~ History on Trucks ~
We see trucks so often, and in so many places, that most of us probably don't give them as much as a second thought. You'd think that trucks would be front of mind.
After all, they're more versatile than cars, and quite a bit of the rest of what makes society run -- from heavy equipment up to fruits and veggies -- wouldn't get very far without a truck.
With that in mind, let's
look into some history on trucks, and in the process of remembering where we've been
(not to mention taking a look at where we are),
maybe we can figure out where truck history is headed next.
After all, they're more versatile than cars, and quite a bit of the rest of what makes society run -- from heavy equipment up to fruits and veggies -- wouldn't get very far without a truck.
With that in mind, let's
look into some history on trucks, and in the process of remembering where we've been
(not to mention taking a look at where we are),
maybe we can figure out where truck history is headed next.
The Conestoga Wagon, one of the truck's many forerunners.
Without getting too bogged down in etymology,
The word
"Truck"
was first used in 1611 to refer to the wheels on ships' cannons.
The use would eventually be extended to carts and wagons that could handle heavy loads, which would be common usage by the nineteenth century.
Using the word to describe what you or I would recognize as a truck didn't happen until
"Motor Truck"
Entered English around 1916, shortened to
"Truck" around 1930.
To further complicate our early history on trucks,
They're often called lorries in the Commonwealth,
with the smaller ones referred to as
"Utes" in Australia and New Zealand and
given the Afrikaner name "bakkie" in South Africa.
The world’s biggest jobs, of course, demand the world's biggest trucks.
All the biggest trucks in our history on trucks, as it turns out, were built for mining.
They have operating weights from 300 to 600 tons, and a staggering 240 to 400 ton capacity.
The Terex 33-19 "Titan" (only one of which was ever built) was built in 1973, and would be the world's biggest truck 'til the Caterpillar 797 dethroned it a quarter century later.
The word
"Truck"
was first used in 1611 to refer to the wheels on ships' cannons.
The use would eventually be extended to carts and wagons that could handle heavy loads, which would be common usage by the nineteenth century.
Using the word to describe what you or I would recognize as a truck didn't happen until
"Motor Truck"
Entered English around 1916, shortened to
"Truck" around 1930.
To further complicate our early history on trucks,
They're often called lorries in the Commonwealth,
with the smaller ones referred to as
"Utes" in Australia and New Zealand and
given the Afrikaner name "bakkie" in South Africa.
The world’s biggest jobs, of course, demand the world's biggest trucks.
All the biggest trucks in our history on trucks, as it turns out, were built for mining.
They have operating weights from 300 to 600 tons, and a staggering 240 to 400 ton capacity.
The Terex 33-19 "Titan" (only one of which was ever built) was built in 1973, and would be the world's biggest truck 'til the Caterpillar 797 dethroned it a quarter century later.
Introduced in 1973, the Terex 33-19 Titan was the world's largest truck for 25 years.
Click the photo to find out more about the world's biggest truck.
The 797, with its 4,000 gross horsepower 20 cylinder engine, will set you back a mere
five million bucks...
(though, in fairness, the truck takes a team of mechanics and welders
working 24/7 for nearly three straight weeks to assemble).
Maybe
(heck, we’ll go out on a limb here and say “probably”)
a truck the size of the Titan or 797 is just a bit too much truck.
five million bucks...
(though, in fairness, the truck takes a team of mechanics and welders
working 24/7 for nearly three straight weeks to assemble).
Maybe
(heck, we’ll go out on a limb here and say “probably”)
a truck the size of the Titan or 797 is just a bit too much truck.
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There’s no shortage of options in the medium and heavy duty truck classes
(Class Four through Class Eight).
That’s due in part to the fact that there are so many manufacturers of heavy duty trucks. In fact, some truck manufacturers
(such as Autocar, White Motor Company, and Mack Trucks, which began in the early 1900's)
Check out this great video from Jay leno's Garage
It's his 1916 Autocar Coal Delivery Truck
Technically predate the use of the word "truck" in its modern sense.
Other American trucking companies boast similarly long histories,
such as Kenworth (1912) and Peterbilt (1939).
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That isn't to say the rest of the world has sat idly by.
Even the "American" companies are now owned by multinationals
(Daimler, Volvo, Fiat, Toyota and Volkswagen are key players in trucking as they are with cars)
companies from the developing world
(such as Indian concern Tata Group, and Chinese company Dongfeng)
hold their own in the top ten worldwide.
The 1.5 ton Chevrolet Confederate Canopy Express (Click to find out more on Ironmartonline.com)
Our history on trucks would be incomplete if we didn't remark on the versatility of trucks, and their knack for showing up in unexpected places.
The Presidential limousine, for instance, is a Freightliner truck that's been rebadged as a Cadillac. Freightliners and Internationals are also popular as the basis of many larger recreational vehicles (RV's) and the tour buses used by musicians in nearly every genre of music.
Not only have retired buses been re-purposed as RV's and homes, but even garbage trucks have been converted into campers
(probably the last place anyone would bother to look, come to think of it).
We love our trucks because they earn their keep. That’s equally true of micro trucks
(like the Cushman) as it is of every other class.
Trucks come in a seemingly endless number of shapes and sizes, including platform and flatbed trucks, fire trucks, panel trucks, canopy express, delivery vans, tankers, cement mixers, dump trucks, semis, reefers, even huge ballast tractors.
It's been nearly a century, and it seems that we never stop finding new and unique uses for trucks.
Where are we headed next, and what might the future of trucks hold?
On the one hand, fuel is getting more expensive, and will one day be much scarcer.
The "Big Three" have all slashed their SUV output, and pickups are touting better fuel economy. Which brings us to the other hand: we still need to get our stuff from point A to point B as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Trucks are still more economic than the costs involved in expanding our rail networks, to say nothing of the costs inherent in air transportation.
So where does that leave haul trucks and other heavy work trucks?
Alternative fuels seem to be a long way off yet, but some companies are trying for more innovative designs. One early contender is the
Peterbilt 587, a Class 8 truck developed in cooperation with Cummins.
The truck's forward-thinking design, drastically lighter curb weight, and 400-600 hp Cummins ISX15 engine all combine to deliver a 10 MPG fuel economy.
That doesn't sound like much 'til you stop to consider that the average truck gets six miles per gallon or less, meaning that extra four miles per gallon represents a 54% increase in fuel
mileage, a 34% drop in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 61% improvement in freight efficiency.
Room for improvement?
Certainly.
But -- for now, at least -- Peterbilt and Cummins seem to be betting that the truck industry can go where the automobile industry has already tread, getting more mileage (literally) out of cutting edge design and the latest materials and manufacturing.
Our history on trucks is still being written, it turns out, and is a long way from being over.
The Presidential limousine, for instance, is a Freightliner truck that's been rebadged as a Cadillac. Freightliners and Internationals are also popular as the basis of many larger recreational vehicles (RV's) and the tour buses used by musicians in nearly every genre of music.
Not only have retired buses been re-purposed as RV's and homes, but even garbage trucks have been converted into campers
(probably the last place anyone would bother to look, come to think of it).
We love our trucks because they earn their keep. That’s equally true of micro trucks
(like the Cushman) as it is of every other class.
Trucks come in a seemingly endless number of shapes and sizes, including platform and flatbed trucks, fire trucks, panel trucks, canopy express, delivery vans, tankers, cement mixers, dump trucks, semis, reefers, even huge ballast tractors.
It's been nearly a century, and it seems that we never stop finding new and unique uses for trucks.
Where are we headed next, and what might the future of trucks hold?
On the one hand, fuel is getting more expensive, and will one day be much scarcer.
The "Big Three" have all slashed their SUV output, and pickups are touting better fuel economy. Which brings us to the other hand: we still need to get our stuff from point A to point B as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Trucks are still more economic than the costs involved in expanding our rail networks, to say nothing of the costs inherent in air transportation.
So where does that leave haul trucks and other heavy work trucks?
Alternative fuels seem to be a long way off yet, but some companies are trying for more innovative designs. One early contender is the
Peterbilt 587, a Class 8 truck developed in cooperation with Cummins.
The truck's forward-thinking design, drastically lighter curb weight, and 400-600 hp Cummins ISX15 engine all combine to deliver a 10 MPG fuel economy.
That doesn't sound like much 'til you stop to consider that the average truck gets six miles per gallon or less, meaning that extra four miles per gallon represents a 54% increase in fuel
mileage, a 34% drop in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 61% improvement in freight efficiency.
Room for improvement?
Certainly.
But -- for now, at least -- Peterbilt and Cummins seem to be betting that the truck industry can go where the automobile industry has already tread, getting more mileage (literally) out of cutting edge design and the latest materials and manufacturing.
Our history on trucks is still being written, it turns out, and is a long way from being over.
The Class 8 Peterbilt 587, produced in collaboration with Cummins, represents a link between the past, present, and future of trucking.