You might be wondering how many gears a semi-truck has because of its massive performance. When you look at the truck driver take off, you will hear the gear shifts as they’re being switched in the truck.
We know these semi-trucks of taking off smoothly and their stopping is also swift as they have to throttle down the gears before they can finally come to a stop. So, have you wondered how many gears a truck has? Then I will be happy to share the idea with you in this epic article.
How many gears do semi-trucks have?
FleetNet America reports that a standard semi-truck has ten gears. Even the big trucker’s gears range from 13 gears to 18 which helps them perform at their best in any scenario. The gears are similar to the gears in your little car. Just as you switch gears while driving, climbing a hill, taking off from a stop state, and speeding.
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Why so many gears?
You may question the reason behind the almost a dozen gear. I can answer this with the knowledge we have had with manual-transmission vehicles that comes with seven gears. We have seen cars with just six gears and with that, we drive them at our best. Likewise, the truck comes with 10 to 18 gears.
The gears are there to help narrow the power band for each tear. Some lower gears in the truck have less than 750 rpm between them. This is useful when they take on heavy loads and will be able to keep the truck in check and have effective mobility.
1. Saves Fuel
This is another reason why trucks come with many gears. With more gears, the truck engine always works in an economic speed range. When a trucker wants to speed up or slow down, so many gears adjust effectively between tears and help for smooth transmission of each phase. Just like reducing the engine speed, moving in gear shifts swiftly, and also saves fuel.
With many gears, a semi-truck can minimize fuel consumption when it drives on a mountainous road. On a long mountainous road, 3 gears waste too much and the engine power is not enough to propel the car at 4 gears.
Furthermore, the truck fuel might not transmit effectively and run smoothly at 5 gears. That’s why the truck is equipped with many gears to help it in such scenarios. More gears also increase the truck speed range.
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2. Smooth Gear Shifting
The many gears in the truck help for smooth gear shifting between two near gears. Depending on the speed limit the trucker is driving, he can adjust smoothly his gears to match the truck’s load and its weight. Also, it’s easier and faster to control the truck engine performing speed and power.
The many gears help the truck perform at its best just as our little car can do with 7 or 6 gears. It also increases fuel economy, dynamic performance, and driving operability.
3. Applying Gears in Semi-Truck
Truckers will not always use the gear when driving. Some scenarios call for the usage of several gears. Truckers sometimes will ‘block shift’ or skip gears to elongate the life span of the gearbox and prevent wear and tear.
For instance, if a truck has 12 gears compartments, it’s not going to use the first gear to start if it’s carrying a heavy load and it’s about to drive uphill, or they need to maneuver the road. And certainly, they won’t need to use the remaining 11 gears while switching gears or slowing to a stop.
In a truck that runs with six-speed, truckers start in second gear; while in a 12-speed truck, truckers likely start with the third or fourth gear if the truck is empty or use the second gear if the trucker is to pull a load.
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Also, starting a truck with its higher gear is smoother to move than the lower gears. Because it reduces the chances of its wheels spinning because it has less rotational force.
Unless the truck is an automatic gearbox, the trucker can smoothly change gears by paying attention to the revs and observation from the truck’s performance if it’s striving or if the rev range is increasing and may need to be reduced to prevent engine damage.
Final Words
We’ve thrown more light on the number of gears that a semi-truck has in this article. The question has been answered comprehensively alongside the benefits of many gears in a semi-truck.