Semi trucks 101: the rig, the people and the road
By Evan DavidsonUpdated Sources checked
New to trucking or thinking about a CDL? These guides explain the rig, the job and the culture in plain words, and every number links to its source.
Tap a numbered spot on the rig, then follow its link to the guide that goes deeper. Each section below opens with its main guide.
CH 01
How the rig works
- START HEREThe 18 wheeler truckWhere the eighteen wheels are, axle by axle.
- Types of semi trucksDay cabs, sleepers and trailers.
- Why is it called a semi truck?The half-trailer behind the name.
- How many gears does a semi have?Manual, automated and why counts differ.
- How to drive a semi truckThe basic skills, from coupling to backing.
- Jackknife truckWhat folds, why it happens, how drivers prevent it.
- Electric semi trucksRange, charging and where they fit today.
- Biggest truck in the worldMining giants against highway rigs.
- Fastest semi truckRecord runs versus governed fleet speeds.
- Most reliable semi truckJudging reliability without the hype.
- Roadside assistance for semisWho to call when the truck stops.
- Semi truck fun factsSourced facts for the fuel island.
- History of the semi truckFrom the first tractor-trailer on.
CH 02
Life behind the wheel
- START HERETruck driver: the job explainedDuties, licensing, pay and the kinds of runs.
- Truck driver scheduleHow hours-of-service rules shape a day.
- Average miles per dayWhat a realistic driving day covers.
- Types of truck driversOTR, regional, local, team and more.
- OTR truck driverWeeks out, home time and the trade-offs.
- Dedicated truck driverOne customer, steadier lanes.
- Part-time truck driverWhere part-time driving work exists.
- COMING SOONTruck driver benefitsWhat company drivers usually get.
- COMING SOONDo hourly drivers get overtime?Why many drivers are exempt.
- COMING SOONIs being a truck driver hard?An honest look at the hard parts.
- COMING SOONTruck driver health and life expectancyWhat the research does and doesn't show.
- COMING SOONTruck drivers' rightsProtections every driver should know.
- COMING SOONPassenger policiesRiders, pets and company rules.
- COMING SOONBest states for truck driversPay, costs and home time compared.
- COMING SOONApps for truck driversTools for parking, fuel and logs.
CH 03
From driver to owner-operator
- COMING SOONSTART HERETruck driver career pathEvery step from student to owner-operator.
- COMING SOONMinimum age to drive a truckThe age rules, state and interstate.
- COMING SOONBackground checksWhat carriers look at before hiring.
- COMING SOONTruck driver resumeWhat to put first and what to cut.
- COMING SOONTruck driver contractsClauses to read before you sign.
- COMING SOONRookie mistakesThe costly ones, and how to skip them.
- COMING SOONSemi truck down paymentHow much cash buying a truck takes.
- COMING SOONSelling your semi truckPricing, paperwork and timing.
- COMING SOONBusiness code for truckersWhich code fits a trucking business.
- COMING SOONFile management for driversKeeping permits, logs and receipts in order.
CH 04
Trucker culture
- COMING SOONSTART HERETruck driver lingoCB talk and slang, explained in plain words.
- COMING SOONTrucker slang quizTest how much CB talk you know.
- COMING SOONHistory of trucking in AmericaHighways, regulation and the road ahead.
- COMING SOONBest trucking songsThe tunes that rode the airwaves.
- COMING SOONBest trucking moviesBig rigs on the big screen.
- COMING SOONBest trucking podcastsShows worth a long haul.
- COMING SOONTruck driver quotesOriginal lines about life on the road.
- COMING SOONFamous truck driversPeople who drove before they were known.
- COMING SOONTrucking museumsWhere to see historic rigs up close.
- COMING SOONTrucking events calendarShows, convoys and days to mark.
- COMING SOONTruck Driver Appreciation WeekWhen it is and how to mark it.
CH 05
The numbers behind trucking
- COMING SOONSTART HERETrucking industry statisticsFreight, revenue and fleet size, sourced.
- COMING SOONTruck driver statisticsHow many drivers the US has, and who.
- COMING SOONAre truck drivers in demand?What the data says about hiring.
- COMING SOONWill AI replace truck drivers?Autonomy claims against reality.
- COMING SOONWomen in truckingNumbers and history.
- COMING SOONTruck driver newsRule changes and stories that matter.
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