Vehicles play a vital role in any country’s economy. Resembling the blood that carries nutrition to all the cells of the body, the trucks carry things necessary for sustaining modern life (among others) to each state and city of U.S., and even beyond the national boundaries.
The semi-truck are one of the most efficient and spacious vehicles ever developed and created. They consist of two parts, the cabinet or the tractor and the trailer (the part that carries the load). There are around three times more trailers in a country, in comparison to the cabin/tractor. The number of the semi trucks or the semi trailers in U.S. is around 5.6 million. Apart from the cabin, the trailer also has the breaks, which get automatically applied when the cabin and the trailer are not attached.
Here are the nine important facts related to the semi trucks
1. Have a massive built
The 18 wheeler semi trucks are huge and weigh around 80,000 pounds. They are also quite lengthy at approximately 75 feet and tall with height at around 13 or 14 feet.
2. Have some gears
Many of us who drive cars cannot think of vehicle having more than 6 or 7 gears. The semi trucks may have up to 18 gears to enable forward movement, and two gears for reverse movement. The gears in the semi truck can be 9, 10 and up to 15. No wonder the semi trucks move through the double clutch technology/technique.
3. One of the most expensive vehicles on earth
Semi trucks consist of basically two parts, the cab (cabin) and the trailer. The cost of the cabin varies from $130,000 to up to 180,000! The cabin is of no use (cannot carry the goods) until it is supported by a trailer. The cost of the container is around $30,000 to up to $80,000.
4. Jack-Knifing- The most common semi truck accident cause
When the trailer of the truck swings out(towards a 90-degree angle) because of some breakage, it might hit the other road travelers and the driver of the vehicle itself. The weight of the trailer load, speed, road weathering and other adverse conditions, or a curve on the road may be a cause of jack-knifing. A semi truck wreck lawyer Houston, TX fights the cases related to truck accidents, with some firms, have the desired expertise.
5. Dense proportions in some states
Of all the semi trucks operating in the U.S., around one-third are registered in the three states viz. Florida, California, and Texas. U.S. has more than 3.2 million licensed drivers of these commercial trucks. But the majority of trucking companies do not have a massive number of vehicles. The records reveal that around 10% of the firms only possess more than six trucks.
6. Long distance traveling
According to the official Federal Highway Admin. Records, the semi trucks move more than a 100,000 miles, every year. While the semi trucks are only 15% of all the commercial trucks that operate in the U.S., their movement comprises more than 42% of all the miles covered.
7. Covering the majority of America and serving all Americans
The semi trucks cover around 140 billion miles every year. The semi trucks alone carry more than 68% of all the products/goods in the country. They, hence provide each American around 60,000 pound worth of goods every year. However, the largest or bulk of goods that are carried by the semi trucks belongs to the building and agriculture sector.
8. Fuel economy
A semi-truck travels around 6.5 miles per gallon of fuel (mpg). The fuel economy of a semi truck, however, may vary between 4 to a greater of 6 mpg. The figure varies with the kind of terrain traveled by the vehicle. For instance, on a steep, uphill terrain, the truck may give a mileage of 2.9 mpg, while the mileage would be as much as 23 mpg on a downhill road. According to the new regulations, a semi truck having a sleeper cab should give a mileage of 7.2mpg, on a straight and level road.
9. New tricks for increasing fuel efficiency of semi trucks
The efforts towards improving the fuel efficiency of the semi trucks look basically into the tire-rolling resistance and aerodynamics. The side skirts can lower or prevent the wind turbulence and resistance that occurs beneath the trailers. Round caps (located near the rear of the doors of the trailer) and the fairings also help in lowering resistance and friction and improve fuel efficiency.
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