We’ve been on road trips and seen trucks that drive for miles and miles. Since truck drivers have to go all that way without stopping, how do they do it? Is there any way that trucks can help limit the strain on drivers and keep them more comfortable on their long voyages? One option is cruise control.
Most semi trucks do have cruise control to help drivers reduce fatigue on long drives by mimicking the way a human would drive. This feature uses an actuator to control the vehicle allowing the driver to reduce pressure on the accelerator.
The reason they have it is to make these long drives more efficient and safer. Since semi truck trips are often long and need to be completed in single runs, this technology helps control the output of fuel and speed to reduce unnecessary consumption. Read on to learn how cruise control works in a semi.
What Cruise Control Does for Semis
With so many trucks out there, it can be assumed that a lot of them have different features, capabilities, and functions. However, cruise control is a common feature that is found on many vehicles, including semis, because of their practicality and usage.
Cruise control in a semi truck can take some stress from the driver and save on gas and speeding tickets. Fines for speeding in a semi are costly, so using cruise control is a way for semi drivers to avoid this issue.
Speeding tickets in a semi can impact a driver’s CDL license and employability. Cruise control can obviously assist with those citations. And it can help a driver’s health, as well.
Often truck drivers have to go hundreds of miles in a single trip which often doesn’t leave them able to stretch or move their muscles too much. Cruise control allows them to not have their foot on the pedal controlling speed every minute of the drive.
How Does Cruise Control Work?
The technology behind cruise control is fascinating because it essentially works like an autopilot on an airplane. The vehicle assigns a pre-set speed instead of making the driver control it at all times.
Trucks have speed regulators that help them reduce the maximum speed they can drive, thus limiting energy consumption and reducing damage in case of a crash.
What cruise control does is something similar, where it sets and adjusts the throttle of the truck to control the speed of the engine. In more advanced cases, this technology can even be applied to sense nearby vehicles and adjust speed based on distance.
What’s In a Cruise Control System
Here’s what’s inside a semi truck that features cruise control. These are the components that make cruise control possible on small vehicles and semi trucks alike.
- Actuator – this is a device that helps the truck move. This actuator is connected to a cable that controls the throttle valve to adjust the speed and movement of the truck.
- Vacuum Valve – This valve is used to control when the throttle is open or shut and provides power to the actuator. With a vacuum valve, the vehicle can maintain a consistent speed and acceleration.
- Cruise Control Computer – This might be there to control the entire process. In more modern systems, these computers can even calculate the speed of a car ahead of the truck and adjust accordingly. In most cases, the cruise control computer adjusts steering controls, the control signal on the vacuum valve, and brake controls.
Cruise control works because these systems work in tandem with each other to create a regulated speed for a vehicle. Semi trucks often aren’t in a huge rush, and by having a consistent and controlled rate of acceleration, they can make sure to get where they need to be without wasting energy.
As with other vehicles on the road, semis are beginning to get more semi-autonomous capabilities, such as a driver assistance system with adaptive cruise control. Any feature that regulates speed – including braking – has the goal of making over-the-road travel safer.
What Makes Cruise Control Efficient
With all these advantages, it’s easy to see why cruise control is a natural fit for semi trucks. Cruise control has a lot of advantages for both the semi truck and its driver. Cruise control drivers can enjoy their long drives instead of being on edge the entire time. This lets them focus their attention on other areas of the road and can even help minimize the risk of accidents.
Cruise control can be a great way to improve efficiency, make drives more comfortable, get drivers where they need to go and get them there safely for now and for trips in the future.