MAN unveils super-streamlined semi truck

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
You think that's good just wait until WOman designs a truck.
 

moose

Veteran Expediter
It is very rare for concept vehicles to make it into the mass production line.
some ware along the box line, aerodynamic eats up on load capacity.
just like the the tail skirts we see now days in used by the good O'l ATA carriers (paid for largely by tax payers grants), they are not after fuel saving as much as they are after shoveling LHV's via the back door (so to speak).

here a real quiz for all of you engineering minds.
ever notices how almost all of euro's TT have no gap at all between the truck and the trailer, and here in North America most of all TT have around 3 foot gap ?
how they do that ?
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
here a real quiz for all of you engineering minds.
ever notices how almost all of euro's TT have no gap at all between the truck and the trailer, and here in North America most of all TT have around 3 foot gap ?
how they do that ?

I'm no engineer but I did sleep at a WalMart last night. In Europe all of the highways are straight with wide radius curves, kinda like a railroad. These Euro T/Ts don't have to make any tight turns like here in North America. Euro T/Ts use Bluetooth™ technology to connect the tractor's air and electrical system to the trailer. This eliminates the need for airlines, gladhands, 7 pole connectors and the 3 foot gap necessary to accommodate large North American truck drivers.

Hope that answers your question. How about some help with this question, how is the trailer below unloaded. It doesn't appear that the doors can open 270º to allow the trailer to be spotted at a dock. I have seen these trapezoidal rear trailer wind things on Nusbaum Trucking trailers. They employ an elaborate system of hinges, pulleys, cables and panels that allow access to the trailer doors. Perhaps these Euro trailers are unloaded by hand using Armenian Gypsy boys.
 

Attachments

  • MB Trailer doors.jpg
    MB Trailer doors.jpg
    30.7 KB · Views: 45

OldGuy

Active Expediter
If you want aerodynamic, shape your truck after a water dwelling animal. Rounded and sleek. If you don't round the rear end then you're not going to do much good as that's where most of the drag is caused. Making the front of the vehicle more pointed and arrow shaped will do wonders and leave sharp hard abrupt angle changes in the garbage. They create turbulence and drag.
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
If you want aerodynamic, shape your truck after a water dwelling animal. Rounded and sleek. If you don't round the rear end then you're not going to do much good as that's where most of the drag is caused. Making the front of the vehicle more pointed and arrow shaped will do wonders and leave sharp hard abrupt angle changes in the garbage. They create turbulence and drag.


Problem is curves really limit the loading ability of any kind of unit.
 

BobWolf

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Unloading this type of trailer is quite simple once you learn the proceedure.

1 Stop trailer aproximately 150 feet from dock.
2 Open doors.
3 Back truck at high rate of speed.
4 Fully apply brakes and stop before conatcting dock.
5 Inertia and gravity will do the rest.
 
Top