It’s not about how fast they go, or what kind of engine they have – it’s all about their historical significance.
The first truck was invented by Henry Ford in 1901 and in modern times trucks have become essential parts of our lives. They transport us from place to place, help us deliver food, deliver goods and services, but what do we know about them? How did they come to dominate modern life so completely?
The first truck built for commercial use was called “the horse”. This vehicle had no steering wheel, pedals or brakes. Instead, there were two horses attached to the front wheels that pulled the wagon along. In 1885, John Deere introduced his first tractor with an internal combustion engine. By 1890, he sold over 100 units.
A few years later, Daimler started producing gasoline powered automobiles. They used four cylinders arranged side by side instead of one big cylinder like other car manufacturers did at the time.
It became clear that transporting goods was a necessity so trucks began appearing on roads around the turn of the century. At first, these machines were just carts with wooden bodies. Later, steel bodies appeared which could carry more weight than wood.
These new trucks were very heavy because they carried everything needed to operate them inside. For example, a modern day semi trailer can weigh up to 80 tons! Trucks also got bigger as people wanted larger loads transported faster.
Some even tried using airplanes to transport cargo across long distances. However, planes are too expensive compared to trains and ships. So, we still need trucks today.
Trucks came in many different shapes throughout the 20th Century and play an important role in the Australian transport Industry.
Over 1 million trucks currently work in Australia alone. And surprisingly enough, some of those old trucks are still working today.
Trucking in Australia is a vital part of the history and culture of this country. The first truck was built by a man named John Deere, who had been working as an engineer for the British army during the Napoleonic wars.
He used his knowledge to build a small steam-powered vehicle that could carry heavy loads over rough terrain. In 1825 he sold it to a farmer named William Cobbett, who called it “the plough” because its wheels were attached at right angles to each other.
The next major development came with the invention of the internal combustion engine. This allowed engines to be smaller than those powered by steam, which meant they could fit into vehicles much larger than their predecessors. By 1900 there were more than 100 000 tractors operating across Australia. Today there are about 1 million registered motorised vehicles on Australian roads.
Trucks have become essential parts of our lives and are a vital link for Australian businesses. See more Transport Union