10 Feb Trucking in NSW Terms and Definitions
A Guide to Trucking Terms and Definitions
Don’t worry as we’ve put together a quick truck 101 glossary of important words to remember, whether you’re just getting into the trucking game or maybe you need to brush up on some of the lingo.
So, before taking the important first step towards your first truck purchase, here are 5 trucking words to know.
Truck (HP)
This 18th century concept arose from an observation by a gentleman by the name of Watt of draft horses. Mr. Watt estimated that the average horse work per minute was 33,000 pounds per minute per foot. It was then said that this number was 1 horsepower (HP). Simply put, it’s the muscle behind the motor, horsepower is the indicator of how much work an engine can do in a given period of time and depends on the engine’s torque and rpm.
In metric terms such as kilowatts (kW) or Pferdestärke, modern engines are also calculated in (PS). A German word known in the industry as “metric horsepower” is Pferdestärke.
1 HP, 1HP = 0.746 KW = 1.014 PS, is the effort needed to lift 550 foot-pounds per second.
Fifth Wheel
The fifth wheel is the load supporting plate attached to the rear frame of the towing vehicle, another old term that comes from the coupling used on four-wheel horse-drawn carriages and wagons. This pivot-mounted coupling is positioned in front of the centreline of the rear axle of the towing vehicle and provides a flexible connection between the trailer and the truck. This is considered a tractor trailer in Japan, but this design is most often called a ‘semi-trailer’ in Australia.
The load of the trailer on the towing vehicle is shared by a fifth wheel or semi-trailer configuration and would be a more stable trailer configuration in most cases.
Mass of Gross Vehicle (GVM)
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is the actual total weight to be added to the ground by a truck (also refer to as the GVW Gross Vehicle Weight). The weight of the cab frame, body, machinery, accessories, power, driver, passengers and freight are included in the GVM. The GVM does not include a trailer’s weight unless any of the weight of the trailer is added to the vehicle (i.e. weight on the towing attachment).
Bear in mind, there is a distinction between the maximum GVM of a supplier and the permissible GVM of the route. In order to avoid damage to roads and bridges, registration authorities limit the maximum weight a truck can add to the lane. For instance, a GH1835 has a manufacturer max GVM of 18t, but as a typical 2 axle rigid truck, the current max allowance for NSW is 15.5t.
The manufacturer’s GVM ratings for truck ranges are given below.
GVM Series 300: 4,495-8,500KG
500 GVM Series: 8,000kg – 26,000kg
GVM Sequence 700: 16,000-32,000KG
Differential Margin
First and foremost, a differential is a system that alters the drive direction. A differential also helps a vehicle to turn corners, actually rotating the internal and external drive wheels at different speeds. A vehicle does not simply turn corners without a differential. A three-shaft gear train mounted on the drive axle is a regular differential that allows the outer drive wheel to rotate during a turn faster than the inner drive wheel.
A differential would have a gear ratio as well. To increase the applied power to the ground through the wheels, this ratio will serve as a torque multiplier. To achieve a balance between power and fuel economy, having the correct gear ratio in your truck is very necessary.
Stability Monitoring Vehicle (VSC)
VSC, or Vehicle Stability Control, is an electronic safety device that allows the driver to keep the vehicle under control. This mechanism is specifically designed to prevent the vehicle from flipping, spinning, understeering and stabilizing the vehicle when the curve is turned on. While driving, the machine will determine the condition of the car. If the system decides that the vehicle could be out of the driver’s reach, the brakes will be applied and the engine power will be de-rated to bring the vehicle into the driver’s control.
Payless Truck Driving School is an approved supplier of RMS Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA).
Payless Truck Driving School
OPEN 7 DAYS
0406 577 701
info@paylessdrivingschool.com.au
