them smoothly. Large hydraulic arms allow logs to be stacked high inside the trailer without getting stuck together while being transported by heavy machinery.

-Container Trailers – Standard semi trucks with two or more shipping containers attached . These are typically used in ports.

-Pneumatic Trailers – A Pneumatic Trailer is a semi truck with a pressurised tanker attached. It allows various chemicals to be transported including milk, oil and liquid propane gas .

-Flatbed Buses – These are commonly seen in African countries where they are used to transport people around the city. They have rows of seats mounted onto them just like any other bus but lack an engine . Instead the rear wheel moves the entire vehicle using hydraulics .

-Tanker Trailers – Tanker trailers are used for transporting heavy liquids such as fuel, water or even sewage down roads . Other trucks perform these tasks by pumping out their load which creates pollution and leaves behind hazardous waste . This makes tanker trailers a safer alternative as they have their own engine to power the trailer itself.

-Dump Trailers – A Dump Trailer is similar to a reefer, but it lacks the insulation and pressurisation . Instead it has hydraulic arms which allow its load to be emptied into a large pit or onto a heap of dirt .

-Fuel Trailers – As well as being self propelled, Fuel Trailers can also be towed behind other semi trucks with trailers attached (known as ‘Belly Tows’). This allows bulk fuel transport between oil rigs and petrol stations. They are sometimes used by terrorist organisations for transporting bombs and other explosives .

Construction Vehicles:

Due to its size and weight, this type of vehicle requires special training before it can be driven legally . Therefore, you will often come across semi trucks parked up on building sites with no one inside. This also allows the driver to use a sleeper berth .

Construction Vehicles are very similar to Flatbed Semi Trucks but are designed for construction purposes rather than cargo transportation . They can be identified by their small crane attached to the back of the trailer which is used for loading and unloading materials onto or off of site.

These vehicles are required to park at special locations called ‘laydown areas’ when they are not being used. These laydowns consist of flat concrete-like ground with yellow lines painted along them. They allow other road users to share the road safely as well as protecting construction workers from other vehicles that might be careless or reckless.

Hazardous Materials:

Many chemicals and hazardous products such as explosives, flammable liquids and poisonous gasses must be transported in special trailers to keep the public safe. If these were to leak out it could cause serious injuries and even fatalities .

These trailers are equipped with a number of safety features including:

-A protective cage inside the trailer that prevents any parts from coming loose and causing damage.

-A second battery which powers heating/cooling systems during transport, in case the first one fails. This protects temperature sensitive goods from losing their optimal temperature.

-Tanks made from different materials such as carbon fibre, steel, glass or titanium if they may be exposed to extreme conditions such as fire or water.

-Cameras and sensors attached to the outside of the trailer which monitor temperature, pressure and other factors in real time. The driver can receive information about what is going on inside the container so they can react accordingly.

-Automatic fire extinguishers which spray a foam retardant to put out any fires that break out. -Locks on valves preventing hazardous materials from being moved without permission from authorities .

Flatbed Semi Trucks: These deck over trucks have been equipped with a large box fitted onto their flatbeds for carrying goods such as steel beams, construction equipment and building materials . They are capable of transporting much more than normal semi trucks due to the size of their load area .

Some flatbeds come equipped with a hydraulically operated arm which can be raised up to transfer goods between the flatbed and a larger truck attached behind it. This is useful for placing large materials such as steel beams or heavy machinery onto flatbed trailers without having to drive backwards and forwards on the road.

-Tanker Semi Trucks – The tanker trailer is fitted with a powerful pump system which can dispense up to 5000 gallons of fuel at once . They are commonly found at petrol stations all around America .

There are two types of tanker available; single hose trucks (right) pump out their load into underground storage tanks, while double hose vehicles (left) pump gas directly into vehicles’ filler necks. Double hoses are safer than single hose types due to the lack of an extra point where fuel can leak out. They are fitted with a valve which prevents any flow unless it is connected to another pipe at the other end .

-Tanker Semi Truck Tractors – The tanker semi truck tractor is capable of transporting both goods and petrol simultaneously in the same vehicle . A special locking device prevents tankers from being removed when they are attached, so multiple trailers can be pulled behind them without risk of anything spilling.

The benefits of using semi trucks for transport:

-Low Maintenance: Semi trucks are made to be driven long distances and require little maintenance. They do not require regular tune ups like cars and only need their fluids topped up every 5000 miles or so – this is compared to normal vehicles that require a yearly oil change .

Service centres can provide semi truck owners with ‘scheduled maintenance’ plans which will guarantee that their vehicle will never have problems in return for an annual fee. -Fuel Efficiency: The high consumption of diesel by large trucks is due to their sheer size, displacement, power and the quality of modern engines .

These vehicles are built for transporting goods over long distances at highway speeds while keeping consumption low. Modern turbocharged engines fitted in modern semi truck tractor trailers consume around 10 miles per gallon of diesel, while older engines may only pump a little over a mile per gallon. The amount saved by using semi trucks for haulage is enormous – the UK alone saves $3.5bn (£2.4bn) in fuel each year through using road transport instead .

-Safety: Semi truck one way transportation services boast many safety features which make them much safer than regular cars and vans such as ABS braking systems , independent front suspension, improved aerodynamics and longer stopping distances due to their tyre design . Their larger size requires them to fit into designated roads and highways specifically designed for their use, making the areas around these roads less congested and dangerous . Drivers who regularly take long trips will find themselves well rested and ready to drive once they get to their destination.

-Size: Semi trucks are by far the largest road vehicles available and can transport much more than other types of vehicle . They can be fitted with a multitude of different trailers which allow them to carry almost anything, making them capable of traversing through mountains, snow, forests and water with ease .

The sheer size of semi trucks take up less room on roads meaning that there will be fewer cars around in the same amount of space – this makes it possible for people living in cities to have access to larger vehicles without congestion being an issue . The downside is that semi trucks take up so much room when they are parked at truck stops or service stations , meaning that other drivers need to pay extra money for spots closer to the building .

-Cost Savings: Trucks are much cheaper to run than cars in almost every area – purchase, fuel and maintenance. Car drivers must pay road tax, car insurance , MOT test fees and more while truck drivers pay nothing except their vehicle excise duty ( VED )

How to choose the right semi truck for your needs :

-Number of Axles: The number of axles on a semi truck is determined by the weight being transported – each axle can be no more than 3.5 tonnes in total . The more axles a vehicle has, the lower its overall weight will be which means that it will cost less to buy fuel and also cause less strain on roads while driving . Each axle should correspond to the amount you are transporting but if you don’t know how much load there is, choose an average 3 or 4 axled truck.

-Engine Size: Semi trucks are fitted with different sized engines depending on where they are manufactured . Most modern European vehicles have diesel engines between 13 to 22 litres whereas American models are usually 18 to 26 liters. Choose an engine size that is bigger than your freight’s total weight so that you don’t have to refuel frequently on long trips.

-Fuel Capacity: This refers to how much fuel an engine can hold at any one time and is usually determined by its size . A bigger model means that the vehicle will be able to go longer distances before it needs to refuel but also costs more in both purchase price and maintenance.

-GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): The GVW represents the maximum amount of weight that can be put on a truck when fully loaded . It includes not only the total weight of freight, but also the empty truck weight itself – this is important because different semi trucks may require different amounts depending on how many axles they possess.

-Payload Capacity: This is how much cargo can be carried on the truck when it is fully loaded . The GVW minus the weight of the empty vehicle equals this amount.

-Turning Radius: Larger semi trucks have better turning radii, making them easier to drive in traffic where frequent turning may be required.

-Suspension: If you are going to be carrying heavy loads , try and get a model with rear suspension because they tend to have a more stable ride even when empty. If you are going to carry lighter loads or drive mostly on open highways, a spring suspension will usually suffice.

-Features: When buying from an online retailer such as Domino Car Hire, always check if the truck has double cabins (in case there are two drivers) and whether it has air conditioning or even a refrigerator/ microwave unit. Some trucks may come with satellite navigation systems, climate control and even beds fitted in the back for long distance driving .

-Size of Tires: The size of tires must correspond to the weight that is being transported on your truck – choosing bigger tires means that you can carry more but you will also have to pay more for them as well as their upkeep which could be extremely expensive if they end up getting damaged. If you’re transporting lightweight freight, use smaller wheels so that you don’t waste money on fuel.

-Conversion : If you need a truck for several different jobs , choose one that can be converted easily so that it can be used for different purposes. For example, you may require your truck to transport both fuel and passengers so choose one with a removable tank compartment so that it can be switched around depending on what is needed at the time.

-Transmission: The transmission of your semi truck determines how it will handle hills and its power output which affects the speed at which you are able to drive . A manual transmission requires less fuel but makes driving more difficult whereas an automatic transmission (which has regular gears like a car) is easier to drive but does not perform as well . Semi trucks usually come with either 4 or 5 speed transmissions.

Why do they call it a semi truck?

Traditionally, semi trucks were fitted with only two axles and resembled the front axle of a car. They then evolved to have three or four legs in order to handle bigger loads which enabled them to transport more freight at a go. This is where it gets its name from – the term ‘semi’ means half because it had one half of a car’s axle at the front.

Why do they call semi trucks 18 wheelers?

This refers to the amount of axles that a truck possesses. These can either be two, three or four. A normal car has just one axle at the front and another one at the back whereas 18 wheelers have several axles which enables them to carry bigger loads .

What is a tractor-trailer?

A combination of a semi truck and a normal trailer forms what is known as a tractor-trailer. These are extremely common all over the world with 300,000 such units on US roads. They can also be referred to as ‘road trains’ in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The reason they are called this is because the wheels at their front belong to both the trailer and semi truck so it almost looks like they have been joined together .

How much fuel does a semi hold?

The size of the fuel tank that a truck has varies depending on its purpose and how big it is. A gas or diesel powered semi can range from having a 3500 gallon tank (20,827 litres) up to as large as 5000 gallons (22,700 litres). To give you an idea of how much fuel this actually is – most tanks in passenger cars only hold about 12 gallons (45 litres), your average SUV holds around 30 gallons (114 litres) and some larger luxury sedans even have tanks which can carry up to 75 gallons (284 metres).

Do semi trucks have V8 engines?

The answer to this question depends on where you’re from. In America, all trucks come with V8 engines as it is the most powerful engine that is allowed for use on public roads and highways due to their immense size and weight . However, in Europe and Asia, diesel engines are more common because they consume less fuel and produce less emissions which means lower taxes .