If you hear the term “semi-truck,” that’s a little different than something like a Toyota Tundra or Dodge Ram. A semi-truck, sometimes simply referred to as a semi, is one of the huge 18-wheelers that you’ll often see thundering down America’s roadways.

If you start driving a semi, you will need to keep it in perfect condition to prevent breakdowns. If one happens on a deserted stretch of highway, that’s not ideal.

You should know a supplier of semi-truck parts that can service your vehicle. You should also know about the eight basic parts of a semi. We’ll cover this topic in detail in the following article.

The Truck Tractor

The truck tractor is probably the most crucial part of the vehicle. This is the motorized component that you need operating at peak efficiency to prevent breakdowns.

The cab and the engine are parts of the truck tractor. Inside the protective housing, they sit beside each other. They must be fine-tuned often. When you take your truck to a mechanic, this is one part of the vehicle they should never neglect to look at carefully.

The Bumper

The bumper is the attachment that you can see on the front of the truck’s exterior. It is there to protect the truck tractor.

Every time there is a minor shock or collision, it is the bumper that takes this impact. As such, it needs to be tough, but also somewhat durable.

The more impact it takes over the course of its usable life, the more it breaks down. However, most bumpers are designed to last for many years without needing to be replaced.

The Semitrailer

The semitrailer is a box-shaped part of the truck that contains no motor or other complex components. Instead, it is empty and meant to hold whatever cargo is being transported.

If you combine the semitrailer and the truck tractor, you get most of what a layperson would consider to be the entire semi-truck. The semitrailer can be different sizes depending on the rest of the truck that is built to accommodate it.

Generally, the larger the semitrailer, the more powerful the engine and cab need to be. If the semitrailer is filled to capacity, then that will put more strain on the cab and engine.

That is why, if you see one of these trucks fairly flying down the highway, you can feel pretty certain there’s either not much cargo in the semitrailer or that it is empty entirely. By contrast, if you see that the vehicle is struggling to get much over 55 miles per hour or so, that probably means it is loaded down with cargo and that it has not yet reached the end of its journey.

There is a huge blind spot that semis have right behind them, at the rear of the semitrailer. You want to stay away from this spot and not tailgate a semi.

The trucker driving it can’t see you if you stick too close behind them. If they have to slam on the brakes suddenly, you could hit the back of the semitrailer. With its larger size, that is a battle you’re never going to win.

The Exhaust Stack

The exhaust stack is something else on these vehicles that you want to stay away from if you happen to be driving close to one. As the name implies, the exhaust stack is a hollow metal tube that expels smoke, exhaust, and anything else that is burned through the process of combustion.

If you ever feel that a semi is giving off an unpleasant smell, that’s where it’s more than likely coming from. If you’re right next to one of these machines and it lets out a puff of smoke from the exhaust stack, you’re in for a toxic burst of chemicals if you happen to have your windows down.

The Fender

The fender is located on the side of one of these trucks. It protects the wheel wells from the natural damage that they might otherwise endure as these vehicles navigate potentially treacherous terrain.  

The fenders can block gravel, broken glass, and other debris that’s on the road. While these trucks are built tough, you still want to avoid all of that getting in the wheel wells if at all possible.

The Wind Deflector

This is a device that sits above the cab. It is there to subtly change the airflow as it makes its way past the truck.

The wind deflector, as the name indicates, is there to deflect the worst effects of the wind. It’s there to get these trucks better fuel economy. It doesn’t make a huge difference, but when you have a vehicle this large and heavy, every little bit helps.

The Marker Lights

The marker lights are a light set above the cab. They indicate the vehicle’s dimension and form. When someone sees the truck at night, they will have some idea of its size and shape because of these lights.

Oncoming traffic and any roadside personnel working on a project should pay attention to the marker lights. They ignore them at their peril. If these lights and what they imply doesn’t register, you might have a multi-ton vehicle bearing down on you almost before you’re aware of it.

The Siren

This brings us to the siren, the last but definitely not least element that makes up a semi. Every truck has a siren, though they will not all sound alike.

The siren that a typical semi carries has changed over the years in terms of what it sounds like, but its purpose has not. It is meant to sound a blast that is similar to a ship’s whistle in dense fog.

Like the marker light, the siren is there to be used as a courtesy to other vehicles on the road. If you hear that noise, you’ll likely recognize it, and it should get your attention. You should know to get out of the way, as there is a semi coming through.  

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