Semi trucks are large motorized vehicles with eighteen wheels and trailers. These kinds of vehicles are made for the sole purpose of transporting large shipments. As such, these shipments can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and weights.
But, Semi trucks aren’t just big because of what they carry. Big rigs may include sleepers so that truckers have a convenient place to sleep. When large shipments and multiple trailers need to be transported, trucks with larger fuel tanks and even larger engines may be used.
All of these little details quickly add up when the weight of an 18-wheeler is in question. But, why would people need to know how heavy a semi truck is? That’s because the heavier a big rig, the more damage it may cause to others in a motor vehicle accident. Here’s how big a semi truck can get:
How much can a semi truck weigh?
Smaller semi trucks, typically, weigh a lot less, ranging around 10,000 and 25,000 pounds without a trailer. That’s about ten times heavier than the average motor vehicle used for passenger transport. A truck’s weight can quickly go up to 35,000 pounds once an empty trailer is added and 80,000 pounds with the addition of a fully loaded trailer.
What can you do after a trucking accident?
Once a big rig leaves the warehouse and gets on the road, the likelihood of it causing an accident drastically increases. If a truck with all the bells and whistles and a fully loaded trailer gets into an accident, its size can cause fatal injuries. Drivers should be aware of their legal rights to seek compensation when in an accident with a semi truck.