These Are 3 Of The World's Largest Semi Trucks

A small truck can be useful — just look at kei trucks. Although kei trucks aren't road-legal in all states, they sure work well for navigating Japan's tight city streets. They are also useful tools for farmers and other agricultural workers. However, smaller trucks can never match the sheer capability of a semi. Semis and their drivers truly are the backbone of America, working tirelessly to ensure goods are shipped efficiently day in and day out.

Sure, standard semi trucks are impressive enough on their own, and certainly more than capable for most needs, but sometimes something a little bigger is required. That's how we end up with the biggest semi trucks in the world. These trucks aren't shipping groceries and other goods from state to state; rather, they tend to carry tons of natural materials across vast distances. The consensus here is that one big truck may as well do the job, rather than two, three, or four regular semis. That's just one truck to fill, and one driver to pay, so we get the logic.

Given the love affair that the U.S. has with semi trucks — just look at how manufacturers like Peterbilt and Kenworth have become internationally recognized symbols of American industry — you might think that's where the largest semis hail from. You'd be wrong, though, as the biggest trucks out there come from much further afield. 

To kick things off, we will revisit one of those storied American truck brands we touched on just a moment ago — Kenworth. This brand is responsible for some of the largest semis on the roads anywhere right now.

However, the real crème de la crème from either of these brands is the Kenworth C510, otherwise better known as the "Australian Road Train." This monstrous truck can tow thousands of pounds, with five or six trailers hooked up behind it — hence the "Road Train" nickname, in case you were wondering. The C510 is just one of a handful of Cummins-powered semi trucks, and providing motivation here is the 19-liter QSK-19 engine. Meanwhile, output peaks at 606 horsepower, with 1,950 lb-ft of torque arriving at just 1,300 rpm. 

First developed in 2004 – as the largest vehicle ever road-registered by Kenworth in Australia at the time — the C510 was designed from the very beginning with this kind of heavy haulage in mind. It's tough to think of another vehicle on the planet that gets worked quite so hard, so these monstrous trucks need to be built with robust reliability in order to succeed — which is why they last so much longer than cars. The C510 is largely considered to be the biggest "regular" semi truck, for want of a better term, although one custom American creation does give it a good run for its money. 

That creation would be Brian Dax's "Red Giant," a modified 1990 Diamond Reo altered to become the largest fifth-wheel semi truck in the world. Dax piled 2.6 million miles on the Reo before carrying out the work, transforming it into a rolling billboard.

The 430-inch wheelbase dominates the road, and Dax's plans dominated his bank account too; the final bill sits somewhere around $750,000, a far cry from the $75,000 he originally planned to spend. With an empty weight of 72,000 pounds, Dax can't afford to haul anything inside — this is simply a gargantuan display piece. 

No stone was left unturned when developing this massive truck, and it's far more than just a mobile billboard. Inside the sleeper cab — which itself is accountable for around 20 of the total 93 feet — Dax has fitted a whole host of creature comforts to ensure he never feels far from home. Inside, Dax has installed a shower, toilet, complete entertainment center, and even hardwood floors — at least you can start to see where that $750,000 has gone. 

The idea behind this mighty investment is that the Red Giant pays for itself in the long run, or pays its way at the very least. It's not every day you see a near 100-foot semi truck rolling down the road with screens on either side for people to stop and stare at — no wonder companies happily pay hefty sums to be featured on Dax's creation. 

Outside of America, there are a few brands renowned for producing large and powerful semi trucks. When it comes to the biggest semi truck out there, it hails from a lesser-known manufacturer in France — with a size that puts all other semi trucks into their place.

There are no catchy nicknames here: the French beast is called the Nicolas Tractomas TR 10x10 D100, and it currently holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest semi truck on the planet. Sure, it doesn't look like a typical semi, and you won't see one liveried up with Amazon logos on the highway any time soon, but it fits the bill and takes the crown. 

In its fully assembled and loaded guise, this truck tips the scales at a scarcely believable 1.4 million pounds, and sits at around 410 feet in length. Providing the necessary grunt to move such a mammoth weight is an equally mammoth Caterpillar engine, checking in at 27 liters in capacity. While Caterpillar has stopped manufacturing these immense truck engines, there's little else out there that can match the might and force of France's Tractomas.