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[quote user="vsmith"] Bucyrus, please reread my statement, I never anywhere said fuel economy had not changed, I said the basic design of the truck has not changed since the 1930's, and this is true,... [/quote]I did go back and read what you said in your original post, and you said the following, among other things:"...some car manufacturers read the writing and began producing hybrids and other higher fuel efficiency models, now I have to ask:Why haven't truck manufacturers done the same? Seams like there still making the the same metal bricks Smokey chased the Bandit around in 30 years ago?So is it that the truck manufacturers are just collectivley too thick to get it? I havent seen any significant advance in diesel trucks since the widespread adoption of turbochargers, even those mostly boost HP not necessarily economy, the basic design and construction of the semi-tractor hasnt really changed since the 1930's...you'd of thought someone, somewhere would be thinking, "Hey maybe we should begin research into designing more fuel efficient trucks"? Guess not. Too hard to think outside the metal box?Maybe its time for more aerodynamic trucks, better engines, and smaller local delivery trucks, Biodiesel? Hybrid truck engines? time to start thinking outside the same old same old....someone enlightne me?" Considering what you said, it does not seem to me that I mischaracterized your statements when I replied to your post by saying: "Moreover, I speculate that it is highly inaccurate to say that truck fuel efficiency design has not changed since 1930."  Your whole point concerning design seems to be about fuel efficiency.In the above post where you say you are talking about basic design, not fuel efficiency, you show examples to prove your point, and mention that trucks still are shaped like bricks.  But it seems to me that in the terms of design that you say is not changing, you could say the same for diesel locomotives, or steam for that matter.  If the engine of trucks has been in front for the last 60 years, maybe that's the best place for it.  Why change it?  And then you continue your theme of trucks failing to evolve in design by again connecting it to how it affects fuel economy as you mention the difficulty of reducing the wind resistance on a brick.I am not sure what you mean when you said this:"Of course their have been improvements in almost every single aspect of the internals since the 1930s, fuel injection, electronic, turbo-charging, I'm well aware of that. My contention is that while automobiles have changed significantly, even diesel locomotive technology has changed radically since the 1960's we haven't seen similar rate of progress in the semi truck universe."If trucks have been internally improved in every single aspect, what lack of progress are you referring to?
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