Semi-trucks are always on the road delivering things and driving to and fro. They’re a constant presence and never seem to leave the road. While they once might have stood out due to their sheer size, we’ve soon gotten used to seeing them, and now they seem to blend in completely and we don’t even notice they’re there. Semi-trucks may not have been made for the road initially, but it has become their home, and they’re here to stay.
Therefore, it might benefit you to know a little bit about these giant trucks and how they impact our everyday lives, whether we’re aware of it or not. This article will review some interesting things you did not know about semi-trucks in case you’re curious. Perhaps after reading this, you’ll come away with a better appreciation for them.
We Depend on Semi-Trucks
Most people don’t realize how much semi-trucks are responsible for most of their lifestyles and how they survive. This goes from the food that they eat to the clothes they wear and anything else you can imagine. So many things must be imported and then transported by trucks so they can eventually arrive at people’s homes. Every year semi-trucks travel about 45,000 miles—to put it another way, that’s about thirteen trips per year across the country.
No Semi Should Drive Without Anti-Lock Brakes
Because they typically have a weight capacity of roughly 80,000 lb., it takes an exceptional amount of time and force to put a stop to a semi-truck. Anti-lock brakes are standard when it comes to these trucks; they were instituted in 1978 to ensure no mistakes would happen while braking. Did you know that it takes roughly two football fields of distance to stop the behemoths that are semi-trucks?
They Are Safe on the Road
Semi-trucks have the longest-lasting engines, and it’s due to how they were made. Being diesel-fueled means that they generally last a lot longer than gasoline-powered engines. Diesel engines have been known to run for one million miles before throwing in the towel. That’s pretty impressive.
Furthermore, to avoid further injuries and deaths, most trucks these days have regulators fitted on their engines. The regulators limit the speed of the trucks. This means it’s impossible for them to speed while on the highways. And if the truck drivers need to pull over, they follow these tips on how to pull over safely. Basically, safety is at the top of truck driver’s minds—for your safety and their own!
The next time you see a trucker, make sure you shake their hand or buy them a cup of coffee to thank them for their service. Without semi-trucks to deliver so many things we rely on, our lifestyles would be vastly different. Hopefully, reading this has given you some insight and informed you on things you may not know about semi-trucks so you can better understand what they do and how they affect our lives.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
