A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, truck and trailer, transfer truck, 18-wheeler, mack truck, big rig (US), transport (Canada), artic (UK and Ireland), or lorry (UK), is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine (tractor in the United States, prime mover in Australia or truck in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand), and a semi-trailer (plus possible additional trailers) that carries the freight. A semi-trailer does not trail completely behind the towing vehicle, but is attached at a point that is just forward of the rear-most axle of the towing unit, so that some fraction of the weight of the trailer is carried by the prime mover, with most of that at the rear axle(s) and a small amount at the front axle(s) of the prime mover. This arrangement requires both tractor and semi-trailer to be distinct in design from a rigid truck and trailer.
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Famous quotes containing the word truck:
“They shoulda called me Little Cocaine, I was sniffing so much of the stuff! My nose got big enough to back a diesel truck in, unload it, and drive it right out again.”
—Little Richard (b. 1932)