A Shunt truck, also known as a Spotting tractor, Yard truck, Yard Dog, Yard jockey, mule, etc. is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine (tractor in the United States, prime mover in Australia or truck in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand), and a semi-trailer hitch to carry the freight. A semi-trailer does not trail completely behind the towing vehicle, but is attached at a point that is forward of the rear-most axle of the towing unit, so that some fraction of the weight of the trailer is carried by the rear axle(s) of the prime mover. This arrangement requires both tractor and semi-trailer to be distinct in design from a rigid truck and trailer.

The Shunt truck of this design seems to be a distinctly North American. There are only 2 manufacturer that use generally the same specs, both are located in North America.

Distinctions between a Shunt truck and a regular Truck

Truck

A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...

 are several and noticeable:

• The typical Cab over
  Cab over
  Cab-over, also known as COE , cab forward, or forward control, is a body style of truck or van that has a vertical front or "flat face", with the cab of the truck sitting above the front axle...
  
   design is held to, but with no passenger (or sleeping) space provided, as it is exceptionally rare for these vehicles to be on public roads.
• 12-gauge steel side wall Cab construction with 1/2 in steel floors for protection in abusive & dangerous work environments.
• the semi-trailer hitch has an integrated lifting mechanism designed to allow the semi-trailers legs to remain in the down position during movement. 5 inches (127 mm) and 70,000 lb. of Hydraulic lift are typically.
• 360 Degree View for to facilitate five to six moves an hour

External links

• http://www.capacitytexas.com/ Manufactured by Capacity
• http://www.kalmarind-northamerica.com/ Manufactured by Kalmarind
• thedieselgypsy.com Personal memoirs of Shunt trucks by HARRY RUDOLFS (a "million mile" Truck Driver & Contributor to trucknews.com)