If you've ever seen a semi truck on the road, you've probably noticed that they have large plastic fenders covering the wheels. These are called half fenders and they serve an important purpose.
Half fenders help to protect the tires from debris kicked up by other vehicles. They also help to keep the truck body clean by preventing mud and dirt from being splashed up onto it. In addition, half fenders can provide some aerodynamic benefits by redirecting airflow around the wheels.
While most half fenders are made from plastic, some are made from metal or fiberglass. There are even some semi trucks that don't have any fenders at all! Regardless of the material, though, all half fenders serve the same basic purpose.
So next time you see a big rig on the highway, take a closer look at those half fenders and appreciate their role in keeping everything running smoothly.