Top Features to Look for in a Modern Semi Truck

Modern semi trucks offer many features, with more new features and technologies included with every model of the American semi truck. While original semi trucks from the early 1900s were an impressive technological advancement for their time, modern trucks have features early truck drivers couldn’t dream of. What key features are there to look for in a modern semi truck? What are the top ten semi trucks on the market? Read more to discover some of the best modern updates to semi trucks, and the top features to look for. 

Over One Hundred Years of Semi Truck History

Before we dive into the features of modern semi trucks, we need to look at semi truck history. The first known use of the word “semi trailer” was in 1912. The word “semi truck” wasn’t coined until the mid-20th century. The actual words don’t change the fact that the first trailer haulers made their way into the transportation industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The turn of the century saw the rising popularity of the automobile, western expansion, increases in consumerism, and growth in the logging industry. Businessmen worked to develop a solution to transport their goods more efficiently across the country – enter the American semi truck. 

Alexander Winton built what is widely accepted to be the first semi truck in 1898. His original trailer was made to transport cars, or at least a single car. Mack trucks entered the world around 1900, and continue to be one of the top 10 semi trucks available. 

Over the next 100 years, American semi trucks and their drivers secured their place in the supply chain and in the economy. Trucks play a vital role in transporting goods all across the United States, and the North American continent. Trucks from manufacturers such as Kenworth and International have adapted to the modern needs of drivers and the industry – moving from manual to automatic transmissions, including modern technology such as GPS systems and Bluetooth. 

Modern Semi Trucks 

The original American semi truck, like most hundred-year-old vehicles, looks a lot different than today’s modern semi trucks. You can see some of the differences without even going into the mechanical specifics. The earliest semi trucks were more open, lacking the enclosed shipping containers and enclosed cabs that we’re used to seeing today (standard shipping containers were invented in 1956). They definitely didn’t have sleeper cabs – those entered the trucking industry in the early 1950s. There was no GPS navigation or route optimization. The standard vehicle 3-point seatbelt wasn’t even invented until the 1950s. Over the last one hundred years of semi truck history, the vehicles have seen some drastic changes. Other than the basics – headlights, seatbelts, a radio – modern semi trucks can have a lot of different features designed to increase efficiency, safety, and driver comfort. 

Comfort and Safety Features 

When looking for a new or used semi truck or trailer, comfort features are important. These can include a sleeper cab and specific features of a sleeper. Relatively standard features include air conditioning, heat, and Bluetooth audio that can all make long hauls more enjoyable.  

Driver comfort has increased greatly since the start of semi trucks. Once trucks began to have fully enclosed cabs, drivers no longer needed to bundle up to withstand trips in the winter. Driver comfort increased, and the conditions they could travel in expanded. Snow, cold, and poor weather were now less of a concern. 

Modern semi trucks have a variety of features designed with the safety of the driver, and other drivers on the road in mind. These are similar to features found on new passenger cars – collision warnings and detection, backup and side view cameras, and blind spot detection. These systems help to decrease the risk of accidents, especially among newer drivers. Front-facing cameras, or dash cams, can be installed in modern trucks, providing additional viewpoints for the driver and video footage in case of an incident. 

Increased Efficiency 

Early semi trucks were not very efficient. The earliest of semi trucks used the same engines as standard cars and trucks. This wasn’t ideal for hauling heavy loads over long distances. Modern semi trucks have engines especially designed for heavy cargo loads, and to run for hundreds and thousands of miles. 

Handshake Fleet knows that modern features have also increased efficiency. Upgrades to engines and mechanical systems have slowly improved fuel mileage over time. Other improvements include dynamic routing to help optimize routes based on traffic, conditions, and possible additional stops. Electronic logging devices (EDLs) automatically record driving time and other aspects of hours of service (HOS) records to allow more accurate HOS recordkeeping. EDLs can automatically send data to trucking companies, improving the efficiency of the whole trucking system. 

Some of the newest technologies in the industry are the increasing interest in autonomous trucks or autonomous features. While self-driving trucks aren’t fully on the road yet, the technology is being tested. The potential use of AI to autopilot vehicles can help reduce the training necessary and help with the driver shortage. 

New trucks on the market include hybrid and fully electric semi trucks such as the Tesla Semi, aiming to be on the market late this year, and the Volvo VNR Electric. Electric trucks are still new but are growing in popularity. These trucks can have a positive impact on the environment and on the trucking industry.

Top 10 Semi Trucks on the Market 

While looking at all the possible features of modern semi trucks, it’s important to note what features are a priority for you. You’ll find many of these features in the top 10 semi trucks on the market including the Volvo FH16, Kenworth W990, Freightliner 122SD, Mercedes-Benz Actros, Peterbilt 389, Freightliner Cascadia Evolution, Volvo VNL 860, International Lonestar, Freightliner New Cascadia, and International LT Series trucks. 

These semi trucks are modern, efficient, and powerful. They contain all the features you’d want in a truck. However, if you’re not in the market for something quite as new and shiny, see all your options by checking out Handshake fleet’s inventory.