Semi-trailer Totally Explained

Everything about Semi-trailer totally explained

A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported either by a road tractor or by a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly or by the tail of another trailer. A semi-trailer is normally equipped with legs which can be lowered to support it when it's uncoupled.
A road tractor coupled to a semi-trailer is often called a semi-trailer truck or semi. Though most road trailers meet this definition, the term is most often applied to heavy trailers appropriate for use in such a rig.
In Australian English, the tractor unit is usually referred to as a prime-mover and the combination of a prime-mover and trailer is known as a semi-trailer or semi. Semi-trailers with two trailer units are B-Doubles or Road Trains. A B-double consists of a prime mover towing two semi-trailers where the first semi-trailer is connected to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling and the second semi-trailer is connected to the first semi-trailer by a fifth wheel coupling. A Road Train means a combination, other than a B-Double, consisting of a motor vehicle towing at least two trailers (counting as a single trailer a converter dolly supporting a semi-trailer).

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

In road haulage semi-trailers predominate over full trailers because of their flexibility in use.

The trailers can be coupled and uncoupled quickly allowing them to be shunted for loading and to be trunked between depots.
In the event of a breakdown, a tractor unit can be exchanged quickly and the load delivered to its destination without undue delay and without having to trans-ship.
It is also possible to use a dolly to tow a semi-trailer behind a rigid truck, or behind another semi-trailer.
Special tractors (known as tugs, yard dogs or yard trucks) are often used for internal transport, for example, manoeuvring semi-trailers at a depot or loading and unloading ferries. These tractors may lift the coupling so that the trailer legs clear the ground.
Compared with a full scale trailer, a semi-trailer attached to a tractor unit is easier to reverse, since it has only one turning point (the coupling), whereas a full trailer has two turning points (the coupling and the drawbar attachment).
Compared with a rigid vehicle, a semi-trailer truck has a turning circle smaller than its overall length making it more maneuverable.

Disadvantages

Since a semi-trailer rests on top of a tractor it has a high centre of gravity which makes it less stable than a rigid vehicle.

Articulated vehicles are difficult to drive in snow and ice since they lose traction more easily than a straight truck.

They are also subject to jackknifing.

Couplings

There are two types of couplings: fifth wheel and automatic. In some applications, no separable coupling is fitted and the trailer is bolted to the tractor unit using a bearing and rocker feet as are used under a fifth wheel skid plate.

Fifth wheel coupling

The towing vehicle has a wide coupling plate known as a fifth wheel coupling bolted onto its chassis on which the semi-trailer rests and pivots. As the tractor reverses under the trailer, a king-pin under the front of the trailer slides into a slot in the skidplate and the jaws of the fifth wheel close on to it. The driver has to raise the trailer legs manually and couple the airbrake lines and electrical cable.

Automatic couplings

Many years ago automatic couplings predominated but are now quite rare. Automatic couplings were generally used for payloads of 12 tons or less, for example on the Scammell Mechanical Horse.
There is no coupling plate on the tractor. There is a turntable permanently fixed to the underside of the trailer. This locks on to the chassis of the tractor. When the tractor reverses under the trailer its legs rise and the brake and electrical connections are made automatically. Almost the entire coupling and uncoupling procedure is operated by the driver from inside the cab, except that he or she's to descend to release (or apply) the trailer parking brake.

Types

Different types of semi-trailers are designed to haul different cargoes.
Common widths are 2.4 meters (8 feet), and 2.6 meters (8.5 feet).

Box ť The most common type of trailer can haul almost anything that can fit inside. Also called a van trailer.

Standard lengths in North America are 28, 40, 48, and 53 feet.

Bus ť A bus bodied trailer hitched to a tractor unit to form a trailer bus, a simple alternative to building a rigid bus.

Curtain sider ť A curtain sider is similar to a box trailer except that the sides are movable curtains made of reinforced fabric coated in with a waterproof coating. The purpose of a curtain sider is to allow the security and weather resistance of a box trailer with the ease of loading of a flatbed.

Reefer - see Refrigerator truck ť Box trailer with a heating/cooling unit (reefer) attached. Used for hauling produce, ice cream, etc.

Tanker - see Tank truck ť Used for hauling liquids like gasoline, milk, etc.

Dry Bulk ť Resembles a big tanker, but is used for sugar, flour and other dry powder materials.

Flatbed ť Consists of just a load floor and removable side rails, and a bulkhead in front to protect the tractor in the event of a load shift. Can haul almost anything that can be stacked on and strapped down.

Lowboy ť Type of flatbed in which the load floor is as close to the ground as possible. Most commonly used to haul heavy equipment, cranes, bulldozers, etc.

Car carrying trailer ť Carries multiple cars; usually new cars from the manufacturer.

Drop-deck trailer ť A Drop-deck trailer is a trailer on which the floor drops down a level once clear of the tractor unit, the most common types of drop-deck trailer are flatbeds and curtain siders.

Double Decker ť Double deckers or deckers are trailers with either a fixed, hinged or moveable second floor to enable them to carry more palletised goods, in general a double decker can carry 40 pallets as opposed to 26 for a standard trailer. Double deck trailers are generally a stepped box or curtain siders, with box trailers having either a fixed or movable (floating ) deck and curtain sides having either a fixed or hinged second deck, this hinged seconed deck generally swings into a position down the length of the trailer and can be divided into 2 or 3 sections to allow greater load flexibility.

Sidelifter / Sideloader ť Semi-trailer with hydraulic cranes mounted on tracks at both ends of the trailer allowing for the loading and unloading of different sized shipping containers without the need of a forklift or other container handling equipment.

Further Information

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