Ok, we all know that Stateside trucks, look bigger than UK (European) trucks, predominantly because of their extensive use of bull snouted tractor units.
Here is the question, are their regular trailers bigger than UK ones and do they carry more, or less weight than our regular trailers? Does anyone know the answer to this? It is purely out of curiosity I ask…
Only from what I’ve seen on TV. Normal loads carry between 36-40 tonnes.
80000lbs gross weight(36tns)… 53ft trailers. in the states usual setup is a double drive outfit and a tandem trailer.
axle weights 12000lbs steer, 34000lb drives 34000lb tandem trailer. USA>
In Canada they gross 46.500kgs on six axles, trailer is 53ft long and unit has a maximum wheelbase of 244 inches, so yes they’re quite a bit bigger than a Euro outfit.
Here’s my old lorry with a 30ft box behind it, it’ll give you an idea of the size, that’s a 244 inch wheelbase unit 
Most USA trucks are normal control, whereas the European trucks are mainly forward control. They work in vastly different circumstances to the British artics. In this country a lot of places are limited for space,whereas America and Canada have lots more room for maneuvering a big vehicle.
from what I know,all states in the u.s. have their own laws on weights and dimensions but they are nearly all the same except for a few of the smaller states.
In general it’s 80,000lbs (36,287kgs) and trailer are 53ft long,mainly on tandam axle’s.
Don’t know much about weights and sizes of American Trucks , but when I was over there the units seem to be biggar , as most of them are Bullnose I’m reckoning that might be the reason , trailers didn’t seem overly biggar but the units did , just my opinion , anyone enlighten us .
The standard trailer is 53ft long and in most states the bridge laws require a distance of 41ft between king pin and the center of the trailer axles, trust me a US truck and trailer would need a big crane following it around in Britain to lift it up and around most normal sized roundabouts and T junctions.
Trucks seem to have a larger living space buy smaller working space, a lot lower and narrower. Trls longer.
The driving positions are lower, they are lighter and 13 ft 9 inches max height.
They are also rubbish 
As Pat says …some are very light ie a pete 379 sleeper cab ,18speed box ,super 40s rearends pulling super B grain trailers (steer ,double drive ,tridem & tandem axles on trailers) at 62.500kgs gross weight can carry legal 43.700kgs.
Yeah that Peterbilt of mine weighed just under 20,000lbs (9ton) full of diesel and all my stuff. That’s a lot of lorry for the weight.
newmercman:
In Canada they gross 46.500kgs on six axles, trailer is 53ft long and unit has a maximum wheelbase of 244 inches, so yes they’re quite a bit bigger than a Euro outfit.Here’s my old lorry with a 30ft box behind it, it’ll give you an idea of the size, that’s a 244 inch wheelbase unit
■■■■ me mate, you’ve got a hotel behind the drivers seat!
Yeah plenty of room in them, behind the seats on one side is a wardrobe about 18" wide, the other side has three pull out drawers and a pull out table, on top of one is a fridge/freezer, on the other one there’s a cupboard with a shelf for a microwave. Then behind all that is a full size single bed and a top bunk that splits down the middle and folds up out of the way. Under the bunk is a full width storage area with outside access too. You can cart a lot of gear around with you and everything can be put away nice and tidy.
Thanks for the input yet again guys… 
So the trailers are a few feet longer than ours, which you would probably still get away with at many drop locations, but it is the extended length of the tractor units that would cause the biggest headaches for us Brits.
Here in the UK it seems almost impolite for the local highways planners not to stick a street lighting pole right opposite a factory or warehouse entrance where trucks have to reverse in. It is often tight to the point where we really have to watch our mirrors, but a bull snout would probably not get past the many obstacles.
The cab area is much smaller quite narrow actually but the living quarters are much much bigger
Do not know much about them really but when I was in USA on east coast a lot of the artics also pulled an A frame drawbar.
Apparently from what I heard long distance pays less than town work?
Always wondered what the inside of some of these big American trucks looks like ,some of them look massive
From what I understand, in the US length laws are applied to trailers and not the units. Hence you can have those ‘large cars’ that have a very long chassis, but generally its just standard normal control units. This law is what, for many in the states believe led to the demise of the cabover which is rarely seen over there.
The really long sleepers over here, almost camper or caravan size are owned by the drivers and their wives and the are actually their homes, they are totally useless for anything other than long haul highway use, city use and backing on tight dock etc are virtually impossible. some states will not even allow them off the interstates highway without very expensive permits, Vermont for instance does not allow trailers over 48 ft on most state roads without a permit and even then when hooked up when driving through some towns the local cop will stop you to check the permit and then measure the overall length to make sure the whole vehicle does not exceed 72 feet, strange how they can enforce all these fines etc but can’t salt their f**kin’ roads in winter 
These trucks also have a turning circle like the QE2.