I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff.
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I once tried to describe the piece of SpaceX Crew Dragon Trunk debris that was first discovered as being "about the shape and size of a semi-truck hood" for a BBC podcast, and all the very British people interviewing me were like... "Excuse me, a what?" To which I responded "Uhhhh is that a lorry?" and then they later cut in me saying "lorry" in a different tone of voice with my initial description, which I don't think even makes sense... Pretty funny if you know that whole story though.
@sundogplanets as big as a lorry's bonnet?
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@sundogplanets Articulated lorry.
@rupert @sundogplanets Articulated lorry. That's the one I know/use too.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
tractor-trailer rig or semi (as in semitrailer truck, because the kingpin is forward of the rear axle)
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets We have a lot of LKW here in Germany. But the more common size would be fridge.
But the european fridges are if half size an the american.
An common running gag is: How much is this in soccer fields?
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@Ashmire @sundogplanets I'm guessing this is short for 'articulated lorry', but I've personally never heard them called just 'artic's.
@rubyjones @Ashmire @sundogplanets yes artic is short for articulated lorry. Less commonly used mow than simply lorry or truck.
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@spacelizard @smsm1 @sundogplanets The semi has nothing to do with the truck. It refers to the semi-trailer, which lacks the front axel of a full trailer. Those semi-trailers are then pulled by tractor trucks, which are trucks designed to haul trailered loads. Connect a tractor truck to a semi-trailer, and you’ve got a tractor trailer. It allows you to cleanly describe either component separately or both together.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets We usually call them big rigs in my neck of the woods. But I recognize a lot of other words for them.
When I just hear 'truck' I think of a personal vehicle like a Dodge Ram or a Ford F series.
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@teadrinker @superball @sundogplanets I say either, depending on the context, the day, and my mood. I probably also match the pronunciation of the person I’m speaking with. They both feel correct to me, so it’s whatever happens.
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Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
@sundogplanets
What about HGV or LGV? (Heavy/large goods vehicle) -
Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
@sundogplanets adding further to the Babylonian confusion, let’s throw in some terms from other languages!
In German, I guess the most common terms are:
1. Lastwagen = truck / lorry (generic term)
2. Sattelschlepper / 40 Tonner = semi / tractor-trailer/ artic (we refer to them by max weight, even though there’s smaller versions)
3. Pickup = Pickup -
@sundogplanets adding further to the Babylonian confusion, let’s throw in some terms from other languages!
In German, I guess the most common terms are:
1. Lastwagen = truck / lorry (generic term)
2. Sattelschlepper / 40 Tonner = semi / tractor-trailer/ artic (we refer to them by max weight, even though there’s smaller versions)
3. Pickup = Pickup@slothrop @sundogplanets French, camion for the larger stuff, camiomlnette/fourgone for the smaller.
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@fembot
Interesting!
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets artic? (articulated lorry)
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets brits call it an articulated lorry. If you tell a brit driver he has a semi his wife might get upset
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Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
If it's towing two trailers, I'd call it a B double.
If it's towing three trailers, I'd call it a road train.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets As someone else commented, the articulated lorries in the UK and the rest of Europe have a vertical front and no “hood”. The whole cab tilts.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets 18-wheeler truck is probably universal?
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Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
@sundogplanets all I know is that I want something else to get me through this semi-charmed kinda life...
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets and an European pickup truck is far smaller then an US pickup truck.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets What? 2 or 3 extra trailers? 🤯
