The following interesting facts are worth reading whether you are a trucker by trade, know someone who is, are just interested in the field, or want to brush up on your knowledge for trivia night. Who would not like to learn some interesting trivia about semi-trucks and the trucking industry, after all?
Facts About Semi-Trucks You Should Know
Why is it Known as a Semi-Truck?
A tractor and one or more trailers are combined to form a semi-truck. It is also known as an 18-wheeler owing to its 18 wheels or a tractor-trailer. Due to the semi-lack trailers of front tire tandems, it must be dragged.
What Size is a Semi-Truck?
Semi-trucks are rather large, with an average length of 70 feet. Of course, this may vary somewhat depending on the kind of tractor and trailer combination. The size of trailers may also vary depending on the amount of hauling required, whereas sleeper cabs are bigger than other tractor kinds.
What is the Weight of a Semi-Truck?
To account for the trailer and tractor, semi-trucks may carry up to 80,000 pounds. This weight is typically distributed as 12,000 pounds over the steer axle and 34,000 pounds over the drive and tandem axles of the trailer. Sometimes excessive cargoes may exceed these weight restrictions; nonetheless, these cases call for specific licenses.
How far can a typical tractor-trailer go on a single tank of fuel?
Semi-trucks can often go 2,100 miles on a single tank of fuel. But this is diesel, not gasoline. This works up to around seven miles per gallon if tanks are assumed to store 300 gallons.
How many gears does a typical semi-truck have?
Due to the ongoing phase-out of manual transmissions, most tractors currently feature automated gearboxes. Semi-trucks with standard manual transmissions typically have 10 speeds. Although having 13, 15, or even 18 gears is not all that uncommon. These gears must reduce their speed and stop their weight to account for the various loads being carried and the various surfaces and inclines being traversed.
What Is a Semi-Typical Truck’s Lifespan?
Semi-truck lifespans typically range from 10 to 15 years, depending on various circumstances, including how well the vehicle is maintained. This implies that certain vehicles may go more than a million miles and still be in good shape.
How Many Semi-Trucks Are in Use in the United States?
In the United States, there are 1.9 million semi-trucks in use. Only three states—Texas, Florida, and California—represent around one-third of this total.
What Features Come Standard in Semi-Trucks?
Many truckers consider their semi-trucks to be their second homes. To make life on the road simpler, these cars are built with comfy amenities. Some amenities include memory foam beds, refrigerators, power inverters, and auxiliary power units.
How far do semi-truck drivers travel annually?
Most of the 3.5 million drivers in America travel an average of 45,000 miles each year. Of course, this is an average as individuals who go large distances will undoubtedly increase their mileage while others who remain close to home would probably not do so.
What is the time required to stop a semi?
Even with the increasing attention to braking technology and the requirements for ABS brakes, semi-trucks remain hefty and challenging to stop. It is crucial to realize that several variables, like the weight of the vehicle, its speed, and the state of the road, may significantly affect how far it takes to stop a truck.
How Vital Are Semi-Trucks For Goods Transport?
Tractor trailers are used to deliver over 70% of all American commodities. Because of this, driving trucks is a vital job that deserves respect and attention.