You come across semi-trucks on the highway every day as you head out for work. But have you ever taken a second to think how useful they are? Unlike other vehicles, semi-trucks carry a minimum of two people and weigh more than ten thousand pounds. They contribute to a country’s economy by delivering everything from electronics, hazardous chemicals, and heavy equipment. As a semi-truck owner, here is everything you should know about your vehicle.
What is a Semi-truck?
A semi-truck is a tractor with an engine and runs on its own. After manufacture in 1898, its purpose was to transport cars from the manufacturing company to the garage or showroom. Later, people realized semi-trucks could also transport other goods across the state. Depending on your shipment’s weight, dimension, and size, you can use it for delivery.
Operating a Semi-truck is More Intensive
Even though the basic engineering of a semi-truck and other vehicles are similar, one puts more effort into operating a truck with a thousand freight pounds. You will need real-life and in-class training to acquire a Commercial driver’s license. To earn a CDL, you require more trailer repair and operation skills, knowledge, and experience.
There are three license classes under CDL (A, B, C) that let you drive any truck weighing 26000 pounds or more like flatbeds, trailer combination, and a tractor-trailer. Class A and B let you manage trucks weighing less than 10000 pounds, while class C is for drivers that plan on transporting people.
While most vehicles are automatic, semi-trucks have manual transmission. Other bigger models have two gear sticks and 18 gears than an average car with a five to six-speed engine. It takes an intense amount of training and certification to steer all semi-truck mechanisms.
Effects of Driver Fatigue
Truck driving is among the most dangerous jobs. 40% of accidents involve truck drivers, with over eight hundred fatalities annually. One of the biggest links that lead to truck accidents is driver fatigue. There are service regulation hours that limit the number of hours you can drive every day and week. In the past, drivers could fill the number of hours they can drive each day, but it was not effective as it could be tampered with, and many drivers ended up working extra hours.
Long hours of driving leads to fatigue, thus increasing the possibility of accidents. To offset driver exhaustion, the FMCSA mandated the ELD device. It is an electronic device that lets you log in the hour you can safely drive. This regulation helps minimize the risks of accidents, thus increasing road safety. Other benefits of ELD include reduced fuel waste, improved route administration, and location tracking.
Semi-trucks represent the trucking industry. Truck drivers make that industry, and several others, function. Semi-Trucks are essential as they keep the country operating by supplying homes and businesses with all products they require. It’s important for anyone interested in driving semi-trucks to know as much as possible about them before going in. This vital part of the global infrastructure is essential to the world today.
