Trucks, often referred to as “road giants,” play a pivotal role in the goods transportation system in Vietnam. From transporting electronics and fuel to fruits and vegetables, trucks handle the final delivery leg, connecting links in a complex supply chain. A frequently asked question is: how many wheels does a truck have? This article will answer this question and explore why the number of wheels is so important.
An 18-wheel truck on the road
Why Do Trucks Usually Have 18 Wheels?
The answer lies in containerization, a revolution in the transportation industry. Containers are standard ISO shipping containers used on ships, trains, and specialized trucks. Standardizing container sizes allows for efficient multimodal transportation of goods.
A truck transporting a shipping container
Before containers, goods were transported using break bulk cargo methods, which were time-consuming and labor-intensive. Repeated loading, unloading, warehousing, and re-transporting reduced transportation efficiency. Containerization simplifies this process, allowing goods to be transported directly from ships to trucks and to their final destination.
Container Standards and Number of Wheels
From 1968 to 1970, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established standards for container size and weight. A standard 12.2m container can hold up to 27,215 kg of goods. This heavy weight requires trucks to have enough wheels to bear the load and comply with axle weight regulations.
Multiple truck wheels close-up
In the US, regulations limit the gross weight of a truck to 40 tons, with each axle bearing a maximum of 10 tons. To transport containers weighing tens of tons, trucks need multiple axles and wheels. Typically, a truck will have an 18-wheel configuration: 2 wheels on the steering axle, 8 wheels on the 2 rear axles of the tractor, and 8 wheels on the 2 axles of the trailer.
Trend of Increasing the Number of Wheels
Currently, there is a trend to increase the permissible weight limit for trucks, leading to the need for more wheels. Increasing the number of wheels helps distribute the weight more evenly, reducing pressure on the road surface and increasing transportation efficiency. If the weight limit is raised, 22-wheel trucks may become the new standard.
Conclusion
The number of wheels on a truck is not random but is determined by many factors, mainly container standards and axle weight regulations. 18-wheel trucks are currently the most common type, but with the development of the transportation industry, the number of wheels may change in the future. Understanding this helps us better understand the important role of trucks in the modern economy.
