We are seeing many videos about big (and small) trucks breaking down / failing at railway level crossings.
While they seems to be very powerful and reliable long distance traveler, it seems they prefer to fail more often at level crossings.
Any specific reason/s?
In: Engineering
Level crossing are usually anything but level. They tend to be very bumpy and usually on top of a quite steep hill. This means that the truck have to pull extra hard at the same time as there is a lot of flexing in the frame and suspension. If something is weekened it might be able to work on a nice level highway but would brake when the truck goes over the level crossing.
Maybe you spend a lot of time at level crossings and it’s a case of frequency illusion?
Sometimes, semi trucks get stuck on the highest point of the crossing with the trailer’s landing gear (the feet a trailer rests on when not connected to a tractor, lowest point on trailer)
I don’t have the stats but I would imagine that they don’t prefer that. It’s just that when they do it is more dangerous so you are more likely to hear about it and there is more likely to be a camera showing it. Who cares about a truck breaking down by the side of the road
More often than not, it’s not that they’re broken down but that they’re stuck at a red light or cross street waiting to turn, and extend back onto tracks. Tracks often run parallel to roads, so there’s only 1-2 car lengths between the level crossing and the road parallel to tracks.
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