How to get better pictures with a 18-55mm?

Hi everyone.
I am new in photography and still work with the 18-55mm from Canon but I think I need advice on which settings I should have used. I know I could get better quality pictures.

Well it was really bright and I tried the manual mode for this picture.
Should have I tried F/13 or higher? Should have I turned the autofocus off and selected my own and aimed in the middle of the picture?
And what does it appear that blurry when i zoom in ?

Exposure Time: 1/125 sec
F-Number: f/13.0
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Rating: 100
Lens Aperture: f/12.9
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length: 24.00 mm
Color Space Information: Uncalibrated
Image Width: 5184
Image Height: 3456
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Manual
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Exposure Mode: Manual
Focus Type: Auto
Metering Mode: Evaluative
Sharpness: Unknown
Saturation: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Shooting Mode: Manual
Image Size: Large
Focus Mode: One-Shot
Drive Mode: Single
Flash Mode: Off
Compression Setting: Fine
Macro Mode: Normal
White Balance: Auto
Exposure Compensation: 3
Sensor ISO Speed: 160
Color Matrix: 129

For the other one, the truck was coming at 100km/h/ It was really cloudy and as I didn't know how fast it would be for the camera, I picked up a high one. However the aperture is not open enough?!
Exposure Time: 1/1000 sec
F-Number: f/5.6
Exposure Program: Shutter Priority
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Lens Aperture: f/5.7
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length: 42.00 mm
Color Space Information: Uncalibrated
Image Width: 5184
Image Height: 3456
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Exposure Mode: Tv-Priority
Focus Type: Auto
Metering Mode: Evaluative
Sharpness: Unknown
Saturation: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Shooting Mode: Manual
Image Size: Large
Focus Mode: One-Shot
Drive Mode: Unknown
Flash Mode: Off
Compression Setting: Fine
Macro Mode: Normal
White Balance: Auto
Exposure Compensation: 3
Sensor ISO Speed: 192
Color Matrix: 129

Thank you for your help, I would really appreciate it

Celine