Knowledge (XXG)

Tractor unit

Source 📝

381: 332: 487: 38: 428: 708: 351:
North America, this type of cab can be useful in rigid trucks, but has little advantage in tractors and is rarely used. EU rules (introduction of EU Regulation No. 2019/1892) have been relaxed since September 2021 to allow for a longer cab, where the additional length is used to improve aerodynamics and vulnerable road user safety.
196: 456:
four axles, but with all of them driven, and 10×8 units have five axles with the rear four usually driven and the front axle for steering. All five axles of 10×10 units are driven. The front two axles are usually both steer axles. The axle configurations are usually based on axle load legislation, and maximum
350:
The cab over engine or cab forward "flat face" has a flat nose cab with the driver sitting in front of the front axle. Widely used in the EU and Japan, this style has the advantages of good vision and maneuverability and shorter cab length, at the expense of driver safety in case of an accident. In
455:
on the driven axle. The 6×6 units have three axles, all can be driven, and 8×6 units have four axles, with either the rear three driven and the front axle not, or the front and rear-most two axles powered and an unpowered lifting center axle to spread the load when needed. The 8×8 units also have
419:
types. However, some manufacturers offer 4×4, 6×6, 8x4, 8×6, 8×8, 10×8, and 10×10 axle configurations. A 6×4 has three axles, normally an undriven front steer axle and the two rear axles driven. 6×4 units are more common in long-distance haulage in larger countries such as the United States and
362:
weight restrictions. With the loosening of length restrictions in 1982 this style had limited applications, and is no longer manufactured for the U.S. market. This style is still popular in Australia and New Zealand where length restrictions apply and it is used to maximise the capacity of both
467:, tend to have four or more axles, with more than two axles driven. In certain countries (such as Switzerland), a certain amount of weight must be spread over driven axles, which led to heavier varieties having 314:
Most tractor units are based on the chassis of a large truck (Class 8 in North America) minus the cargo body, with shorter frames used for cabovers and day-cab tractors, and longer frames used for
311:
couplings are also found, particularly in dedicated exceptionally heavy-duty ballast tractors and as a means to connect intermediate fifth-wheel dollies for pulling multiple semi-trailers.
354:
A North American style cab over engine "bull nose", largely obsolete, had a flat nose cab located higher over the engine, with the driver sitting above the front axle. This allowed a
347:
The conventional "dog nose" has an engine and hood over the front axle in front of the cab, as in most automobiles. This style is almost universal in North America.
371:
still manufacture trucks in this style for this market. In Australia both styles of cab over engine truck as well as conventionals are in common use.
443:
axle, which can also be driven. Most 6×2 units allow the undriven rear axle to be raised when lightly loaded, or running without a trailer, to save
380: 359: 30:
This article is about the power unit for hauling towed or trailered loads. For the vehicle used in agriculture or construction, see
393: 678: 733: 471:, otherwise, another tractor unit would have to be used. Heavy haulage variants of tractor-units are often turned into a 457: 531: 712: 412: 331: 195: 738: 452: 631: 285:
distributes a load across multiple axles while being more maneuverable than an equivalently sized rigid
656: 305:
can be rapidly swapped between tractors, eliminating downtime while a trailer is unloaded or loaded.
290: 501: 364: 275: 264: 536: 521: 282: 165: 506: 308: 145: 343:
There have been three common cab configurations used in tractors, two are still widely used.
541: 492: 416: 149: 140:, is a characteristically heavy-duty towing engine that provides motive power for hauling a 49: 728: 511: 486: 472: 468: 176: 169: 17: 604: 722: 556: 385: 355: 315: 267: 232: 226: 221: 148:
load. These fall into two categories: heavy- and medium-duty military and commercial
293:, allowing a rapid shift between trailers performing different functions, such as a 432: 298: 256: 209: 180: 153: 358:
in a short tractor, and maximum wheelbase relative overall length, important for
242: 45: 37: 526: 482: 464: 397: 294: 448: 427: 237: 41: 463:
Heavier versions of tractor units, such as those used in heavy haulage and
707: 516: 440: 368: 336: 245: 157: 551: 400: 200: 31: 421: 215: 141: 583:, with 2 wheels per axle regardless of whether single or dual tires. 475:
by fitting temporary ballast, which may require special permitting.
161: 363:
single trailer and B double configurations, and American companies
546: 426: 389: 379: 330: 302: 286: 250: 194: 36: 444: 408: 271: 632:"Freight Management and Operations: Bridge Formula Weights" 388:
8×8 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) tractor pulling a 5-
439:
Tractors with three axles or more can have more than one
415:. The most common varieties are those of 4×2, 6×2, and 657:"Freight Management and Operations: Size Regulations" 424:, the 4×2 and 6×2 variants are more commonplace. 289:. The most common trailer attachment system is a 276:multi-ratio transmission (10, 13, or 18 gears) 679:"Guidelines on Maximum Weights…Criteria (EU)" 626: 624: 179:which is a combination of a tractor unit and 8: 318:tractors, to accommodate the longer cabin. 270:for power, durability, and economy; several 651: 649: 605:"Tractor Units Information UK Regulations" 259:– legs for when semi-trailer is detached 596: 569: 403:6×6 NBC detection vehicle near Baghdad 27:A truck designed to tow semi-trailers 7: 278:for maximum flexibility in gearing. 187:describes only the tractor portion. 659:. U.S. Department of Transportation 634:. U.S. Department of Transportation 431:Typical tractor unit versions from 25: 301:. Trailers containing differing 175:It should not be confused with a 706: 485: 156:, and very heavy-duty typically 152:semi-tractors used for hauling 1: 684:. Road Safety Authority. 2013 407:A tractor unit can have many 263:Tractor units typically have 458:gross vehicle weight ratings 283:tractor–trailer combination 229:(not present in all trucks) 755: 435:, possible ballast tractor 29: 18:Prime mover (tractor unit) 168:tractor units, including 436: 404: 340: 260: 53: 430: 413:axle load legislation 383: 334: 198: 40: 734:Articulated vehicles 715:at Wikimedia Commons 609:www.truckpages.co.uk 396:trailer, carrying a 291:fifth-wheel coupling 502:Articulated vehicle 451:fees, and increase 356:sleeper compartment 537:Semi-trailer truck 522:Gladhand connector 437: 405: 341: 265:large-displacement 261: 60:, also known as a 54: 48:–style commercial 711:Media related to 507:Artillery tractor 16:(Redirected from 746: 710: 694: 693: 691: 689: 683: 675: 669: 668: 666: 664: 653: 644: 643: 641: 639: 628: 619: 618: 616: 615: 601: 584: 574: 542:Terminal tractor 532:Mechanical Horse 495: 493:Transport portal 490: 489: 339:4×2 tractor unit 170:ballast tractors 160:-capable, often 150:rear-wheel-drive 21: 754: 753: 749: 748: 747: 745: 744: 743: 719: 718: 703: 698: 697: 687: 685: 681: 677: 676: 672: 662: 660: 655: 654: 647: 637: 635: 630: 629: 622: 613: 611: 603: 602: 598: 593: 588: 587: 575: 571: 566: 561: 512:Ballast tractor 491: 484: 481: 473:ballast tractor 469:six-wheel drive 378: 329: 324: 254: 248: 240: 235: 230: 224: 219: 213: 207: 193: 177:tractor-trailer 164:, military and 106:big rig tractor 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 752: 750: 742: 741: 736: 731: 721: 720: 717: 716: 702: 701:External links 699: 696: 695: 670: 645: 620: 595: 594: 592: 589: 586: 585: 568: 567: 565: 562: 560: 559: 554: 549: 544: 539: 534: 529: 524: 519: 514: 509: 504: 498: 497: 496: 480: 477: 420:Australia. In 377: 374: 373: 372: 360:bridge formula 352: 348: 335:A Leyland T45 328: 325: 323: 322:Configurations 320: 268:diesel engines 192: 189: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 751: 740: 739:Tractor units 737: 735: 732: 730: 727: 726: 724: 714: 713:Tractor units 709: 705: 704: 700: 680: 674: 671: 658: 652: 650: 646: 633: 627: 625: 621: 610: 606: 600: 597: 590: 582: 581:driven wheels 578: 573: 570: 563: 558: 557:Truck sleeper 555: 553: 550: 548: 545: 543: 540: 538: 535: 533: 530: 528: 525: 523: 520: 518: 515: 513: 510: 508: 505: 503: 500: 499: 494: 488: 483: 478: 476: 474: 470: 466: 461: 459: 454: 450: 446: 442: 434: 433:heavy haulage 429: 425: 423: 418: 414: 411:depending on 410: 402: 399: 395: 391: 387: 386:Oshkosh M1070 382: 375: 370: 366: 361: 357: 353: 349: 346: 345: 344: 338: 333: 326: 321: 319: 317: 312: 310: 306: 304: 300: 296: 292: 288: 284: 279: 277: 273: 269: 266: 258: 252: 247: 244: 239: 234: 228: 223: 217: 211: 206: 202: 197: 190: 188: 186: 182: 178: 173: 171: 167: 163: 159: 155: 154:semi-trailers 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 131: 127: 123: 119: 115: 114:big rig lorry 111: 110:big rig truck 107: 103: 99: 95: 91: 87: 83: 79: 75: 71: 67: 63: 59: 51: 47: 43: 39: 33: 19: 686:. Retrieved 673: 661:. Retrieved 636:. Retrieved 612:. Retrieved 608: 599: 580: 577:Total wheels 576: 572: 462: 438: 406: 398:slat-armored 365:Freightliner 342: 313: 307: 280: 262: 257:landing gear 249:9. enclosed 212:(detachable) 210:semi-trailer 205:tractor unit 204: 185:tractor unit 184: 183:, whereas a 181:semi-trailer 174: 137: 133: 129: 125: 121: 117: 116:or simply a 113: 109: 105: 101: 97: 93: 89: 85: 82:semi-tractor 81: 77: 73: 69: 65: 61: 58:tractor unit 57: 55: 52:tractor unit 465:road trains 447:wear, save 316:Sleeper cab 299:box trailer 295:bulk tipper 243:fifth wheel 218:compartment 94:tractor cab 78:ten-wheeler 74:prime mover 46:sleeper-cab 723:Categories 614:2024-02-22 591:References 527:Road train 238:fuel tanks 166:commercial 90:semi-lorry 86:semi-truck 70:power unit 66:lorry unit 62:truck unit 449:toll road 327:Cab Types 146:trailered 102:lorry cab 98:truck cab 42:Peterbilt 517:Cab over 479:See also 453:traction 441:steering 369:Kenworth 337:cab-over 274:; and a 246:coupling 191:Overview 158:off-road 688:25 June 638:25 June 552:Tractor 460:(BDM). 401:M93 Fox 309:Drawbar 233:air dam 227:sleeper 201:tractor 134:big rig 118:tractor 32:Tractor 729:Trucks 663:25 Jun 422:Europe 392:M1000 303:cargos 216:engine 682:(PDF) 564:Notes 547:Toter 409:axles 390:bogie 376:Axles 287:truck 272:axles 253:space 251:cargo 222:cabin 142:towed 126:lorry 122:truck 690:2013 665:2013 640:2013 445:tire 394:HETS 367:and 297:and 281:The 255:10. 130:semi 44:386 417:6×4 384:An 241:8. 236:7. 231:6. 225:5. 220:4. 214:3. 208:2. 199:1. 172:. 162:6×6 144:or 138:rig 136:or 112:or 50:6×4 725:: 648:^ 623:^ 607:. 579:X 203:; 132:, 128:, 124:, 120:, 108:, 104:, 100:, 96:, 92:, 88:, 84:, 80:, 76:, 72:, 68:, 64:, 56:A 692:. 667:. 642:. 617:. 34:. 20:)

Index

Prime mover (tractor unit)
Tractor

Peterbilt
sleeper-cab
6×4
towed
trailered
rear-wheel-drive
semi-trailers
off-road
6×6
commercial
ballast tractors
tractor-trailer
semi-trailer

tractor
tractor unit
semi-trailer
engine
cabin
sleeper
air dam
fuel tanks
fifth wheel
coupling
cargo
landing gear
large-displacement

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.