What's the History of Semi Trailer Trucks?

The Importance of the Semi Trailer Truck

Whether you call them semis, semi trucks, big rigs, tractor trailers, or just "the office," semi trailer trucks have been key in shaping the American economy. Semis are named for the semi-trailers that are attached to tractors using a fifth wheel coupling hitch, giving these unique vehicles a distinct design from standard trucks and traiilers.

But while it's not uncommon to drive or share the road with semi trailer trucks these days, have you ever wondered where the semi trailer truck comes from and how it came into existence? We wondered, too, and did a deep dive into the rich history of this specialty vehicle.

Why Was the Semi Truck Invented?

The semi truck was invented to solve the exact same problem that it's still resolving today – the need to transport goods all over the country quickly and without damage. It was 1896 in Cleveland, and early carmaker Alexander Winton had a dilemma. His new "horseless carriage" vehicles were gaining traction and selling, but he didn't have a way to transport the vehicles.

Many of the orders for the new cars were from people in other states, and driving the vehicles to their new owners would put wear-and-tear and miles on the cars before their owners even received them. So Winton needed another solution to transport the cars, and thus the first semi trailer truck was invented in 1898. Winton called it an "automobile hauler" and began manufacturing it separately in 1899 so other carmakers could take advantage of this new technology.

Autocar and Mack: Taking Tractors and Trailers to the Next Level

Alexander Winton's foray into semi-trailer production didn't last long as he decided to keep his focus on improving engine designs, but other great minds in the automotive industry at the time were also thinking in that direction. August Charles Fruehauf, a blacksmith from Detroit, officially coined the term "semi-trailer" with a carriage attached to a Ford that he designed for a person who wanted to transport their boat. Fruehauf continued producing the semi-trailer for additional uses and the Fruehauf Trailer Company still produces trailers today.

Even though the early designs of semi trailer trucks had been in existence since the early 1900's, the heavy-duty vehicles as we know them today didn't start gaining traction in the U.S. until Mack came onto the scene in 1900 and revolutionized the industry by replacing the hand-crank starter with their proprietary automatic starters. Mack made over 2,600 semi and full trailers between 1929 and 1944, building not only durable trucks but also a brand that's become one of the most well-known in the trucking world.

Autocar is another early truck innovator that's also had a major influence in the tractor-trailer world. The oldest surviving motor vehicle brand in the Western Hemisphere, Autocar began focusing primarily on heavy-duty truck production in 1911, and today it produces the ACTT and E-ACTT terminal tractors.

How Today's Semi Trucks Compare

The semi trailer truck has evolved tremendously over the last century and now includes multiple types of vehicles including:

• Day cabs
• Mid-roof sleepers
• Raised roof sleepers
• Flat roof sleepers

Additionally, there are also multiple types of trailers that can now be used for semi trucks such as:

• Reefer trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Lowboy trailers
• Step deck trailers
• Conestoga trailers
• Power only trailers
• Dry van trailers
• Multi-car trailers
• Specialty trailers
• Sidekit trailers
• Stretch Removable Gooseneck trailers
• Removable Gooseneck trailers
• Stretch Single Drop Deck trailers
• Stretch Double Drop trailers
• Extendable Double Drop trailers

Semi truck trailers are strong and durable enough on their own, but when semi-trucks and semi-trailers are combined to form an 18-wheeler, this technology becomes one of the most powerful vehicles on the road today.

Semi Truck Parts for Your Evolving Needs

Semi truck trailers have been designed and adapted for the rough roads and long journeys of the 21^st century, but just as certain as death and taxes, your truck or fleet is eventually also going to need some part replaced.

From your wheels to your in-cab comforts, our full haul of heavy-duty everything has your semi truck covered whenever you need us. Not sure if we've got the parts you need? Check out our e-commerce parts website today and explore our 100,000 active part numbers and cross-references.