Manufacturer Kalmar Ottawa Produced 2014 | Location Ottawa KS USA Wheelbase 116 in (2.95 m) | |
 | ||
Variants 4×2 off-road, 6×4 DOT/EPA Weight 81,000 lb (37,000 kg) GCWR | ||
A terminal tractor, known in the United States as a spotter truck, spotting tractor, yard truck, yard goat, yard jockey or mule, is a semi-tractor intended to move semi trailers within a cargo yard, warehouse facility, or intermodal facility, much like a switcher locomotive is used to position railcars.
Distinctions between a terminal tractor and a regular road truck are several and noticeable:
Since off-road versions don't have to drive on roads at highway speeds, a typical top speed is just 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). It is rare for these vehicles to be on public roads, so it was very unusual when a pedestrian was accidentally struck and dragged by a yard truck at an intersection in Bellevue, Washington, in February 2014.
Autocar, Capacity Truck, Tico, and Kalmar terminal tractors are manufactured in North America. Orange EV manufactures pure-electric terminal tractors in Missouri. One of many European manufacturers is Dutch company Terberg who now has distribution in Florida.