Truck: the story on HearLore

Truck

The first internal combustion truck was not a massive highway hauler but a small, utilitarian machine designed by Karl Benz in 1895. This vehicle, built just a year before the first automobile, marked the beginning of a mechanical revolution that would eventually replace the horse-drawn wagon as the primary method of freight transport. Before this invention, the roads of the mid-19th century were built for horses and carriages, limiting early steam wagons to very short hauls from factories to the nearest railway station. Steam-powered wagons were sold in France and the United States until the eve of World War I, and in the United Kingdom until 1935, when a change in road tax rules made them uneconomic against the new diesel lorries. The first semi-trailer appeared in 1881, towed by a steam tractor manufactured by De Dion-Bouton, setting the stage for the complex logistics networks of the future. In 1896, Gottlieb Daimler built the Daimler Motor Lastwagen, and other companies like Peugeot, Renault, and Büssing followed suit. The first truck in the United States was built by Autocar in 1899 and was available with engines. Another early American truck was built by George Eldridge of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1903. It was powered by an engine with two opposed cylinders, and had a chain drive. Trucks of the era mostly used two-cylinder engines and had a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons. After World War I, several advances were made: electric starters, and 4, 6, and 8 cylinder engines.

The Diesel Revolution and Electric Shadows

Although the diesel engine had been invented in 1897, it did not appear in production trucks until Benz introduced it in 1923. The diesel engine was not common in trucks in Europe until the 1930s. In the United States, Autocar introduced diesel engines for heavy applications in the mid-1930s. Demand was high enough that Autocar launched the DC model in 1939. However, it took much longer for diesel engines to be broadly accepted in the US: gasoline engines were still in use on heavy trucks in the 1970s. Electrically powered trucks predate internal combustion ones and have been continuously available since the mid-19th-century. In the 1920s Autocar Trucks was the first of the major truck manufacturers to offer a range of electric trucks for sale. Electric trucks were successful for urban delivery roles and as specialized work vehicles like forklifts and pushback tugs. The higher energy density of liquid fuels soon led to the decline of electric-powered trucks in favor of, first, gasoline, and then diesel and CNG-fueled engines until battery technology advanced in the 2000s when new chemistries and higher-volume production broadened the range of applicability of electric propulsion to trucks in many more roles. Today, manufacturers are electrifying all trucks ahead of national regulatory requirements, with long-range over-the-road trucks being the most challenging. In the European Union, all new truck engines must comply with Euro VI emission regulations, and Euro 7 from the late 2020s has stricter exhaust limits and also limits air pollution from brakes and tires. Heavy electric trucks and hydrogen-powered trucks are new to the market in 2021, but major freight haulers are interested. According to The Economist magazine, electric lorries will probably run on hydrogen, not batteries, which are too expensive.

Who invented the first internal combustion truck and when was it built?

Karl Benz invented the first internal combustion truck in 1895. This vehicle was a small utilitarian machine built just a year before the first automobile.

When did diesel engines first appear in production trucks?

Benz introduced the diesel engine in production trucks in 1923. The diesel engine did not become common in European trucks until the 1930s.

What is the maximum weight limit for road trains in Australia?

Road trains used in the Australian outback can weigh 150 tons and be 53 meters long. These vehicles operate under complex regulations regarding weight and length.

How many trucking accident fatalities occur annually in the United States?

Approximately 6,000 trucking accident fatalities occur annually in the United States. In 2018, 5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes.

Which countries use the word lorry instead of truck for medium and heavy vehicles?

The United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland, and Hong Kong use the word lorry for medium and heavy types. In these regions, the word truck is used almost exclusively to refer to pickups.

Who leads the worldwide truck market in terms of units sold?

Daimler AG leads the worldwide truck market with 506,663 units sold. Navistar International follows with 359,000 units and Dongfeng with 336,869 units.

The Architecture of Steel and Steel

Almost all trucks share a common construction: they are made of a chassis, a cab, an area for placing cargo or equipment, axles, suspension and roadwheels, an engine and a drivetrain. A truck frame consists of two parallel boxed or C-shaped rails, or beams, held together by crossmembers. These frames are referred to as ladder frames due to their resemblance to a ladder if tipped on end. The rails consist of a tall vertical section and two shorter horizontal flanges. The height of the vertical section provides opposition to vertical flex when weight is applied to the top of the frame. Though typically flat the whole length on heavy-duty trucks, the rails may sometimes be tapered or arched for clearance around the engine or over the axles. The holes in rails are used either for mounting vehicle components and running wires and hoses or measuring and adjusting the orientation of the rails at the factory or repair shop. The frame is usually made of steel, but can be made of aluminum for a lighter weight. A tow bar may be found attached at one or both ends, but heavy tractors almost always make use of a fifth wheel hitch. The cab, or cabin, is an enclosed space where the driver is seated. A sleeper is a compartment attached to or integral with the cab where the driver can rest while not driving, sometimes seen in semi-trailer trucks. There are several cab configurations: Cab over engine, where the driver is seated above the front axle and the engine, is almost ubiquitous in Europe, where overall truck lengths are strictly regulated. Cab-under is where the driver is positioned at the front at the lowest point possible as means for maximum cargo space as possible. Conventional cabs seated the driver behind the engine, as in most passenger cars or pickup trucks. Many new cabs are very streamlined, with a sloped hood and other features to lower drag. Conventional cabs are the most common in North America, Australia, and China, and are known in the UK as American cabs and in the Netherlands as torpedo cabs.

The Human Cost of the Highway

In 2006, the US trucking industry employed 1.8 million drivers of heavy trucks. There is a shortage of willing trained long-distance truck drivers. Part of the reason for this is the economic fallout from deregulation of the trucking industry. Michael H. Belzer, associate professor, in the economics department at Wayne State University and co-author of Sweatshops on Wheels: Winners and Losers in Trucking Deregulation, argues that low pay, bad working conditions and unsafe conditions have been a direct result of deregulation. The book cites poor working conditions and an unfair pay system as responsible for high annual employee turnover in the industry. In 2018, in the US, 5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. The number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes is 4,862, the number of large trucks involved in injury crashes is 112,000, and the number of large trucks involved in property damage only crashes is 414,000. In 2002 and 2004, there were over 5,000 fatalities related to trucking accidents in the United States. The trucking industry has since made significant efforts in increasing safety regulations. In 2008, the industry had successfully lowered the fatality rate to just over 4,000 deaths, but trucking accidents are still an issue that causes thousands of deaths and injuries each year. Approximately 6,000 trucking accident fatalities occur annually in the United States. Fatalities are not the only issue caused by trucking accidents. 14.4% of trucking accidents cause cargo to spill and 6.5% cause open flames. Following increased pressure from The Times Cities Fit For Cycling campaign and from other media in Spring 2012, warning signs are now displayed on the backs of many heavy goods vehicles. These signs are directed against a common type of accident that occurs when the large vehicle turns left at a junction: a cyclist trying to pass on the nearside can be crushed against the HGV's wheels, especially if the driver cannot see the cyclist. The signs, such as the winning design of the 2012 campaign launched in March 2012, advocate extra care when passing a large vehicle on the nearside.

The Silent Killer and The Green Horizon

Like cars, trucks contribute to air, noise, and water pollution. Unlike cars, most trucks run on diesel, and diesel exhaust is especially dangerous for health. Some countries outside the EU have different vehicle emission standards for trucks and cars. NOx and particulates emitted by trucks are very dangerous to health, causing thousands of early deaths annually in the US alone. As older trucks are usually the worst, many cities have banned 20th century trucks. Air pollution also threatens professional truck drivers. Over a quarter of global transport emissions are from road freight, in 2021 over 1700 million tonnes from medium and heavy trucks, so many countries are further restricting truck emissions to help limit climate change. Many environmental organizations favor laws and incentives to encourage the switch from road to rail, especially in Europe. Several countries have pledged that 30% of sales of trucks and buses will be zero emission by 2030. With respect to noise pollution, trucks emit considerably higher sound levels at all speeds compared to typical cars; this contrast is particularly strong with heavy-duty trucks. There are several aspects of truck operations that contribute to the overall sound that is emitted. Continuous sounds are those from tires rolling on the roadway and the constant hum of their diesel engines at highway speeds. Less frequent noises, but perhaps more noticeable, are things like the repeated sharp-pitched whistle of a turbocharger on acceleration, or the abrupt blare of an exhaust brake retarder when traversing a downgrade. There has been noise regulation put in place to help control where and when the use of engine braking retarders are allowed. A truck cab is a hazard control that protects the truck operator from hazardous airborne pollutants. As an enclosure, it is an example of an engineering control. Enclosed operator cabs have been used on agriculture, mining, and construction vehicles for several decades. Most modern-day enclosed cabs have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for primarily maintaining a comfortable temperature and providing breathable air for their occupants. Various levels of filtration can be incorporated into the HVAC system to remove airborne pollutants such as dusts, diesel particulate matter, and other aerosols.

The Language of the Load

Truck is used in American English; the British English equivalent is lorry. The first known usage of truck was in 1611 when it referred to the small strong wheels on ships' cannon carriages, and comes from Greek τροχός = wheel. In its extended usage, it came to refer to carts for carrying heavy loads, a meaning known since 1771. Its expanded application to motor-powered load carrier has been in usage since 1930, shortened from motor truck, which dates back to 1901. Lorry has a more uncertain origin, but probably has its roots in the rail transport industry, where the word is known to have been used in 1838 to refer to a type of truck, specifically a large flat wagon. It might derive from the verb lurry to carry or drag along, or to lug which was in use as early as 1664, but that association is not definitive. The expanded meaning of lorry, self-propelled vehicle for carrying goods, has been in usage since 1911. In the United States, Canada, and the Philippines, truck is usually reserved for commercial vehicles larger than regular passenger cars, but includes large SUVs, pickups, and other vehicles with an open load bed. In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the word truck is mostly reserved for larger vehicles. In Australia and New Zealand, a pickup truck is frequently called a ute short for utility vehicle, while in South Africa it is called a bakkie. In the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland, and Hong Kong lorry is used instead of truck, but only for the medium and heavy types, while truck is used almost exclusively to refer to pickups. In Japan, they are regulated under the Kei car laws, which allow vehicle owners a break in taxes for buying a smaller and less-powerful vehicle. These vehicles are used as on-road utility vehicles in Japan. These Japanese-made mini-trucks that were manufactured for on-road use are competing with off-road ATVs in the United States, and import regulations require that these mini-trucks have a speed governor as they are classified as low-speed vehicles. These vehicles have found uses in construction, large campuses, agriculture, cattle ranches, amusement parks, and replacements for golf carts. Major mini-truck manufacturers and their brands include: Daihatsu Hijet, Honda Acty, Tata Ace, Mazda Scrum, Mitsubishi Minicab, Subaru Sambar, and Suzuki Carry.

The Business of Moving the World

The truck market worldwide is dominated by a few major manufacturers. Daimler AG leads with 506,663 units, followed by Navistar International with 359,000 units, Dongfeng with 336,869 units, Tata with 317,780 units, Volvo Group with 207,475 units, Volkswagen Group with 179,035 units, Hino with 162,870 units, Paccar with 154,700 units, and Iveco with 140,200 units. Commercial trucks in the US pay higher road use taxes on a state level than other road vehicles and are subject to extensive regulation. A few reasons commercial trucks pay higher road use taxes: they are bigger and heavier than most other vehicles, and cause more wear and tear per hour on roadways; and trucks and their drivers are on the road for more hours per day. Rules on use taxes differ among jurisdictions. The life of a pavement is measured by the number of passes of a vehicle axle. It may be evaluated using the Load Equivalency Factor, which states that the damage by the pass of a vehicle axle is proportional to the 4th power of the weight, so a ten-ton axle consumes 10,000 times the life of the pavement as a one-ton axle. For that reason, loaded trucks cost the same as thousands of cars in pavement costs, and are subject to higher taxes and highway tolls. In many countries, driving a truck requires a special driving license. The requirements and limitations vary with each different jurisdiction. In Australia, a truck driver's license is required for any motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes. In the United States, a commercial driver's license is required to drive any type of commercial vehicle weighing 26,000 pounds or more. The federal government regulates how many hours a driver may be on the clock, how much rest and sleep time is required, with violations often subject to significant penalties. Instruments to track each driver's hours must sometimes be fitted. In 2006, the US trucking industry employed 1.8 million drivers of heavy trucks. There is a shortage of willing trained long-distance truck drivers. Part of the reason for this is the economic fallout from deregulation of the trucking industry. Michael H. Belzer, associate professor, in the economics department at Wayne State University and co-author of Sweatshops on Wheels: Winners and Losers in Trucking Deregulation, argues that low pay, bad working conditions and unsafe conditions have been a direct result of deregulation. The book cites poor working conditions and an unfair pay system as responsible for high annual employee turnover in the industry.