In the past few decades, goods transport has relied heavily on trucks, making it a billion-dollar industry.
According to a closer approximation, there are more than 2 million trailer trucks alone in the United States of America.
These travel over 1,000,000,000 miles to transport goods between various states of the USA, especially in Texas, California, and Florida.
These might-sized trucks met various accidents throughout the year. According to recent stats by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
- 4119 People died in Large Truck Accidents in 2019
- Out of which, 67 percent were car and other passenger vehicle occupants
- 16 percent account for large truck occupants, while the remaining includes pedestrians and motorists
These numbers might be disturbing, but the stats also show the other side of the picture.
Due to their small size and colossal weight, semi-trucks usually don’t get considerable damage.
You might be wondering how much a semi-truck weighs. Let’s unveil this reality to get a better idea of semi-truck weight.
Laden and Unladen Semi-Truck Weigh
There are two prominent ways of measuring the weights of these big rigs.
One method measures only the weight of the truck and trailer, which is termed Unloaded semi-truck weight. In contrast, a fully loaded truck’s weight is called a loaded weight.
It’s evident that the laden vehicle is always higher than the unladen vehicle. However, the unladen vehicle is more or less fixed according to the truck’s design.
Unladen semis have weight values ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds. A few trucks have even more than that, as a 53-foot trailer accounts for up to 35,000 pounds.
These values are GVWR, abbreviated as gross vehicle weight rating, specifying their maximum weight.
GVWR doesn’t simply revolve around the truck’s original weight; it also accounts for fuel, cargo, passengers, or any part or vehicle attached to it.
Laden semi-truck weights can vary marginally depending upon the type and amount of loading. A semi laden with empty oil tanks will be much lighter than one filled with oil.
In this way, various administrative authorities and truck manufacturers label trucks’ GVWR values. US federal law sets a bar of 80,000 pounds for laden semis.
Though a few trucks have a higher capacity than this limit, legitimacy is always a major hindrance.
Any loading higher than the limit will result in heavy fines and even, in some cases, lead to accidents.
Classes of Trucks Based on GVWR
The transportation department has divided trucks into multiple classes depending on the gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR.
SUVs and small pickups are the lightest trucks with one to three class values. These are primarily used for personal purposes, but a few put them for commercial uses.
The medium-duty trucks used for commercial purposes are divided into 4 to 6 classes. They usually weigh between 14,000 and 26,000 pounds.
Any vehicle above class six will need a Commercial Driving License (CDL), which is obligatory for driving heavy-duty vehicles in the United States.
Garbage trucks, sweeper vehicles, and even city transit buses fall into the seventh-class trucks. Their GVWR values range between 26,001 to 33,000 pounds.
Any values higher than this will fit the 8th class, which holds the heaviest semi-trucks.
Stopping Distance of Semi Trucks
Every road is planned and designed according to the amount of traffic and its respective loading. These factors determine the time and distance required for stopping vehicles once the breaks are applied.
Cars moving at 65 miles/hour usually cover 300 feet before completely stopping. In contrast, a fully loaded semis takes twice as many cars.
The Bottom Line
Semi-truck weight can vary depending upon the class and loading imposed on it. Due to their exceptionally higher weights, semis topple over roads and other vehicles.
It’s never recommended to over-weigh them by ignoring state and federal speeding and weighing laws.
