Driving down the road behind a 18 wheel tractor and trailer, my daughter asked my why this vehicle was called a Semi? I did not have an answer. So please if you know, tell me where did the Semi part come from?
2006-08-15 02:42:32 · 0 answers · asked by Cheri S 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
(sigh,) okay, here's the CORRECT answer. what is commonly referred to as a "semi" is a combination of vehicles, as opposed to a "truck" which is one single vehicle.
The first is called a semi-tractor, and is the power unit for the combination. The tractor has one steering axle at the front, and at least one driving axle at the rear.
The next vehicle in the combination is called a semi trailer. trailers come in several types including "dry van" (box,) "reefer" (refrigerated box,) "tank," "flatbed," and several other odd niche trailers that are too numerous and uncommon to bother yourself with trying to figure out.
the front of a trailer rides over the rear of the tractor. That is why it may appear that it has axles at the front, but it does not. a trailer has it's axle or axles at the rear.
Occasionally, a "converter dolly" can be attached to the rear of a semi-trailer, which allows another semi-trailer to be connected. theoretically, the number of trailers that could be attached is only limited by the weight that the tractor could pull, but no state allows more than 3 trailers to be used in a single combination. (most states limit a combination to 1 tractor, and 2 trailers)
The "semi" in each vehicle's name indicates that they are, legally, seperate vehicles (that's the DOT's way to force us to shell out big bucks for 2 or more different licence plates) but, since they are engineered specifically to be used in combination, and neither of the vehicles in the combination are of any use without the other, they are only semi-vehicles.
2006-08-15 05:11:50 · answer #1 · answered by DrewDane 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Semi Tractor Trailer
2016-10-05 12:51:28 · answer #2 · answered by cyrstal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Is A Tractor Trailer
2016-12-12 17:26:25 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A semi-trailer truck is a truck consisting of a towing engine ("tractor" in the US), and a trailer that carries the freight. Since without the 'trailer' that it is pulling it would not be a full truck, it is called a Semi. (partial truck with trailer)
2006-08-15 03:04:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is actually short for Semi-Truck. The trailer is called a semitrailer because it doesn't have a front axle. In order to pull a semi-trailer, you need a Semi-truck.
2006-08-15 02:56:57 · answer #5 · answered by kdog 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe a semi trailer has wheels at the back, and just those strut things at the front when not attached to the tractor.
A 'full' trailer has a set of wheels at the front as well.
2006-08-15 02:47:16 · answer #6 · answered by kheserthorpe 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋