eli5 How does a “Road Train” actually get around?

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Those long trucks with many trailers. What happens when they come across an unexpected corner? Do the trailers have steerable wheels? If they do I could imagine it would be a few hours work just to get around a single obstacle. How do they unload their cargo? Do they just park the truck near where it needs to be and get a front loader or a forklift to come grab everything? I’d love to hear some stories if there’s anybody by chance reading this that’s driven trucks with more than 4 trailers.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

> What happens when they come across an unexpected corner?

They don’t come across an unexpected corner. These kind of trailer situations are basically only ever used on established routes, like freeways and never within city limits.

> Do the trailers have steerable wheels?

No, they are just trailers towing trailers.

> How do they unload their cargo?

They disconnect the trailers.

> Do they just park the truck near where it needs to be and get a front loader or a forklift to come grab everything?

Normally these kinds of things are more of a depot to depot kind of situation rather than an individual deliveries kind of situation. But if needed they would just disconnect the last trailer in line and leave it behind. Then someone else in a truck would come along and tow the individual trailer to where it needs to go.

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