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A '''truck''' ('''lorry''' in [[British English]]) is a [[vehicle]] used to [[transport]] [[Product (consumer goods)|goods]]. The word "truck" comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word "''trochos''", which means "wheel". They usually use diesel fuel.
== Types of trucks by size ==
=== Light trucks ===
''Light trucks'' are trucks the size of cars. They are used by [[individual]]s and also companies. In the [[United States]], a truck is a light truck if it weighs less than 6,300 [[Kilogram|kg]] (13,000 [[Pound (mass)|lb]]). Light trucks are only a little heavier than [[van]]s or [[pickup truck]]s, but require a special [[driver's license]].
=== Medium trucks ===
''Medium trucks'' are heavier than light trucks but lighter than heavy trucks. In the United States, a truck is a medium truck if it weighs between 6,300 kg (13,000 lb) and 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). Trucks that are used for local [[delivery]] and [[public service]] (dump trucks, [[garbage]] trucks) are normally around this size. Medium trucks have usually two [[axles]]: one at front and one at rear. The rear wheels may be coupled (that is: two wheels hitched together) to enable heavier load, but they may also be single.
=== Heavy trucks ===
''Heavy trucks'' are the heaviest trucks that are allowed on the road. In the U.K. they are known as ''lorries''. Usually heavy trucks have three [[axle]]s: one at front and two at rear, and the rear axles have coupled wheels to enable heavy loads. Often heavy trucks pull trailers. They can be either ''full trailers'' which have both front and rear axles or boggies and their own brakes, and are connected to the towing truck with a towbar, or ''semi-trailers'', which are attached to a special kind of a truck called ''tractor unit'' with a turntable coupling ("fifth wheel"). A semi-trailer is a kind of [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] which has wheels only in the back and the front rides on the back of the tractor unit. The tractor unit has an [[engine]] and the semi-trailer does not. Driving a heavy truck requires a professional [[driver's license]]. Truck drivers are called ''truckers''.
The laws of various countries say what kind of vehicle combinations are allowed. A semi-trailer can be converted into a full trailer with using a ''dolly''. A dolly is a small trailer which has only a [[bogie]] (= set of wheels), fifth wheel coupling for the semi-trailer and a towbar. Using a dolly, the semi-trailer can now be hitched to an ordinary cargo-carrying truck and does not need a tractor unit.
A heavy truck-trailer combination is often called '''big rig''' or '''eighteen-wheeler'''.
The largest heavy trucks are the [[Australia]]n ''road trains'' which may have up to four semi-trailers coupled to a tractor in a train-like fashion and may carry up to 200 [[tonne]]s of [[cargo]].
[[File:Conventional 18-wheeler truck diagram.PNG|frame|center|Side and bottom view of an 18-wheel '''semi-trailer truck''' with an boxed space for carrying [[cargo]]. The bottom view shows the 18 [[tire]]s (wheels). Parts of the truck are like this:<br />
1. tractor unit<br />
2. semi-trailer (can be taken off)<br />
3. [[engine]] space<br />
4. cabin<br />
5. sleeper (not seen in all trucks)<br />
6. wing<br />
7. [[fuel]] [[tank]]s<br />
8. fifth wheel coupling<br />
9. [[cargo]] space<br />
10. landing gear - legs for when semi-trailer is taken off]]
{{Transport-stub}}
[[Category:Car body styles]]
[[Category:Trucks| ]]
== Types of trucks by size ==
=== Light trucks ===
''Light trucks'' are trucks the size of cars. They are used by [[individual]]s and also companies. In the [[United States]], a truck is a light truck if it weighs less than 6,300 [[Kilogram|kg]] (13,000 [[Pound (mass)|lb]]). Light trucks are only a little heavier than [[van]]s or [[pickup truck]]s, but require a special [[driver's license]].
=== Medium trucks ===
''Medium trucks'' are heavier than light trucks but lighter than heavy trucks. In the United States, a truck is a medium truck if it weighs between 6,300 kg (13,000 lb) and 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). Trucks that are used for local [[delivery]] and [[public service]] (dump trucks, [[garbage]] trucks) are normally around this size. Medium trucks have usually two [[axles]]: one at front and one at rear. The rear wheels may be coupled (that is: two wheels hitched together) to enable heavier load, but they may also be single.
=== Heavy trucks ===
''Heavy trucks'' are the heaviest trucks that are allowed on the road. In the U.K. they are known as ''lorries''. Usually heavy trucks have three [[axle]]s: one at front and two at rear, and the rear axles have coupled wheels to enable heavy loads. Often heavy trucks pull trailers. They can be either ''full trailers'' which have both front and rear axles or boggies and their own brakes, and are connected to the towing truck with a towbar, or ''semi-trailers'', which are attached to a special kind of a truck called ''tractor unit'' with a turntable coupling ("fifth wheel"). A semi-trailer is a kind of [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] which has wheels only in the back and the front rides on the back of the tractor unit. The tractor unit has an [[engine]] and the semi-trailer does not. Driving a heavy truck requires a professional [[driver's license]]. Truck drivers are called ''truckers''.
The laws of various countries say what kind of vehicle combinations are allowed. A semi-trailer can be converted into a full trailer with using a ''dolly''. A dolly is a small trailer which has only a [[bogie]] (= set of wheels), fifth wheel coupling for the semi-trailer and a towbar. Using a dolly, the semi-trailer can now be hitched to an ordinary cargo-carrying truck and does not need a tractor unit.
A heavy truck-trailer combination is often called '''big rig''' or '''eighteen-wheeler'''.
The largest heavy trucks are the [[Australia]]n ''road trains'' which may have up to four semi-trailers coupled to a tractor in a train-like fashion and may carry up to 200 [[tonne]]s of [[cargo]].
[[File:Conventional 18-wheeler truck diagram.PNG|frame|center|Side and bottom view of an 18-wheel '''semi-trailer truck''' with an boxed space for carrying [[cargo]]. The bottom view shows the 18 [[tire]]s (wheels). Parts of the truck are like this:<br />
1. tractor unit<br />
2. semi-trailer (can be taken off)<br />
3. [[engine]] space<br />
4. cabin<br />
5. sleeper (not seen in all trucks)<br />
6. wing<br />
7. [[fuel]] [[tank]]s<br />
8. fifth wheel coupling<br />
9. [[cargo]] space<br />
10. landing gear - legs for when semi-trailer is taken off]]
{{Transport-stub}}
[[Category:Car body styles]]
[[Category:Trucks| ]]