How Do Semi Trucks Work? 

Introduction

     I love semi trucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     I actually got a ride in a semi when I was about seven years old. There were a lot of cool buttons that I wanted to know what they did.

     One button the driver pushed was called the "Jake brake." We were on a hill, and the Jake brake helped the truck slow down without using its regular brakes. It made a low, loud rumbling noise that was really cool!

     This experience inside a semi truck inspired me to want to know more about how semi trucks work. If you have ever wondered how they work, read on!                

Size and Weight 

     A normal 53-foot semi trailer can haul up to thousands of pounds, moving loads from place to place delivering to stores every day.

     A semi truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds (40 tons) which is the most weight that U.S. highways allow.  The length of a semi depends on the trailer. Most trailers are about 70 to 80 feet long (960 inches). 

Parts of the Truck

     Today most semi trucks have automatic transmissions, but older trucks used to have manual transmissions. Standard manual transmission semi trucks usually have 10 gears, although they can have 13, 14, 15, or even 18 gears! 

     All those gears are used to help slow down the truck carrying all their extra weight without overusing the brakes.

     Truck drivers that drive long distances don’t just work in their truck, they live in it. Sleeper cabs come with beds, small kitchens, and sometimes even bathrooms. It’s all about being comfy and having good sleep, which helps them be a better driver.

Outside Parts

     One interesting fact about semi trucks is they have high horsepower diesel engines. This helps semi trucks climb steep mountains while pulling thousands of pounds of weight on their trailers. 

     Their engines are made tough, meant to last hundreds of thousands of miles with proper care and fixing. 

     Semi trucks average around 2,100 miles on a single tank of diesel. Diesel tanks hold 300 gallons, so this averages out to around seven miles per gallon. 

Jobs Using the Trucks    

     Semi trucks have a big role in how we do things today. Since the early 20th century semi trucks have improved efficiency and expanded the supply chain. For example, this means you can grow oranges in Florida and send loads of them on semi trucks up to New York.

    Everything you buy has likely spent some time on a semi truck. Everything! Groceries, clothes, furniture, Nee-Dohs, even the diesel gas that makes a semi truck go has spent time being delivered by a semi truck. Semi trucks are a big piece of the global supply chain, helping businesses run smoothly and shelves stay stocked.

Staying Safe on the Road

     Semi truck hauling has come a long way to become more safe. Trucks now come with collision avoidance systems, lane awareness and alerts, lock brake systems, and special safety equipment to keep truck drivers and everyone else on the road more safe.

     There are strict rules for semi trucks to keep the roads safe. For example, semi trucks have a weight limit for how heavy their load can be. If a truck carries too much weight, it can damage and destroy the road.

     Truck drivers also have laws about how long they can drive, and how long they must rest before starting to drive again. These laws help keep the road safe and protect drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.

Life Span

     How many years can a semi truck keep driving? This will depend on many things like how well the truck gets maintenance. On average semi trucks can keep driving on the road for about 10 to 15 years. Some trucks can get up to the million mile mark and still keep going strong. 

History 

     The first semi goes back to 1889, when Alexander Winton made the first trailer. It changed transportation forever.

     A semi truck and its trailer are separate parts that work together. 

Semi Truck Names      

     There are many different words or nicknames for a semi truck depending on where you live. These are some other names that people use for semi trucks: 18-wheeler, big rig, tractor trailer, truck and trailer, or semi- trailer.

     If you live in England, you might call a semi truck an "articulated lorry," or "Artic" for short.

    If you live in Canada, you might call a semi truck a "transport truck" or "transfer truck." 

Conclusion

     Did you know there are electric semi trucks that are being developed and sold? This technology might drastically change the world of semi trucks in the future. Maybe in the future eventually there will be no diesel semis!

    But for now, electric semis have some big challenges, such as a limited range before they need to be recharged.

    We also don't know how long they can survive. Can they reach the million mile mark like diesel trucks can? 

     Diesel semi trucks work way better because they can travel farther and faster all around the country, and they last a long time. In my opinion, they should keep diesel semis.