Truck tractor with semi-trailer, overview of brands and models

Given the huge variety of categories of cargo transported by road, an extensive type classification is used for trucks, so the issue of choosing the right vehicle in the purchasing process plays an important role.

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When considering the typology, special attention should be paid to the technical characteristics of tractor vehicles, as the most common and at the same time universal type of cargo equipment. Tractor is a vehicle that is one of the machines with a high traction force and a traction device that provides the connection of semi-trailers for various purposes and other mounted devices with the formation of a movable coupling. Models differ in year of manufacture and manufacturer's price (new ones are usually more expensive than used ones).

Types of tractors

Depending on the design features of the machines and their functional purpose, it is customary to distinguish:

Truck tractors

The use of a fifth wheel allows the machine to work with semi-trailers. The use of a rotary hitch provides the necessary level of maneuverability of the road train, ensures work with long loads, rear or side unloading. Depending on the cab, all tractor vehicles are usually divided into:

• “European” (cabless with an engine under the cab)
• “American” (bonneted with the power unit moved forward).

Towing tractors

Special reliable equipment designed for towing heavy semi-trailers. The coupling device is created on the basis of a set of brackets and hooks attached to the transverse elements of the automobile frame, transmitting traction forces. They are equipped with additional equipment and carry out cargo transportation of materials on public roads.

Good to know: common wheel formulas of truck tractors in one review article

Mining tractors

The cars are very powerful. Powerful equipment with a fifth wheel coupling and a short frame for working in quarries and in difficult road and weather conditions, for example, in the mining industry, construction, and agro-industrial complex. Allows work with semi-trailers with a two-link coupling and dump unloading.

Note to the driver: what is the most economical tractor, rating of the most profitable trucks, current list!

Ballast

Heavy tractors are distinguished by a platform for installing ballast (metal or concrete loads). Ballast is necessary for weight gain, and the installed coupling device is a backlash-free “hinge-pin” type. It is used to move semi-trailers in traction or push mode.

Saddle-ballast

The machines have a mixed design with a fifth-wheel coupling device, supplemented by ballast and traction coupling mechanisms. The coupling of the elements is carried out by means of a kingpin attached to the frame. This connection scheme provides advantages when operating machines as part of heavy road trains.

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Airfield tractors

Specialized equipment required to move aircraft. It is a specialized class of chassis-based tractor. For machines of this type, the use of a rigid hitch with fixation to the front strut of the aircraft (helicopter) is provided. It is possible to use the driverless method, when the tractor grabs the rack using a manipulator.

Truck tractor with semi-trailer, overview of brands and models

The truck market is saturated with offers for the purchase of tractors - both new and used. To choose the optimal one among all possible options, the buyer needs to evaluate each of them according to key technical, functional and performance qualities, not forgetting about savings. We, in turn, have prepared a brief overview of the most popular brands and models of truck tractors in Russia.

Any buyer, be it the owner of a logistics company or a supplier of goods interested in organizing delivery, strives to take into account several requirements at once when choosing a truck tractor.

First of all, the car must be reliable, ergonomic, comfortable for the driver, have good driving performance, which is especially important on Russian roads, and also be economical to use. Much attention is paid to such properties as maintainability, availability of spare parts, and availability of service centers.

Equally important is the compliance of the selected model with specific tasks: operating features, characteristics of the cargo transported, etc. are important here.

And finally, the desire to save money on the purchase is quite understandable, which is why many future owners are looking for the opportunity to buy a used tractor. In general, the cost even for the same model is variable and depends on various factors. For example, on the technical condition, configuration, pricing policy of the supplier, etc., so we can only speak about the cost conditionally.

As for the brands of truck tractors, with all their diversity, there are several undisputed leaders.

These include brands such as:

• MAN;
• Mercedes-Benz;
• Volvo, Scania;
• DAF;
• Iveco;
• Renault.

The listed brands appear among the best in most Russian reviews [1] and ratings [2].

Volvo truck tractor: the standard of reliability

The Swedish brand Volvo has been confirming that its cars meet the highest standards of reliability and safety for almost a hundred years. Durability and simplicity of design, the use of advanced engineering developments, modern solutions for traffic safety (for example, the cruise control function), unpretentiousness and good adaptation to the conditions of the Russian winter have made this brand one of the leaders in the domestic cargo transportation industry.

Volvo service centers are located in most major cities of Russia, there are more than 70 in total [3].

The Volvo Trucks Corporation group of companies produces a wide range of truck tractors.

• FH line
  tractors are designed for long-haul transportation. They are available with 12-, 13- and 16-liter engines, equipped with a manual or robotic gearbox with 9–14 speeds. The volume of fuel tanks ranges from 400 to 800 liters. Drivers note the excellent braking system, including when braking with a loaded semi-trailer on a descent. FH series tractors are not too demanding on road conditions and are unpretentious to the quality of oils and lubricants.
• Volvo FM
  tractors are used primarily for short-distance freight transportation within a city or region. They have an 11 or 13 liter engine, with power ranging from 330 to 500 hp. With. Various gearbox options are available: manual with 9 or 14 steps, automatic with 6 or 12 steps. The tractor is maneuverable and well adapted to city streets. Among the advantages of the model are reliability, durability, and excellent adaptation to the Russian winter. Among the disadvantages, some drivers note the lack of comfort of the sleeping place, as well as the high cost of spare parts and maintenance.

The average price for a used 2nd generation truck tractor (from 2001 to 2010) is 1–2.5 million rubles [4]. A new car produced after 2013 will cost about 12 million rubles [5].

MAN: traditional German quality

This brand does not need a separate introduction - the name, as they say, is “well-known” and is firmly associated with cargo transportation. The German company fully lives up to its country's reputation by producing trucks with traditional pedantry. Among truck tractors with a 6x6 wheel arrangement, MAN products occupy a strong position as a leader [6] in popularity. In 2013, the company opened a plant in Russia.

This is interesting! The largest shareholder of MAN is the famous automotive concern Volkswagen Group. Its share of shares is 55.9% [7].

• A wide selection of models with different characteristics is also the hallmark of the manufacturer. MAN tractors are represented by the TG (Trucknology Generation) line - these are modern vehicles that comply with Euro 5 (TGS) and Euro 6 (TGX) standards, equipped with engines ranging from 150 to 680 hp. At the moment, there are about 50 [8] company service centers in Russia, as well as Mobile24 services (evacuation and on-site service) and MAN ProfiDrive (training drivers in safe and economical driving).
• MAN TGS, according to analytical agencies, is the undisputed leader in sales in Russia [9] among European tractors from 6 tons:
  • weight from 18 to 41 tons;

  wheel formulas from all-wheel drive 8x8 and 4x4 to classic 4x2 and 6x4;

• engine power from 360 to 680 hp;
• gearbox: manual (16 speeds) or automatic (12 speeds, shift lever on the steering wheel).

They are distinguished by high cross-country ability due to disc brakes and reinforced chassis. On average, fuel consumption on the highway is 20–25 [10] liters per 100 km. However, before you buy a MAN TGS tractor, evaluate the reviews of the cars - drivers note some inability to handle Russian roads. All uneven surfaces send vibrations and shocks to the steering wheel; in addition, the tractor is picky about the quality of fuel.

Fuel consumption is on average about 28 liters per 100 km, but depending on the model, time of year and technical condition it can be 20–55 liters. The car has a lot of electronics, even the oil level is monitored by a special sensor, so diagnostics can only be done with a computer. Owners note a high level of comfort, good maneuverability, including in winter, but also insufficient cabin sound insulation and pickiness about fuel quality.

You can buy a new MAN truck tractor within 5–7 million rubles, a used model will cost 1.5–3 million rubles.

Scania truck tractor: smarter than a person

Another well-known representative of Sweden in the truck market. Scania began its first deliveries of truck tractors to Russia back in 2000, becoming one of the pioneers in this direction. Truck tractors can be “assembled” from the required characteristics to order, but there are also standard configurations, about 30 in total. Typical models are divided into series - Griffin and Streamline, according to cab type - P, G, R and V8.

• The Scania Griffin tractor unit is equipped as standard with G and P cabs, both with and without sleepers. The engine is 13 liters with a power from 360 to 440 hp, the most “advanced” models are equipped with a high-capacity battery - 225 Ah. They can be equipped with either an automatic or a manual transmission, complemented by the Scania Opticruise system, an intelligent switching system that saves fuel and improves highway safety. The service interval is 45,000 km, fuel consumption is about 30 liters per 100 km. The design of the cabin is to the liking of many drivers - precise adjustment of the height of the seat and steering wheel, a full-height berth, a ceiling height of 210 cm and other characteristics that can make the trip comfortable.
• The Scaina Streamline tractor is equipped with an R-type cab and three different engines - 9, 13 and 16 liters. The abundance of electronics inside the car allows drivers to joke that it is often smarter than the driver: there is everything from the Scania Opticruise intelligent gearbox to the Scania Communicator system, which allows you to remotely transmit on-board computer data about the vehicle’s condition to a service center and receive advice on problems. The owner of the car, using a special application, can track its movement in real time. The main advantage of the line is its high efficiency of use without loss of ride quality - a new gearbox and improved body aerodynamics can reduce fuel consumption by 4% [11]. The dual battery prevents the risk of the engine not starting - one battery serves only for starting, the second one powers the rest of the system.

New Scania truck tractors can be bought for 6–8 million rubles, and used ones will cost 1.5–4 million, depending on the model and mileage.

DAF: reasonable price and high quality

The Dutch brand for the production of truck tractors has been pleasing drivers for decades with a comfortable cabin for driving and relaxation, reliability and efficiency. In Russia, the Daf market is not very developed, but in recent years there has been a positive trend in this matter.

New models like the DAF XF have:

• Euro 6 engine with power from 410 to 560 hp;
• semi-automatic gearbox.

The engine life is about 1,500,000 km. Additionally, you can order the installation of an intarder to increase braking force to 500 kW, as well as the proprietary DAF Night Lock system. The large windshield provides a wide view, and two 220 cm long berths with comfortable mattresses provide comfort for drivers. It should be noted that the conversion of the old model to Euro 6 standards affected the “elasticity” of the engine, however, drivers and owners of logistics companies recognize that this model is an excellent example of the optimal combination of price and quality. The DAF XF's low fuel consumption, low maintenance costs and unpretentiousness make it a fairly attractive proposition on the truck tractor market.

New Daf tractors cost about 5 million rubles, while used cars can be bought for 2–4 million rubles.

Renault: a living legend

The history of the formation of the Renault Trucks brand goes back more than 100 years. During this time, the company has achieved significant success - its name is known to almost everyone. Recently, the company's innovative developments have been aimed at reducing the fuel consumption of tractors without losing driving comfort and maneuverability.

Until 2013, the company produced the legendary Magnum and Premium tractors, which gained worldwide fame:

• Renault Magnum has different wheel configurations, a 12-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes and ABS. The last, fourth, generation of cars had engine power of 460 and 500 hp.
• Renault Premium is distinguished by a manual 16-speed gearbox, a two-axle design, and a power output of 380 or 430 hp.

This is interesting! In 2006, the unusually comfortable Renault Magnum Vega truck tractor was presented at the Hannover Industrial Fair. The cabin of the car was equipped with a swivel seat for the passenger, as well as a rest unit with a DVD player, LCD screen, electric kettle, and a wardrobe for storing clothes.

• They were replaced by a new line with the laconic name “T”. Engine power varies from 380 to 520 hp, complies with Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards. The design of the tractor remains two-axle, with a 4x2 wheel arrangement. Cabin options with and without a berth, flat floor, ceiling height of more than 2 m. Compared to the previous line, fuel consumption has been reduced by 5%. The advantage of the model can be considered large fuel tanks - 450 and 900 liters. Fuel consumption is about 30 liters per 100 km.

A new truck tractor of the latest generation Renault “T” can be purchased at a price of about 5 million rubles, and Magnum and Premium - at a price of about 1.5–3 million rubles.

Iveco: beauty requires sacrifice

This company was formed by the merger of five European production facilities more than 30 years ago. Now in Russia there are two Iveco enterprises, one of which assembles off-road trucks.

Iveco truck tractors are represented by the Stralis line, created in 2002, which was the first in the history of such vehicles to have an automatic transmission. In 2012, the model range was subjected to significant changes, with the name slightly changing - Stralis Hi-Way. New models are equipped with 6-cylinder Cursor engines of 8, 10 and 13 liters with power from 360 to 510 hp. (diesel) and from 270 to 330 hp. (gas). The elasticity of the engine allows the driver to change gears less frequently, saving fuel consumption. Manual transmission with 9 or 15 speeds, there is also a robotic option with 12 speeds. Drivers note particularly comfortable and beautiful interiors, but at the same time, frequent breakdowns, especially of the piston system.

The cost of new Stralis Hi-Way models averages 5–7 million rubles; used models are valued at 2–4 million rubles.

Mercedes-Benz: quality standard

And again we will talk about a representative of the German automobile industry. Well-functioning mechanisms, reliable assembly, ergonomic and beautiful design - all this is associated with the Mercedes brand. The brand's truck tractors are represented by the Actros line, which first saw the light in 1996. In 2003, the models underwent a major modernization, and in 2016 the first “New Actros” was released - the most modern car in the line. Since the introduction of Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units, more than 700,000 units have been sold, which is an excellent claim to leadership in this field.

Standard models are equipped with 408 hp V6 engines, a 12-speed automatic transmission, and a crew cab. A distinctive feature was the appearance of a modern electronic on-board control system “Telligent” with many sensors that collect detailed information about the condition of the vehicle in real time. Its presence made it possible to increase the service mileage to 150,000 km. The advantages of the Mercedes Actros are a high level of cabin comfort, a convenient gearbox, and a soft suspension. But there are also disadvantages - the complexity of repairs and poor availability of spare parts for the V-twin engine.

The new Actros offers 11 cab configurations - with a new design, improved division of zones and a height of 213 cm. Engines with power up to 625 hp. with the PowerShift 3 gearbox provide reliable and easy driving, comparable to driving a passenger car.

The price of a Mercedes Actros is about 5–7 million rubles if we are talking about a new model, and a used truck tractor can be bought for 2–5 million rubles.

Truck tractor "MAZ": closer and dearer...

The Minsk Automobile Plant produces reliable “workhorses” adapted for Russian roads. These cars can be found in any strip of our country, you can even come across cars from the eighties - you must agree, this is an indicator of reliability. At the same time, the pricing policy is much more attractive than competitors from foreign countries.

MAZ produces tractors that meet standards from Euro 2 to Euro 5, and power reaches 435 hp. The joint work of MAZ and MAN has benefited the company's vehicles - modern truck tractors are equipped with an engine and body produced by a German counterpart. Car buyers are attracted by the simplicity and low price of service work, as well as engine power. However, they note high fuel consumption (up to 50 liters per 100 km), poor build quality and spare parts, and a not very comfortable cabin.

New MAZ models cost about 2–3 million rubles, while a used car can be bought for 1 million rubles or less.

Choosing a truck tractor for organizing transportation is a responsible step, on which the success of the entire enterprise often depends. The car must correspond to the nature of use - everything is taken into account, down to specific routes and the location of service stations. The better the tractor suits your tasks, the longer it will serve you.

Trucks with a great future

A. Krasnov

An article about foreign-made small-tonnage truck tractors (see OS magazine No. 8, 2006) unexpectedly deeply affected the readership. Over the past months, the editors have received many letters and emails with questions about this technology, and many were interested in one thing: when will similar trucks be produced in Russia? Light-duty truck tractors are produced in Russia, and this article briefly describes the history of their origin and the latest news on the market.

The automotive history of our country can be roughly divided into three stages - cars of pre-revolutionary Russia, cars of socialist times and cars of modern Russia. There were many automobile enterprises in the country before the revolution - the story about them is worthy of a whole book. And today I’ll tell you only about some of the truck tractors that were produced at that time.

The first wheeled carriages were passenger vehicles. In 1899, a D series tricycle with a 1.5 hp car engine was released. The creator of this vehicle was the famous Russian inventor Boris Lutskoy. The tricycle is notable for the fact that under the driver’s seat there was a special towing device, which “with a slight movement of the hand” turned it into a “trailer tractor.”

The second tricycle, released a year later, belonged to the pen of the inventor Alexander Leitner and was manufactured at the Rossiya factory, which at that time was located in Riga. This car had a more powerful engine - 1.75 liters. s., but the semi-trailer was not a success - the passengers are exposed to all winds and are not protected from bad weather. Nevertheless, it was very fashionable to ride this way.

In 1909, the first representative of the cargo family of pre-revolutionary vehicles appeared - the Lessner truck tractor (then they were called tractors) with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons, but it was loaded much more - up to two and a half tons. In the subsequent history of pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary Russia, no such developments were noticed.

Now let’s take a small leap in time and look at the products of the Gorky Automobile Plant, produced after the Great Patriotic War. The production of the world-famous and very successful GAZ-69 car (in two modifications), which was born here, was transferred to the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, where it was produced for several decades, while the model was increasingly acquiring new variants. One of them, a tractor-trailer, is shown in the picture. The UAZ-456 was actually a GAZ-69 with a cut-off body and a fifth wheel on a frame with a permissible load of 2.5 tons. A two-axle semi-trailer with single wheels (the same size as the tractor) UAZ-749 with a load capacity of 2000 kg has internal dimensions 3460x1876x440 mm. The spare wheel is fixed between the cab and the semi-trailer. Unfortunately, the matter was limited to a few prototypes.

Just before the start of perestroika, the plant was going to repeat the attempt with a “loaf”, but events in the country deprived the company of the opportunity to continue experiments. This topic has not been returned to for more than a decade. Only in 2005 did she begin designing the VIS-23454 road train, and in 2006 the first production copy was sold.

The VIS-23454 road train was created on the basis of the VIS-2345 pickup truck and is intended for the transportation of large and long cargo. It can also be successfully used on farms. The platform's load capacity is 1200 kg, dimensions are 3850x1610 or 5660x990 mm. The total length of the road train is 6900 or 8100 mm. The tractor is made using units from Lada passenger cars. In contrast to the basic VIS-2345 pickup truck, the production of VIS-23454 used a 1.7-liter VAZ-21214 engine equipped with an electronic control system, and body parts from either Lada 2105 or Lada 2107.

In 2006, the Saransk Automobile Plant began production of the SAZ-9459 road train. Despite the fact that it was planned to use the Valdai car as a tractor, the choice nevertheless fell on the GAZelle, since, according to the designers, the Valdai turned out to be not a completely ready model by the time the tractor was developed. The load capacity of the road train is 2300 kg, overall dimensions are 9315x2098x2103 mm (2736 mm with an awning).

Most recently, news was received that SAZ has begun producing the 3414 road train with a platform that allows it to transport cargo longer than 6 m and weighing up to 5 tons. To reduce the loading height, instead of 20-inch wheels, 17.5-inch wheels were installed on the vehicle. New environmental requirements have also been taken into account - the exhaust gases of the small-tonnage fifth wheel vehicle comply with Euro 2 standards. So far, a pilot batch has been produced, but tests have shown the high performance and demand for such a road train.

Since 1993, a tuning shop has been actively operating in Nizhny Novgorod. In 2005, she designed and in 2006 launched the GAZ-33104 road train. The truck tractor as part of a road train is designed for intercity transportation of lightweight cargo with a length of 7.5 and 11 m and a weight of 6...7 tons. Unlike the SAZ, the designers of the Chaika-Service enterprise initially created the SZAP-9329 semi-trailer for the GAZ-3309 tractor, however, Having learned about the imminent release of the GAZ-33104 Valdai, we decided to wait.

Thanks to its high maneuverability, such a road train with a flatbed semi-trailer is suitable for use in large cities, suburbs, and even in agriculture. When the cabin is equipped with two sleeping places, the road train can also be used for intercity transportation. The semi-trailer has a pneumatic brake drive with ABS brakes, the internal dimensions of the small platform are 7420x2420x540 mm (with an awning - 2050 mm).

For several years now (Group) has been developing small-tonnage truck tractors. The latest model of their tractor is based on the “nine”.

There are truck tractors based on the Zilov “Bychka”. Initially, this model was not intended to work with a semi-trailer, but ZIL decided to change the situation. ZIL-540100 “Bychok” can only be classified as a low-tonnage vehicle only conditionally, since the carrying capacity of a specially created semi-trailer is 5.5 tons, and the total weight of a loaded road train exceeds 10 tons. And the volume of the body is quite large - more than 40 m3, with the ability to transport long loads. The Bychko fifth-wheel coupling device came from an old ZIL-130V truck tractor. The semi-trailer is also its own, made by Zilov, and only the supporting “legs” and the pivot assembly are original.

These are all domestic low-tonnage road trains. There are not so many of them, however, the main thing should be noted: the Russian automotive industry is almost in step with global trends. The lag is about ten years, and this gap is closing, at least in the field of creating light-duty truck tractors.