How Long Does It Take for a Tractor Trailer Unit to Clear a Double Rail Road Track?

Final Answer:

It typically takes a tractor-trailer unit approximately 1 second to clear a double rail road track when moving at an average speed of 55 mph and the length of the unit is 80 feet.

Explanation:

The time it takes for a tractor-trailer unit to clear a double rail road track can vary depending on several factors, most notably the speed at which the truck is moving and the length of the truck and trailer. Typically, a commercial tractor-trailer moves at an average speed of about 55 miles per hour, and its length often ranges from 70 to 80 feet. Let’s assume the length of the unit is 80 feet and it's moving at the average speed of 55 mph.

First, we need to convert the speed from mph to feet per second (fps) as follows: 1 mile is approximately 5280 feet, and 1 hour is 3600 seconds, so 55 mph is about 80.67 fps. Therefore, the time it takes to cross would be the length divided by the speed, or 80 feet divided by 80.67 fps, which equals to roughly 1 second.

In reality, drivers are required to slow down when approaching and crossing railroad tracks, therefore the time will be longer, probably around a few seconds to ensure safety.