Since this is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week we will take a closer look at Wheaton World Wide Moving trucks and the equipment that our truck drivers use on a daily basis when moving household goods.
Straight Truck
- Used to haul shipments typically less than 500 miles.
- Holds about 14,000 lbs.
- Also used as a shuttle truck to provide service when a residence is not accessible to a tractor trailer.
- Larger straight truck drivers require a Class B license.
- Contains about 2,000 cubic feet of space.
- Some models have side doors for easier access to loads.
- Typically 26’ long.
- May include an attic (also known as the peak, nose, bonnet).
- The door must have a decal with the carrier’s name, location and US Dot number.
Tractor
- A tractor-trailer combination is typically used for long distance and interstate moves.
- Also referred to as the power unit.
- The term bob-tail is commonly refers to a tractor without a trailer.
- The tractor is sometimes called a semi since it is not complete until joined with a trailer.
- The door must have a decal with the carrier’s name, location and US Dot number.
- A semi engine is 6x larger than a car engine and has an average of 400-600 horsepower.
- The semi engine is designed to go 1,000,000 miles before re haul or rebuild.
- Tractors can hold up to 15 gallons of oil (a car typically takes 4-6 quarts).
Trailer
- Typically 53’ long.
- Sometimes has a side door for easy access to loads.
- Belly Box is a compartment under the floor to store equipment used for loading/unloading.
- Holds about 29,500 lbs.
- Contains about 4,200 cubic feet of space.
- There are numbers on the roof, so the driver and packers can see how much cubic feet they have used and what they have left over for space.
- The trailer has heavier panels to help avoid damage from tree limbs and shrubbery in residential areas.
- An 18-wheeler (combo of tractor and trailer) has five axels.
Moving equipment and supplies that are normally found on a trailer/straight truck
Dolly
Cartons
Tape
Ramp
Hand Truck