There are a lot of questions surrounding trucking and the money is often a massive appeal that sucks in many people. Especially if they enjoy the open roads and being able to have better control over their work-life balance.
But, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye, and purchasing a semi-truck is a big investment you don’t want to mess up. This vital and major step brings up a lot of questions and goes to show the big difference between buying a car and buying a semi-truck.
One of the most popular questions is how many miles does a semi-truck last? The answer may shock you as most standard cars max out at around the 175,000 mile mark and a semi-truck can last an average of 900,000 miles.
Of course, this does depend on a few key variables such as maintenance, driving ability, and actual engine miles.
Semi-trucks are the ultimate way to transport heavy cargo for long hours without being let down by the issues of an overworked engine. Their durability means that their lifespan far exceeds that of a standard car on the roads today and can go even further when you consider a few other influential factors.
The average semi-truck will last upwards of 750,000 miles and could even reach the million-mile mark before it has faced too much wear and tear. This means you could expect around 15 years with your trusted truck if you were to travel 45,000 miles a year.
You’ll want to make sure you know how to get the best from your semi-truck and there are a few tips and tricks that many truckers have shared over the years to help make the journeys easier and gain an impressive mileage under your belt.
A massive consideration you need to make is the advantages and disadvantages to expect when choosing between a gas or diesel engine in your semi.
Most professional truck drivers take preference a diesel engine for its slower RPM rate that creates less wear on the system which inevitably leads to a longer lifespan.
They also have specialized valve designs and multiple thermostats in place to prevent engine failure and keep all aspects of your engine running smoothly.
The best way to get the absolute maximum out of your semi-truck is to perform regular maintenance so everything can run smoothly. When you are covering high mileage and your engine is always on the go, this leaves you prone to an increased possibility of faults such as overheating and low oil.
Stick to the recommended intervals given in your truck’s handbook and stick to a strict schedule to keep your truck performing well and make the roads safe to use. The conditions you drive in will also affect how often you should perform maintenance such as oil changes.
You should give a basic service to your semi-truck every 15,000 miles which include checking all fluids and engine oil and making sure that your lights are all working as expected. Every 30,000 miles you will also want to have a full oil and lube change including air, fuel, and oil filters too.
This is a good opportunity to carry out any minor repairs you may need in order to keep your truck in good condition if you plan to go into trucking.
Every year your semi-truck will get a premium inspection where all the filters and fluids are changed and replaced and any repairs will be carried out.
A qualified mechanic will also do a complete inspection on the health and performance of your engine to help spot any issues before they become a larger problem for you on the roads.
This check will take a long time overall but is a vital part of keeping your semi-truck on the road for as long as possible and getting the most mileage.
An overlooked aspect in keeping your truck moving for years to come is the amount of time your engine is left idling but not moving.
You may think the mileage on your odometer is an accurate representation of the engine’s health and that this will indicate how much you have left to go before your truck reaches the end of its life.
Truckers often leave their engines idle for long periods to power lighting, televisions and heating when they are stopped for the night and this wouldn’t be reflected in the mileage but can still take a toll.
If your engine isn’t running then the battery will be quickly drained when using these functions in your truck so your engine will be idling for long periods to prevent using up fuel and power causing wear and tear to the engine.
If you have followed our advice then you should be on your way to purchasing a reliable semi-truck that should hopefully never let you down. Unfortunately, as with all vehicles, you can be left broken down and in need of repair when you least expect it and a semi-truck is no different.
Road-side repairs on your truck can be a quick and easy fix, but sometimes you cannot sort the problem out directly at the roadside and will need to get to a shop that has the tools on hand to help.
It has been reported that semi-trucks break down on average every 10,000 miles at the roadside and the most common issues have been to do with cooling, wheels, braking systems, and tires.
A diesel truck has different capabilities than gas and can log 700,000+ miles before it is considered to have covered high mileage. Trucks that have had regular servicing and maintenance are well known to achieve over 1,000,000 miles.
You will most commonly find 10 gears in a semi-truck although you can have up to 18 in some. They are all vital for speeding up and slowing down the truck when hauling heavyweights in a variety of terrains and inclines.
A semi-truck and an 18 wheeler are the same things with different names. A semi-truck refers to a truck that has an engine. The semi can be driven without having a trailer attached to it. An 18-wheeler is a semi-truck attached to a semi-trailer.
With the right training and consistent practice learning to drive a truck is not difficult once you have adjusted to maneuvering such a large vehicle that has different needs than driving a car.
Taking the plunge into becoming a truck driver can be a scary prospect, but purchasing a used semi-truck may feel like a completely different world from buying a used car.
Semi-trucks have a much higher mileage expectancy across their lifespan and so you are much less likely to go wrong when buying a used semi-truck.
With a life expectancy of up to 1,000,000 miles on some trucks, you can purchase a used semi-truck up to the region of 700,000 miles before it is even considered to be well used and maybe not worth the purchase.
These vehicles are designed to withstand long periods of use and high milage so as long as you provide the right care and maintenance, you are sure to cover a lot of ground with your semi-truck.
