# What exactly is a semi-truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489 "2021-09-20T19:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dakotaboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dakotaboy/32/21842_2.png) [@Dakotaboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dakotaboy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/1 "2021-09-20T19:46:18Z")
In my spare time I like to cruise You Tube and watch dash camera videos. I find this interesting and instructive. However, without fail, every singe video I’ve seen always referred to 18 wheelers as semis. I remember reading years ago that this is not correct; that a semi is technically a truck wherein the 1st cargo area is physically attached to the frame, along with the cab. Where it’s not, it is called a tractor and trailer(s). Can any OTR truckers enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/2 "2021-09-20T20:06:11Z")
“Semi” refers to the trailer, actually: " A **semi-tractor-trailer truck** , also known as simply a **semi-trailer truck** , **semi-tractor truck** , **semi-tractor-trailer** or **tractor-trailer truck** , is the combination of a [tractor unit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor_unit) and one [semi-trailer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer) or more to carry freight. A semi-trailer attaches to the tractor with a type of [hitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tow_hitch) called a [fifth-wheel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth-wheel_coupling). It is variously known as a transport truck, semi-truck, trailer truck, tractor truck, transfer truck, articulated truck, articulated lorry (UK), artic, single truck, semi-trailer, tractor-trailer, semi-tractor, semi, trailer, tractor, big rig, eighteen-wheeler, depending on the country and region." ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/3 "2021-09-20T20:14:58Z")
A semi truck is just one little modification away from a fully truck… ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/4 "2021-09-20T20:43:20Z")
> [@Dakotaboy](#): > > Can any OTR truckers enlighten me? As a retired OTR driver I can say both definetions you have are correct an are used for the same thing the most common usage is semi 18 wheeler or tractor trailer in that order technically semi means half in this case you need both halfs to do the job which is moving a load from point A to point B. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/5 "2021-09-20T21:12:02Z")
It is called a semi because the trailer is a semi trailer. a full trailer would have wheels at both ends and a tongue like a child’s wagon. An 18 wheeler is the most common form with 8 wheels on the rear of the tractor and 8 wheels on the back of the trailer but there are other configurations. When I drove thruway tandems on the NY Thruway and Mass Pike. I was usually driving a 34 wheeler, however sometimes a tandem dolly (8 wheels was not available so had to use a single dolly (4 wheels). I preferred the superior tracking of the 8 wheel dolly. When I pulled 3 short trailers in Ohio, I was driving a 30 wheeler. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/6 "2021-09-20T21:44:22Z")
Yep, anything with a tractor and trailer and anything else wa a “Short Job” . ---
**Author:** ![Dakotaboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dakotaboy/32/21842_2.png) [@Dakotaboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dakotaboy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/7 "2021-09-20T23:08:39Z")
I would like to thank all of you for your responses. I’m the sort that kind of cringes when words are used incorrectly and this has always annoyed me somewhat. It’s good to lose this particular nit to pick. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/8 "2021-09-20T23:25:22Z")
[quote=“Dakotaboy, post:7, topic:179489”] I’m the sort that kind of cringes when words are used incorrectly and this has always annoyed me somewhat. The two words that always bugged me was one that I don’t think is used any more was a cordless scew driver as I don’t ever remember seeing one with a cord the other one is Bobcat which is a brand only of a skid steer loader. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/9 "2021-09-20T23:30:17Z")
Remember a used car dealer advertising every car comes with a cordless cigarette lighter 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/10 "2021-09-20T23:36:24Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > Remember a used car dealer advertising every car comes with a cordless cigarette lighter 🙂 Never heard that one before. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/11 "2021-09-20T23:39:22Z")
LOL ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/3/c31f44ce7ac5c0b756b47cafdb73962ac619c0cc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/12 "2021-09-20T23:42:50Z")
A dremel tool with a screw driver bit? 😆 ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/13 "2021-09-20T23:52:05Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > the other one is Bobcat which is a brand only of a skid steer loader. What about “Crescent Wrench”, “Vise Grips”, or “Channellock” ? ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/14 "2021-09-20T23:57:05Z")
powersaw?? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/8/08d8c79f9b81f1a4fb6c9cc68bc6176ab1882f85.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/15 "2021-09-21T00:08:53Z")
> [@It\_s-Me](#): > > What about “Crescent Wrench”, “Vise Grips”, or “Channellock” ? True and I know there are quite a few others I can’t think of right off hand. By the way I didn’t mean to hijack Dakotaboy’s post when I said that sorry Dakotaboy. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/16 "2021-09-21T00:10:24Z")
> [@weekend-warrior](#): > > powersaw?? Hand and arm power?. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/17 "2021-09-21T00:14:30Z")
Still not sure the difference between a stillson and monkey wrench, though I call them pipe wrenches. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/18 "2021-09-21T00:17:08Z")
## Still·son (stĭl′sən) A trademark for a monkey wrench having serrated jaws that tighten as pressure is applied to the handle. The **Stillson** name is that of the original patent holder ---
**Author:** ![Dakotaboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dakotaboy/32/21842_2.png) [@Dakotaboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dakotaboy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/19 "2021-09-21T00:45:32Z")
Probably a Zippo. Unless it also came with high compression battery cables and self-lubricating muffler bearings. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489/20 "2021-09-21T04:39:53Z")
Bobcat seems to be the brand of skid steer most popularly used around here, for reasons Dad and I can’t quite understand my Mom has wanted to drive one badly. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-semi-truck/179489.md?page=2)