Scania super tractor will transport 220 tons of ore

Benefits[ | ]

• High capacity (compared to conventional trucks); a truck tractor can carry long loads.
• High load-to-weight ratio. Accordingly, high efficiency and low cost of large shipments.
• Good maneuverability (compared to a truck of the same length). Maneuvering when driving in reverse is easier (unlike a truck with a trailer).
• Trailers and tractors are easily replaced.
• A semi-trailer can be moved along a warehouse or ferry deck not by a tractor, but by a more maneuverable tug.
• A semi-trailer can be converted into a trailer by mounting it on a dolly.

• American type Kenworth W900 tractor
• European type MAZ tractor

• International 9200 cab, Eaton logo on the manual transmission lever
• Dashboard on Volvo FH 16

Military applications[ | ]

Truck tractors have found application in many armies of the world, including the Russian one. They are used for towing heavy missile launchers, as well as for transporting tracked vehicles on roads and simply for purely household tasks.

• BAZ tractor towing S-400
• The MZKT-74135 tractor transports the T-72 on a trawl.

Production in Russia[ | ]

Differences between European and American design schools[ | ]

• DAF XF

  - a typical European model tractor

• Volvo VNL760

  - a tractor for the American market, capable of being a heavy truck

For Trucker Day - the most unusual long-haul tractors that were ahead of their time

Long-haul tractors are the basis of road freight transportation over long distances. Therefore, their creation is treated with special care, caring primarily about the comfort and safety of the driver. Equally important is the continuous improvement of the efficiency of tractors.

Let's start the story about the most unusual long-haul tractors, of course, with the futuristic cars of Luigi Colani. Let us remember that Luigio Colani is a famous German designer, the founder of bio-design, who realized his ideas in his various works - from an armchair and a piano to an airplane.

Trunk tractors of Luigi Colani – the founder of biodesign

Particular attention in his works is paid to cars, including trucks. The designer has embodied several projects for a long-haul tractor of the future in metal - the first of them appeared in the late 80s. His cars are simply stunning with their appearance, which is ahead of its time.

Ryder Paymaster

In America, almost forty years ago, a revolutionary long-haul tractor was created. The Ryder Paymaster was developed by designer Dan Hobgensifken back in 1969, and the first prototype was built in 1971. The Ryder Paymaster has received seven patents for its innovative design. Firstly, the car had an unusually shaped aerodynamic cabin. Moreover, specialists from the famous aircraft manufacturing company Boeing worked on it. As a result, the Cx coefficient was reduced by 40%, which immediately improved fuel efficiency.

Ryder Paymaster

The chassis was also unusual. All axles were on air suspension, and the rear wheels were the first in the class to have single-pitch tires. Ryder Paymaster had a modular layout, which made it possible to replace one or another unit in the shortest possible time. The power unit was located not under the cab, but behind it, under the fifth wheel coupling.

Engines were offered to choose from: Detroit Diesel 6-71 or 8V-71T, or Cummins VT903. It was coupled with a Fuller RT910 gearbox. The motor was mounted on a special aluminum subframe and could be pulled out on a skid for ease of maintenance. The production of the Ryder Paymaster tractor was undertaken by Ryder System from Miami. In 1973 – 1974 Only ten such tractors were manufactured, which worked on public roads in various transport companies.

Supercargo 2040

In 1983, the German company Steinwinter built a truck with a unique layout - Supercargo 2040. The car had a three-seater cabin with a height of only 1.17 m - like the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster. The driver sat reclining, like in a supercar. The engine is a Mercedes diesel engine with a twin turbocharger producing 400 hp. With. - located in the base, between the axes.

Supercargo 2040

The know-how was that such a tractor drove under a special semi-trailer 17.7 m long. In this way, the useful area of ​​the road train was rationally used, allowing the maximum amount of cargo to be placed with a limited length. The car could also work with interchangeable bodies, carrying them on its “back”.

The Steinwinter Supercargo 2040 also had air suspension on all wheels. As for the fiberglass cabin, it was built in collaboration with the famous bus studio Drogmuller. It is noteworthy that according to the project, the middle seat was transformed into a bed. After tests, during which the car drove over 3000 km, it began to “crumble”. And the project stalled.

Scania eXc.

Scania presented the Scania eXc concept tractor back in 2002 at the IAA exhibition in Hannover. Its main difference from the production model was the cabin extended by 1.3 m. In terms of its dimensions - from the bumper to the rear wall - it did not exceed the dimensions of the hooded cabin of the T-series model (today it is no longer in production). As a result, the European tractor received a sleeping bag comparable to its American classmates. For truckers, a full-size bed was offered, instead of a standard 0.8 m wide shelf, a kitchenette with a sink, a unit with audio-video and a TV.

Scania eXc.

It would seem that the car will remain a show stopper. However, in May 2003, at a press conference in Morocco, the start of production of the unique Scania eXc tractor was announced. The production model with the extra-long cab was named Longline, in the spirit of the model with the most spacious cab to date, Topline. Production of a non-standard-length cabin was launched in the fall of the same year. True, not at the main plant in Södertälje, but at the partner’s enterprise - Laxa Special Vehicles, which has been building special vehicles on Scania chassis for many years.

Freightliner Inspiration Truck

The newest Freightliner Inspiration Truck is the world's first self-driving truck to be allowed on public roads.

However, the license to operate the unmanned Freightliner Inspiration Truck will so far be valid in only one American state - Nevada. There will still be a driver in the car, but he will intervene in the control process only when the road train needs to use the steering - to change lanes or when turning; automatic control is also impossible in populated areas. Everything else - acceleration, keeping a distance and braking, including emergency braking, is performed by the tractor itself.

Freightliner Inspiration Truck

And these operations are performed for the driver by the Highway Pilot system, consisting of numerous sensors and video cameras. So, three cameras monitor the road at once: one is long-range, with a range of 250 m, but with a horizontal coverage angle of only 18 degrees. Another camera “sees” only 70 m, but its coverage angle is an order of magnitude higher – 130 degrees.

The Highway Pilot system works closely with already well-known active safety systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains automatic distance to the vehicle in front, Lane Keeping Assist, and automatic braking system when driving in front. collision risk (Active Brake Assist). All of them are already serially installed on the Freightliner Cascadia long-haul tractor, on the basis of which the Inspiration Truck is made.

Nikola One

The Nikola Motor company presented on December 1, 2020 in Salt Lake City a running prototype of a long-haul tractor with zero harmful emissions - Nikola One. The car is driven by an electric motor-wheels, which are powered by a fuel cell power plant - the total power is 1000 hp. With. At the same time, there are 320 kWh batteries. As a result, the tractor can travel 1200 miles – 1920 km without refueling.

The cost of running a kilometer on hydrogen is two times less than on diesel fuel. At the same time, the average speed is one and a half times higher. Serial production of the Nikola One tractor should begin by 2020. By this time, Nikola Motor plans to build over 300 hydrogen filling stations in the USA and Canada.

KV-400 main tractor, assembled in Kremenchug by the Vladimir corporation

At the dawn of the 2000s, another manufacturer of heavy trucks appeared in Kremenchug. One of its new products, the new long-haul tractor KV-400, was first presented to the general public at the end of May, at the SIA'2004 International Motor Show.

The new machine was created and prepared for production by the Vladimir International Research and Production Corporation from Kremenchug. The fact is that Ukraine did not produce long-haul tractors that would meet international standards for comfort and safety, and foreign analogues turned out to be too expensive. Therefore, they approached the matter seriously: a design bureau was created, production facilities were built, advanced equipment was purchased, and technology was mastered. And soon the first prototypes of the new truck appeared.

The car's long sloping hood is integrated with the front fenders. To lighten the weight and reduce the cost of production, it is made of fiberglass. The cabin was borrowed from the well-known Czech Tatra T815 trucks.

KV-400 main tractor, assembled in Kremenchug by the Vladimir corporation

However, there are also differences. Thus, to increase the useful volume, Kremenchug specialists developed a high, streamlined fiberglass roof. Interestingly, it is equipped with a lifting spoiler. They decided not to create a sleeping compartment in the rear of the cabin - the length of the bonnet should be minimal. Therefore, in the sleeper version, the standard 3-seater cabin is equipped with a soft shelf instead of two passenger seats, and the driver's seat located next to it is equipped with a reclining backrest.

The KV used an original ladder frame, which is characterized by increased strength. The finite element method was used in its design. The frame is made of alloyed Austrian steel with cross members 6–8 mm thick, channel-type spars have a variable cross-section and reinforced lower flanges up to 12 mm thick.

The new mainline was planned to be produced in two modifications: KV-400 and KV-401. The first is powered by a 408-horsepower Deutz turbodiesel, the second is powered by a unit from the Yaroslavl Motor Plant with a capacity of 400 hp. With. At that time, both engines complied with Euro 2 standards and were coupled with a 16-speed ZF-Ecosplit gearbox. The front axle and drive axle are manufactured by Raba. Resource – 1 million km. If there was demand, MNPK Vladimir could increase the annual production volume of these trucks to 1000 units.

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The most famous and large manufacturers in different countries[ | ]

Today, 14 countries around the world have their own production of machines of this type. Russia is one of them. Of course, in other countries there may be assembly or more complex production of such machines, but these are usually either underdeveloped and small manufacturers, or subsidiaries of large manufacturers. Also recently, Tesla Motors announced that it was testing its model of truck tractors, both American and European, this time fully electric, but today these vehicles have not yet reached the same level as diesel vehicles in terms of energy efficiency and require many improvements.

Pre-existing[ | ]

Some manufacturers no longer exist or have been absorbed by others, but their products are sometimes still found on the roads.

The most popular tractors in the CIS

05.06.2014

2649

Freight

When buying a tractor, most truckers pay attention not only to its characteristics, but also to the popularity of this or another model in the country. After all, if the majority chooses a certain model, it means it is better suited for driving in a given region. It is also easier to find spare parts for popular models.

Volvo truck tractors . Volvo tractors are among the most popular in Russia and the CIS. The fleet of these cars is about 60 thousand cars and this is only in Russia. The most common Volvo FH series tractor. There may be FH 12 and Fh16 with a 12 and 16 liter engine, respectively. There are also FH13, but there are very few of them in Russia. FM series tractors are slightly weaker than FH. Available with 9 and 12 liter engines. But they are not popular in the CIS; here they immediately take the maximum possible option. Volvo tractors have proven their practicality and reliability over the years, and that is why truckers in the CIS choose them.

MAN truck tractors . There are approximately 20% fewer MAN tractor units in the CIS than Volvo. But they are still quite popular. One of the most common models is the TGA equipped with a 12 liter engine. There are also models TGS and TGX. TGS is designed more for smooth European roads. The TGA has greater ground clearance, which increases its maneuverability. TGX is a slightly updated version of TGA. MANs are not cheap tractors and their design is not the best, but truckers still love them for their German reliability.

SCANIA truck tractors . Tractors of this brand are in 3rd place in popularity. You can even say that in terms of number they are approximately the same as MANs. The most popular model is SCANIA R series. They began to be supplied to Russia back in the 80s. R series tractors make up approximately half of all Scanias. The P and G series are also found. The main difference is the size of the cabin. P is the smallest, G is medium and R is the largest. Manufacturers assure that the service life of engines of any series is at least 2 million kilometers.

DAF tractor units . In 4th place in popularity is the Dutch DAF. They turned out to be very adapted to Russian roads and climate. The most popular are the XF105 and XF95 series. The 105th began to be produced in 2006. Externally, the 95th and 105th are practically no different. The main difference inside is that the 105 has a new, powerful engine that is capable of developing 410-510 hp. Quite often there are series of 95 old samples that were produced back in the 80s.

Renault truck tractors . French tractors are distinguished by their original appearance. But they are not chosen because of their beautiful design. The PREMIUM and MAGNUM series models are popular. In the 90s, American MACK engines began to be installed on Magnums. These are 12-liter, 470 horsepower or 16-liter 560 horsepower engines, which amazed with their reliability. Magnum is easily distinguished by its entrance to the cabin - a steep ladder. The PREMIUM series has a more conventional appearance. There are many more of them in Russia than Magnums. They are usually equipped with 11-liter engines producing 440 hp.

Mercedes truck tractors Mercedes Actros has become a legendary tractor. The Aktros occupies the same place among trucks as Mercedes occupies among cars. Actresses are divided by year of manufacture and by wheelbase (4x2, 4x4, 6x2, 6x4, 6x6). 4x2 is popular in Russia. The main difference between Mercs and other tractors is the presence of smart electronics. The truck is completely stuffed with sensors that monitor its condition.