Trucking is a big sector of the American economy, responsible for moving the majority of goods that travel from factories to distribution centers and retail destinations. The trucks themselves go by several names including tractor-trailer, semi-truck, and eighteen-wheeler. The following are some interesting facts about these giant beasts of the freeway collected by various experts in Semi Truck Repair.
The name semi-truck doesn’t mean half truck, as you might think. The word is actually just a complement to the term semi-trailer, which is what the truck hauls. Since the trailer has no front wheels, only back ones, it is an incomplete vehicle. Thanks to the term semi-trailer, the truck also became known as a semi.
The vast majority of trucking companies in the U.S. have small fleets of five or fewer trucks. One-third of all semis are registered in just three states: California, Texas, and Florida.
Semi trucks are not the most fuel-efficient vehicles, averaging somewhere between four and eight miles per gallon of diesel fuel. Fortunately, they have huge gas tanks, holding between 125 and 300 gallons of fuel, depending on the truck.
Semi trucks run best when they run non-stop. The only time the trucks need to be shut down is when they’re getting an oil change or when they will be parked for some time.
Though you rarely see them on the highway, semis can haul up to three trailers at a time. This is legal in only a few states in the U.S., but it’s a more common practice in Australia, which has the world’s largest road-legal vehicles.
Semi-trucks are challenging to maneuver because of their length. A semi needs 55 feet to complete a u-turn, and it takes 40% longer than a car to come to a complete stop.
Compared with car engines, semi truck engines are six times larger, have four times the horsepower, and ten times the torque. The engines are also designed to last five times longer. A semi truck owner can expect the odometer to clock 1,000,000 miles before the engine needs an overhaul. When it is finally time for an overhaul, truckers can visit website for information about Semi Truck Repair.
