It’s a simple fact. Without trucks, we’d be lost.
Often built with logistics and freight transport in mind, trucks (from the small to the likes of road trains) help move valuable goods and products across large expanses of land. In a country like Australia, this is absolutely important.
But beyond ensuring Australia can keep operating, trucks also have an intriguing history behind them. In today’s article, we’re going to look at 5 interesting facts regarding trucks you may have not known about.
The beginning of ‘truck’
Every word has its origins, and the word ‘truck’ was used as early as 1611. Back then, ‘truck’ referred to heavy duty wheels that were used on the canon carriages of a ship. From there, the word was adapted and associated with a range of items/locomotives that were designed to carry heavy loads. And, of course, as we know them today, trucks (whether they’re semis, road freight or road trains) serve a primary purpose of transporting heavy freight loads.
Giving the truck its motor
The first motorised truck emerged towards the end of the 1800s. The man responsible was Gottlieb Daimler, a German engineer who was responsible for the world’s first motorbike and taxi.
Why is a semi a semi?
When you hear about a semi truck, the word ‘semi’ emerged primarily due to the actual trailers these trucks support. As these trailers have no front wheels, they are completely incapable of movement unless connected to the tractor section of a truck. So as ‘semi’ can refer to something not being complete, that’s where semi-trailer comes from. The term ‘semi’ for the trucks was then adapted from there.
World’s largest output of trucks
In 2011, Japanese vehicle manufacturer Isuzu produced the largest number of trucks to ever be manufactured in one year. The company’s total update equalled 447,359 for the entire year. This record is yet to be beat.
Road trains
When it comes to road trains, Australia has the largest and heaviest road-legal vehicles in the entire world. And while many of our longest road trains have been part of breaking records, every single of the world’s largest road train records belong to Australia. So far, the world’s longest road train was an Australian truck that had 112 semi-trailers and ran a length of 1,474.3 metres.
Got any other cool truck facts you’d like to share? Add them to conversation in the comments below.
