What do you guys call tractor trailers?

[ArkansasFan24]

When calling in stops what do you say?

Tractor trailer?

Semi?

What if it's just the truck and no trailer?


Just tractor?

[andy5746]

Just call it what it is... 3-Axle Truck, Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Tractor, Tractor-Trailer, "Commercial Vehicle", Pick-Up, etc...

Some folks might just say "Big-Rig", "Semi", "Big Truck"... whatever works to convey your stop...

The most important thing is Where you are, followed by the Tag (license plate) number...

[ArkansasFan24]

Just call it what it is... 3-Axle Truck, Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Tractor, Tractor-Trailer, "Commercial Vehicle", Pick-Up, etc...

Some folks might just say "Big-Rig", "Semi", "Big Truck"... whatever works to convey your stop...

The most important thing is Where you are, followed by the Tag (license plate) number...

Ok, my bad. I call in the tags, description, and location. That's a given.

My actual question is, "What is the proper name for a tractor-trailer that is not actually pulling a trailer, i.e. it's just the truck? Is it a tractor, tractor cab, or what?"

[Rush817]

Are you asking for crash reporting purposes? Its a tractor or semi.

[andy5746]

Oh, ok then - "Bob-Tail", "Tractor" or "Semi" all work out here in Khalifoniah for a trailer-less truck that you are calling in on a stop :)

[Monkeybomb]

I just describe it as a semi. If it has a trailer its a semi-trailer.

[MIDeputy]

CMV - Commercial Motor Vehicle.

[CruiserClass]

The part with the motor is a tractor. That's why its "tractor-trailer". A truck can carry cargo on its own, like a flat bed or box truck. Tractors can't carry anything but a trailer. Truckers will often refer to it as a bobtail when just the tractor is traveling with no trailer. I've also heard it referred to as a "deadhead", but that's normally used for a tractor pulling an empty trailer.

Semi-trailers have no front wheels. That's why they are "semi", not because they are hooked up to a "semi". Its common enough usage that semi became synonymous with tractor-trailers, though. Additional trailers on a double or triple are just trailers, although I've heard older truckers call them wagons.

[SgtCHP]

Ok, my bad. I call in the tags, description, and location. That's a given.

My actual question is, "What is the proper name for a tractor-trailer that is not actually pulling a trailer, i.e. it's just the truck? Is it a tractor, tractor cab, or what?"

Two axle or three axle tractor. They are also broken down into long nose and cabover. Additionally, there are sleeper and non-sleeper units.

If a tractor is running without a semi-trailer or a trailer it is called a bobtail.

Semi-trailer has no front axle.

Trailer has at least two axles. It can be a box trailer, flat top, goose neck (depending on the hitch), low boy (very low to the ground), etc.

Gravel and sand hauling trailers can be bottom dumps, back drops, tilt bed, slam-bang, etc.

When running without a load it is called dead-heading.

Trucks are self contained transports (body, frame and load transport area that is integral to the vehicle). They may also tow a trailer or a semi-trailer with a fifth wheel unit.

[ArkansasFan24]

Ok, I'm printing this out and pinning up in my office. This is the most informative thread I've ever read.

Thanks guys. Seriously.

[School Cop]

The front, with the engine: Tractor

The cargo area: semi-trailer or trailer, depending on whether part of its weight rests on the tractor when in use

In practice? : "Out with Texas trailer XYZ123."

[Red Swan]

10-39 with semi trailer plate# location is Blah

10-39 with semi plate# location is Blah

10-39 with Cement Truck location is Blah

[Michigan]

"Big Truck with lots of tires"

[PhilipCal]

CMV - Commercial Motor Vehicle.

That, or simply" Commercial Vehicle". Agency from which I'm retired.

[MikeUD]

Tractor-trailers: I'll actually say "big rig" on the radio, followed by the type of trailer if applicable.

Any other CMV: I'll call it what it is; dump truck, box truck, etc.

[t150vsuptpr]

Here ... "Road Tractor" is the proper term for a "bobtail tractor" which is not pulling a "semi trailer" ("tractor-trailer") or "semi trailer - full trailer" ("doubles") combiination.

If talking to my dispatcher, depends on which dispatcher.

"Tractor Trailer" (most often), but I might say "Big Truck" or "See Ohh Emm" (COM) or simply "Truck" on the radio, usually including the company name or some description.

[KAA951]

The "proper" nomenclature we were taught in CVSA training was:

"Truck tractor, semi-trailer combination"

Or for a double bottom you could have a:

"Truck tractor, semi-trailer, dolly converter, semi-trailer combination"

etc

[SlowDownThere]

Ok, I'm printing this out and pinning up in my office. This is the most informative thread I've ever read.



Really?

[ArkansasFan24]

Really?

Absolutely.

Because I've never had a clue as to what to call them. I've always said tractor trailer though, and I hear that with other agencies. I don't like big rig, 18 wheeler, and such.

My initial training agency was municipal (about 23,000 ppl) with several bypasses. Even growing up there we almost never saw commercial traffic there, and I never stopped such a vehicle back then. It's not something that comes up in everyday conversation, and it's not something brought up in academics. After leaving that agency I went to work for another, with a lot of highway enforcement, but there was absolutely no training period, and the other two officers from my agency around here have no clue.

[SlowDownThere]

OK, great. Well let me sumarize too.

Generally truck carries things, and a tractor pulls things.

A trailer has axles at both ends (front and back) and gets pulled.

A semi-trailer is a type of trailer that has axles only at the back end. It's front end rests on the tractor (5th wheel). It's called semi because it's only half pulled. The other half is carried.

Make any sense?

[patroldog]

How about "18 Wheeler" ?? :D:D I know its been mentioned, tractor has 10 wheels, trailer in general 8, total 18 right?

[ArkansasFan24]

How about "18 Wheeler" ?? :D:D I know its been mentioned, tractor has 10 wheels, trailer in general 8, total 18 right?

Well, no. Not always. I just saw a tractor the other day that had THREE rear axles thus it had 14 wheels. I wasn't able to see the rear of the sem-trailer.