Anyone who has driven a truck or seen a truck driver at work knows that changing gears is very different from doing so in a car. Trucks have many more gears. But exactly how many? And why are so many needed? In this blog, we explain how a truck’s gear system works and how to change gears in a truck.
Number of gears
The number of gears in a truck varies by model and type, but most modern trucks have between 12 and 16 gears. Older models may have fewer gears, while some heavy-duty vehicles can have as many as 18 or more. This depends on the truck’s intended use.
Here are some common truck gearboxes:
- 12-speed gearbox: commonly used in standard trucks for domestic and international transport.
- 16-speed gearbox: suitable for heavy loads and mountainous routes, as it offers more control at different speeds.
- 18-speed gearbox: found in specialist trucks, for example those used for exceptional loads or extreme terrain.
Compared with an ordinary passenger car, which usually has a 5- or 6-speed gearbox, this clearly shows how different shifting is.
Why does a truck have so many gears?
A truck often weighs ten times as much as a passenger car and has to transport enormous loads. This means it needs a powerful, efficient gear system to drive smoothly and save fuel. Without so many gears, a truck would struggle to get up to speed or climb hills.
The main reasons for the large number of gears are:
- More pulling power at low speeds: to get a heavy load moving, the engine needs a low gear with plenty of power.
- Fuel savings on long-distance journeys: shifting up means the engine runs at lower revs and operates more efficiently.
- Control when driving uphill and downhill: extra gears help maintain the right speed and reduce brake wear.
- Fine-tuned speed adjustments: trucks often travel long distances, where even a small difference in speed can have a major impact on fuel consumption and driving comfort.
How does shifting work in a truck?
A truck has a different gear system from a car. Instead of a regular gearbox, trucks often use a splitter or range gearbox. This means that a single gear lever is used to shift through multiple gears, often with the help of an additional switch or button on the gear lever.
- Range gearbox: divides the gears into a low and a high range. In low gears (for slow driving or heavy loads), the driver shifts through the first half of the gears. They then switch to the high range for faster driving.
- Splitter gearbox: this allows each gear to be split in two, making the transition between gears even smoother. This is especially useful on hilly terrain or when carrying heavy loads.
Many modern trucks are now equipped with automatic gearboxes. This makes driving easier, as the driver has to focus less on changing gears and more on the road.
What about trucks with automatic gearboxes?
The benefits of an automatic gearbox in trucks include:
- Less physical strain for the driver, especially on long trips or in heavy city traffic.
- Better fuel efficiency, because the truck always changes gears at the right time.
- Less wear and maintenance, because human errors when changing gears are avoided.
Still, some drivers continue to prefer manual gearboxes, especially in extreme conditions such as driving with heavy loads or in the mountains. With a manual gearbox, you often have more control and better management of torque, as well as a lower risk of the brakes overheating.
More gears for better performance
On average, a truck has between 12 and 16 gears, depending on its type and purpose. This allows the truck to accelerate smoothly, save fuel and remain under control when carrying heavy loads. Although automatic gearboxes are becoming increasingly popular, manual shifting is still the norm in many cases.
Would you like to become a truck driver? Then you need to learn how to handle the special gearbox. We’d be happy to help! At Nuvrachtwagen.nl, we help you pass your truck theory test in just one day, so you can hit the road in no time!
