What Does ‘Semi’ Mean in Semi Truck?

Despite seeing them on the roads and highways almost every day, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer size of a semi-trailer. It may seem odd to think of a machine as massive as a 72-foot-long, 80,000-pound 18-wheeler as a “semi-trailer,” but that’s what they’re called anyway. If that label alone seems confusing, the logic behind the moniker can be a bit more difficult to understand.

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The simplest way to understand this is that semi-trailers consist of two parts, the tractor and the trailer. The tractor, also known as the truck, forms the upper half, which houses the engine and seats the driver, steering the vehicle. The rear half consists of a detachable trailer that carries the load. While the original name for these machines was semi-trailer truck, the shortened “semi-truck” became the more common term as time went on.

However, depending on the vehicle you’re looking at or where you are located, you may hear semi trucks referred to by other names. Terms like semi-tractor, tractor-trailer or semi-tractor-truck are common examples of the regular name, while 18-wheeler and big rig are used in regions like the Northeast and South.

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You’ve probably never really thought deeply about the difference between semi-trailer trucks and regular trucks before. But now that you know what makes a semi-trailer truck, you may be wondering what sets it apart from regular trucks. Understanding the differences between these machines is key to knowing which one is best suited for which task.

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As we mentioned earlier, semi-trucks are most often defined by having a detachable trailer used to support their load. A regular truck, otherwise known as a box or flatbed truck, consists of only a single chassis with no additional storage attachments. These include moving trucks From companies like U-Haul and similar companies, garbage trucks and street sweepers. Despite the use of “semi” in the name, semi-trucks are generally much larger than straight trucks and can carry heavier loads because the trailers on the back give them more support options. And while straight trucks can vary in size, they are generally smaller and used for lighter-duty jobs.

Because of the differences in size and capacity, there are some economic considerations to keep in mind when deciding between the two types of trucks. Obviously, larger semi-trucks cost more to buy and maintain on average, and they also require a bit more of a learning curve to operate. This can be concerning when considering the overall expense. that commercial operators have to deal with on a regular basis, repair, insurance etc. and diesel fuelStraight trucks are less expensive, but depending on the load you will be hauling, a semi-trailer truck will require fewer trips and get the job done more efficiently.

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