A Guide to the Many Different Types of Semi Trucks (Diesel Trucks)

Truck owners and prospective truck owners: thinking of your next diesel semi-truck? Don&#;t know where to begin?

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We understand. Choosing which brand, type, and trailer-cab configuration can be daunting. But with the heavy-duty trucking industry poised to grow 7.9% over the next five years, you couldn&#;t have picked a better time to think about what types of diesel semi-trucks exist.

If you&#;re looking for what types of diesel semi-trucks exist, you&#;ve come to the right place. We&#;re Equipment Experts, Inc., Tacoma, Washington&#;s go-to fleet and diesel repair truck shop.

For the last 20-plus years, we&#;ve been providing fleet teams, drivers, and operators with top-notch diesel repairs, fleet maintenance advice, and preventive maintenance support.

If you&#;re in the market for a new diesel semi truck &#; or are just wondering what types of semi trucks exist &#; join us! In this guide, we&#;ll explore the many different types of diesel semi-trucks, their utility, and other key information needed to help you with all your semi-truck repair needs.

Let&#;s roll!

Defining semi trucks

Semi-trucks: despite their heft and size, it&#;s a wonder they&#;re called semi.

Before we explore the many different types of semi trucks on the market, we first want to understand what we mean when we say &#;semi&#; truck.

A semi-truck refers to a combination of two components:

1. The tractor unit (which is where the truck&#;s cab is located)
2. The trailer unit (which is attached to the tractor)

The truck area is where passengers sit, and the trailer area is where heavy equipment and goods are stored and transported.

The cool part about semi-trucks is that there&#;s one for virtually every need! With our newfound knowledge, let&#;s find out what our friends in the trucking industry have built.

We&#;ll explore the most common types of semi-trucks on the market in the next section.

The most common types of semi-trucks

The most common types of semi trucks on today&#;s market include:

• Day cabs
• Sleeper trucks
• Custom haulers
• 18-wheeler trucks
• Sloped-nose trucks
• Conventional-nosed trucks
• Trucks with raised and flat roofs

Day cab semi trucks

Day cabs are some of the most standard semi-trucks on the market. These trucks contain an area for drivers and passengers to sit, and they may be equipped with rear windows.

Because they don&#;t have a sleeper cabin attached, operating in reverse tends to be easier. Day cabs are often used for shorter trips that don&#;t require overnight hauls.

These types of budget-friendly semi-trucks have shorter bodies and are easier to drive in narrow areas. Best of all, almost any trailer can attach to it, making it one heck of a desirable commercial truck.

Sleeper semi trucks

If you&#;re looking for a semi-truck that can be taken on the road for days at a time, a sleeper semi-truck is the truck for your business.

Sleeper semis are built with sleeping quarters, helpful accessories, and other luxurious amenities. These trucks help people accomplish tasks for over-the-road hauling.

These trucks come in a variety of different sizes and styles. You can choose a simple sleeper truck with a basic sleeping area. Or, opt for an extended sleeping area with a full RV setup.

Like the day cab, a sleeper truck can be hooked up to a variety of trailers. Because of its flexibility and comfortable sleeping compartment (among other benefits), a sleeper semi-truck is a solid over-the-road truck.

Custom hauler semi trucks

Like its namesake, custom haulers are different from standard trailers and tractors.

If you want a specialized tractor with heavy-duty towing capabilities, say the word. With custom haulers, heavy lifting can be done. With custom haulers, you can even add sleeping quarters to the truck.

The benefit of opting for a custom hauler is that custom haulers tend to have some of the most powerful engines on the planet. These trucks help transport oversized loads and different types of cargo across long distances.

Custom haulers are a great truck choice because of their power and versatility.

Defining semi-trailers

&#;So, why is the word &#;trailer&#; used with the word &#;semi-truck?&#;&#; you might ask. Great question.

Instead of calling a truck a semi-tractor semi-trailer truck, we just call the combination of the tractor and trailer a &#;semi-truck&#; (also known as tractor-trailer).

While we&#;re on the topic, semi-trailers are what we call the trailers attached to the tractor. Semi-trailers have one job (and one job only): to haul distinct goods.

Additional reading:
What is the difference between RV and trailer?
Braked Trailer Axles: Ensuring Safety and Stability on the Road
Maintenance and Care Tips for Lowbed Semi Trailers
Safety Procedures for LPG Forklifts
Why I chose a base camp trailer as my full-time RV home
A Guide to Choosing the Right Capacity and Size for Your Tipper Truck
Curtain Semi Trailer vs. Box Trailer: Which is Best?

For more information, please visit Haiheyuan.

Fortunately, trailers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. For example, some carry refrigerated goods, and others carry livestock. Hook a liftgate up to one of them, and you&#;re all set to load and unload goods for most jobs.

Different types of semi-trailers

Different semis use different trailers. As a result, becoming familiar with the most common types of semi-trailers can help you with your fleet operation.

The most common types of semi-trailers include:

• Belt trailers
• Drop deck trailers
• Dump trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Grain hoppers
• Lowboys
• Sliding axle and hydraulic tail trailers
• Tank trailers

While not an exhaustive list, these are some of the most common semi-trailer types on today&#;s market. Find the right one for your fleet operation, and you&#;ll be well on your way to running a successful fleet operation.

Popular semi-truck brands

Now that we&#;ve got our bearings on the different types of trucks and trailers, we want to explore which are available in today&#;s market. The following are some of the most popular semi-truck brands you&#;ll have access to when buying or leasing a semi-truck.

• Freightliner

  : is a staple in the trucking industry. Founded in , people like Freightliner trucks are for their durability, efficiency, and exceptional fuel economy.

• Western Star

  : Founded in , Western Star is well-known for its heavy-duty trucks. These trucks hold up well in even the most rough environments. Western Star trucks haul goods from all different types of industries.

• Peterbilt

  : This Oakland, California-based company carries some of the largest inventory of semi-trucks and trailers on the planet.

• Autocar

  : In business since , Autocar has focused on delivering semi-trucks built with the latest technology.
  

With these companies, finding the right semi-truck and trailer for your needs is easy. The tough part is knowing how to budget for preventive maintenance and what&#;s needed to keep your fleet running long and strong.

Did you know?

Over-the-road trucks can log over one million miles before being retired. How many miles have you driven in your life?

The right service for all types of semi trucks

Different types of semi trucks exist for different needs. The most common types of semi trucks include:

• Day cabs
• Sleeper trucks
• Custom haulers
• 18-wheeler trucks
• Sloped-nose trucks
• Conventional-nosed trucks
• Trucks with raised and flat roofs

Whether you operate a slop-nosed truck or a lowboy trailer, every truck driver needs a sidekick. At Equipment Experts, we pride ourselves on being that sidekick. We help semi-truck drivers, operators, and fleet managers by conducting quality fleet and truck repairs for all their needs.

Whether you&#;re a fleet manager building out a preventive maintenance program or a truck driver in need of an emergency mobile repair, trust the Experts for sound truck repairs and fleet advice. To schedule a visit or learn more about what we do, contact us today!

We look forward to getting to know you and better serving you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Semi Trucks

What are the different types of semi trucks?

The different types of semi trucks &#; also known as tractor-trailers &#; include:

• Day cabs

• Sleeper trucks
• Custom haulers
• 18-wheeler trucks
• Sloped-nose trucks
• Conventional-nosed trucks
• Trucks with raised and flat roofs

Other types of trucks exist &#; like dump trucks and tanker trucks &#; but these trucks fall under the above-mentioned categories.

What are the most common types of trailers for semi trucks?

The most common types of trailers for semi trucks include:

• Belt trailers
• Drop deck trailers
• Dump trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Grain hoppers
• Lowboys
• Sliding axle and hydraulic tail trailers
• Tanks

A trailer makes it possible for a trucker to better load and unload cargo, carry heavy loads, and travel long distances with large volumes of freight. Like all machinery, a trailer can break down.

We recommend reaching out to a specialized diesel mechanic if you ever need fleet service on a trailer.

Which type of truck maintenance is best for each type of semi truck?

The answer depends on your needs.

With the right service and maintenance, your semi-truck can log up to 1,000,000 miles. We recommend servicing your truck every 15,000, 30,000, 100,000, 150,000, and 200,000 miles for system, oil, and parts-related repairs.

You can maximize the life of your semi-truck by sticking to a solid preventive maintenance plan that&#;s either miles-based or time-driven.

How often should I service each type of semi truck?

Consider servicing your truck every 10,000- 20,000 miles for engine oil, filter changes, and lubrication top-offs. Depending on whether you operate in warm or cold weather, you&#;ll want to adjust the frequency of each service accordingly.

If ever you&#;re in doubt about what needs servicing on your truck, one of the members of our Expert team would be happy to troubleshoot the issue with you. Give us a call anytime.

WHAT IS A CUSTOM-BUILT GOOSENECK TRAILER?

Designed with a hitch that goes up and over a pickup bed, a gooseneck trailer couples right over the rear axle of the towing vehicle. Gooseneck trailers are a popular choice for hauling heavy equipment as they provide plenty of space and carrying capacity. There are several different types of gooseneck trailers, which we&#;ll discuss below, but first, it&#;s important to highlight the difference between fixed and removable gooseneck trailers. As the name suggests, fixed gooseneck trailers cannot be detached from the trailer. They&#;re generally lighter weight than removable goosenecks and have a longer deck length. This style is best for loading items from the rear. Removable gooseneck trailers came on the market in , providing the capacity to load items from the front, the rear, or above. And loading heavy equipment on these trailers doesn&#;t require external loading ramps. Removable goosenecks are either mechanically detachable or hydraulically detachable.

WHAT&#;S THE MAIN BENEFIT OF A GOOSENECK TRAILER?

WHAT OTHER ADVANTAGES DO GOOSENECK TRAILERS PROVIDE?

These trailers are also less likely to sway or tip over, making them more stable than bumper pull trailers. Goosenecks have a turn radius designed for easy maneuvering through narrow spaces, a greater hauling capacity, and more room for cargo. If you need to haul heavy loads, gooseneck trailers are one of your safest options. With one gooseneck trailer, you can haul livestock or several large, heavy-duty items at once; you might need two or more bumper pull trailers to do the same job. Because of their large size, these trailers are even used as temporary living spaces or as the foundation for tiny houses.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF GOOSENECK TRAILERS?

Yes, several different kinds of gooseneck trailers are available on the market. While they all feature the gooseneck hitch that attaches right over the rear axle of the towing vehicle, they differ in design and purpose. Three of the most popular options are the flatbed, double drop, and 10-ton tilt.

A custom-built Gooseneck trailer can haul almost anything, from tractors to horses! Their incredible towing capacity and stable weight distribution make them an excellent option for carrying your heaviest and most valuable equipment to and from just about anywhere. Like most trailers, goosenecks come in several different models, and each one serves a different purpose. To help you find the perfect one for your needs, let&#;s take a closer look at these trailers, their benefits, and the most common types.Designed with a hitch that goes up and over a pickup bed, a gooseneck trailer couples right over the rear axle of the towing vehicle. Gooseneck trailers are a popular choice for hauling heavy equipment as they provide plenty of space and carrying capacity. There are several different types of gooseneck trailers, which we&#;ll discuss below, but first, it&#;s important to highlight the difference between fixed and removable gooseneck trailers. As the name suggests, fixed gooseneck trailers cannot be detached from the trailer. They&#;re generally lighter weight than removable goosenecks and have a longer deck length. This style is best for loading items from the rear. Removable gooseneck trailers came on the market in , providing the capacity to load items from the front, the rear, or above. And loading heavy equipment on these trailers doesn&#;t require external loading ramps. Removable goosenecks are either mechanically detachable or hydraulically detachable. Gooseneck trailers differ from other models, such as the tag-a-long trailer , because they distribute the weight over the rear axle of the towing vehicle, instead of behind it. This weight distribution provides for more maneuverability and stability, both of which are especially important when hauling heavy machinery.These trailers are also less likely to sway or tip over, making them more stable than bumper pull trailers. Goosenecks have a turn radius designed for easy maneuvering through narrow spaces, a greater hauling capacity, and more room for cargo. If you need to haul heavy loads, gooseneck trailers are one of your safest options. With one gooseneck trailer, you can haul livestock or several large, heavy-duty items at once; you might need two or more bumper pull trailers to do the same job. Because of their large size, these trailers are even used as temporary living spaces or as the foundation for tiny houses.Yes, several different kinds of gooseneck trailers are available on the market. While they all feature the gooseneck hitch that attaches right over the rear axle of the towing vehicle, they differ in design and purpose. Three of the most popular options are the flatbed, double drop, and 10-ton tilt.

Are you interested in learning more about Custom Semi Trailers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!