Student Opinion: Are Newer Semi-Trucks better than the Older Ones?
Launch the media gallery 1 playerIs newer always better?
Older semi-trucks have less computer chips and more gauges that display the truck’s state. The newer trucks have built in computers that monitor the truck that have a more likely chance to break.
Since the 2020’s, trucks have introduced multiple electric trucks that use no fuel to power anything. This sounds like straight genius, but in reality, it’s absolutely idiotic for long haulers going from coast to coast. Diesel fuel is more efficient for running from coast to coast. There are more diesel fuel station across the nation than I can count but very few electric charging stations.
The pros of older trucks are the fact that they last longer than the new trucks that have currently been on the road for two years. You see more older trucks on the road than anything else. This is because they are a lot cheaper and last a lot longer. I've seen trucks have over two million miles on them and have never had a rebuild. These newer trucks can’t even last 500,000 miles before needing an overhaul.
A disadvantage of older trucks is they release a lot of emissions. These cause the environment to slowly deteriorate and air quality to slowly decrease. Another disadvantage is the amount of noise they produce. The average truck gives off 90-100 decibels to the human ear. Meanwhile, the electric motors of newer semis release a whisper hum that can barely even be heard over a person talking.
In conclusion the older trucks may not be better for the environment, but they last much longer and break down less frequently, which makes them my choice over the newer models any day.