What are all the parts of a semi-truck?
If we were to list all the parts of a semi truck, we would need an entire book! What we are going to do is look at some of the important and essential elements of these wonderful vehicles. There is no other vehicle that evokes the spirit of America quite like these giants of the freeway. Glorious to look at and a sight to behold in convoy, these trucks take goods from one place to another and keep us fed and watered.
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What is a Semi Truck?
A semi truck is a heavy truck. These trucks feature a cab that disconnects from the trailer. You will see these massive trucks on the roads every day as more freight is carried by road in the USA than by any other method. Semi trucks can do upwards of 100,000 miles each year in some cases and are hugely powerful vehicles with large engines and complex transmissions. Let’s talk a bit more about the engine and transmission of a semi truck.
The Engine and Transmission
In 2010 the Swedish truck and car maker Volvo – a leading semi truck brand – introduced the FH16. This features a massive 16-liter engine producing 700bhp., making it the most powerful semi truck ever seen. Other makers such as Peterbilt and Freightliner have trucks that are not far behind, but nothing matches the big Volvo.
As for the transmission, most semi trucks feature 10 forward gears and two reverse gears. However, some models have as many as 18 forward gears. The reason for so many is that the torque needs to be applied at the right level throughout to ensure that the truck gets its power to the wheels efficiently.
These massive and complex engines and gearboxes drive some of the most magnificent trucks in the world. Naturally, they need maintenance regularly in order to keep them in top working order, and this is carried out by specialists who are experts in truck maintenance and repair.
Braking System
The brakes on a semi truck differ greatly to those on your road car. Truck brakes are hydraulic and involve a high-pressure system pushing hydraulic fluid through a series of pipes. When you consider that a truck can carry as much as 240,000lbs gross weight it becomes apparent how powerful the brakes need to be. Brakes are among the most often replaced items of a semi truck and are a complex part of the vehicle.
Tyres
Heavy truck tyres undergo a great deal of wear and tear and cover many tens of thousands of miles in a given year. They are extremely durable yet, as with all vehicle tyres, have a finite lifespan. Truck tyres are also regularly replaced with new items. An ageing truck tyre can be a danger on the roads, and it is not unusual for them to blow during a journey in the later part of their life.
The above are just a few of the major components that keep America’s favorite vehicles on the road, and there is much more to semi trucks than these few areas of the vehicle. We hope that we’ve helped you understand more about semi trucks and why they remain an important part of the USA’s vehicle fleet.
