The REAL Reason Why America Stopped Making Cab-over Trucks

[@TruckCulture]

Watch here our latest video about the Cab-over Trucks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmnQpXxvhsqdbsU

[@bridgecross]

I'm not a trucker, but recently I drove a smaller cargo vehicle with a flat front for the first time. My first response was fright; you seem more exposed without any hood out in front of you. But second response is holy crow you can *see* everything! The visibility was insane, like you're in a fishbowl.

[@kathyyoung1774]

YES! You can SEE a whole lot more!

[@NutjobGTO]

I went from a Columbia to a 2009 Volvo VNR and the view was immense, but that was because you were sitting right up against the windshield. There was no depth to the dashboard, you couldn't even put a coffee cup up there. Compared to my current Cascadia and there's like two feet from the edge of the dash to the bottom of the glass. You didn't climb in that volvo and sit down like normal, either. I had to hoist myself up over the seat with the grab rails and then slot my legs in, it was like putting on a pair of pants.

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@NutjobGTO I guess that's what happens when trucks are required to be designed to fit unreasonable aerodynamic specs without giving any thought to driver safety and comfort. That sounds like a nightmare. I drove 1983 to 1993 International cabovers and 1994-1999 Freightliner cabovers and was comfortable. They all had a wide dash, but not as wide as the Cascadia you describe. Be safe!

[@dbclass4075]

​@@NutjobGTOThe lessons learned there were applied to the FH.

[@innocento.1552]

​@@kathyyoung1774i respect the years you have in service, but i also recognise the ignorance in your statement. American vehicles and European vehicles are built with different specs in mind. You will definitely need more protection if everyone around you is driving a battering ram. In Europe (the EU) we use paper cars (tiny mini vehicles) so you can sit on 2 inches of truck protection and no one is killing you with their cars. Then the USA is massive, so you can't go anywhere with our paper cars, compared to our small EU countries. So, just learn to respect every market catering for the needs of it's people

[@brianb-p6586]

A lot of comments compare the American cabovers of the 1960's to modern conventional trucks, which makes no sense. A modern air-ride forward-control European truck is not an old Kenworth K100; I have not driven either, but I know that it is nonsensical to assume that one has the same comfort and safety as the other.

[@kiwidiesel]

Exactly and I have driven both everything euro and both north American and Australian K200 and 220 and the latest generation cab overs ride like a Cadillac compared to the 100 series.

[@edwardantrobusjr2253]

I drove 2 Mack's, 2 K100E's & 2 Peterbilt's. The Mack's were not air ride. The others all were. If the 1st KW hadn't had a heavy haul steer axle, it would have been a nice ride. But that 20,000 lb steer axle, made it ride lot the 23 Cascadia I'm in now.

[@luuk341]

I had a ride in a modern mid size Volvo cabover with a family member who is involved in the trucking business. Safest dang truck on the roads today. And I could stand up and reach the bed behind the seats just as easily as any other truck I imagine.

[@Carlschwamberger1]

He lost me at the start, calling the 1970s "vibrant". As a young adult then my memory is the opposite of vibrant.

[@edwardantrobusjr2253]

@@Carlschwamberger1 You mean President Carter's recession with the only inflation to ever top the Great Depression? Or the only time is US history, both the president and vice president resigned? (Nixon & Agnew) There were 2 highlights for me. I graduated high school in 1976 & married my high school sweetheart in 1977. This December we'll be married 46 years.

[@ridrecon8231]

this sounds like my English exam where he rephrased everything but said the same thing 5 times

[@jacobkilstrom]

So it isn't just me who noticed that?

[@OZZOZZ]

Cuz its written by chatgpt

[@howisthisfunny]

Fr

[@BeKindToBirds]

I don't think it repeated itself on a single subject. Maybe you are just noticing the extremely formal phrasing around each bullet point that came with the translation or w/e.

[@evelynfarfellwooosh1219]

​@@OZZOZZ I used Chatgpt and it's better than what you think. It wouldn't make the mistake of repetition because it uses data from experts and not noobs like this.

[@kathyyoung1774]

I owned a Freightliner cabover, a double bunk condo, when I was a long haul driver. I liked it. Great turning radius, easier to park.

[@theoregontruckerT880]

Probably an argosy flat floor. The older dog house models sucked

[@Nikowalker007]

@@theoregontruckerT880Argosy was pretty good for regional and local routes , Cabover version of Cascadia basically. It’s a shame they discontinued it due to low sales

[@oregonfordguy9812]

I now own a setback axle freightliner double bunk 1989 coe

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@oregonfordguy9812 I used to drive one of those. Awesome turning radius.

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@theoregontruckerT880 Nope, it had a big doghouse with my cooler sitting on it. 1996 model.

[@LK-bz9sk]

Long haul truckers are some of the most under appreciated people in this country. They get all the products we need or want in the neighbourhood w out even having to think of how it got from the warehouse or port.

[@kathyyoung1774]

LOTS of people in cars tell usevery day that we're NUMBER ONE ! 🤣

[@leoncaples2947]

Which country?

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@leoncaples2947 I'm in the USA. Longhaul.

[@flyingdutchy01]

you dumb.

[@grimgoreironhide9985]

When driving on the UK motorways from London to Glasgow(Scotland). I noticed how there were so many HGV’s(UK term for Trucks). I had realised how the motorways are the veins of a nation and the Trucks are the blood cells delivering oxygen to towns and cities. Without Trucks any cities would run out of food, medicine, clothes and other vitals good. Cities are useless without Trucking.

[@b101uk9]

lol, something people always get wrong, from the point of view of a driver and mechanic, a modern (30+ years) European etc cab-over truck is much easer to do daily fluid checks on the engine etc, as everything is conveniently behind the lightweight grill, which is easer than tilting even a lightweight bonnet, while from the point of view of a mechanic, it takes just a couple of mins to tilt a cab, and you then have significantly better access to the entire driveline from the radiator backwards, without the stupidity of the cab blocking access to the back of the engine, bellhousing, gearbox and even transfer case (if applicable), PTO systems (if applicable) and parts of the prop shafts, the notion of it taking 10mins or more is just a myth perpetuated to try to justify bonneted trucks more.

[@deaddoll1361]

Learn what a sentence and full stop are for.

[@b101uk9]

@@deaddoll1361 so I assume you could not come up with a counterpoint to what I said.

[@svgPhoenix]

​@b101uk9 not every reply to your comment has to be a direct rebuttal to whatever you said

[@fishyfish2935]

​@deaddoll1361 Chill, it's not like they're writing an important email to the ceo of Amazon.

[@bradzelk600]

Heavy duty mechanic here, and no, never enjoyed working on any cab over, never even met a tech who did. 😂 you know why lifting a hood is better than looking behind the grill? Because pre trip inspections involve looking for leaks etc as well, which a driver can’t see from just lifting the grille, no driver is tilting his cab for a pre trip. You’re expressing your laziness. Next smash into a moose on a mountain road at night I guarantee you’ll appreciate a long nose right before you get discombobulated. 😂 I’ve been a tech for 12 years my grandpa owned a trucking fleet with both types of rigs for 38 years. I value ease of maintenance/repairs and life over whatever you’re on about 😂

[@leotimtom6637]

Once you remove Chicken Tax all US truck manufacturers will be wiped out by foreign cab over manufacturers.

[@420catson]

cab over trucks are not the most efficient for US trucking. they have downsides. you would know this if you actually watched the video before commenting.

[@that_camo_bronco_guy]

Need me a scania, come back to our market!

[@Dragonstorm1557GAMING]

​@@420catsonman udk what to tell you but I think other countries are on to something with certain things. Coe trucks are awesome for shorter trips. I've never seen anybody step foot into a Scania and have something bad to say about it. You gotta remember that in other countries long haul trucking is the equivalent of driving across the state of Texas in the US. But I think Coe trucks would be a safe logistical improvement for in state hauling. They can still haul alot of weight the only question is how European trucks would haul our oversized lowboys that to my knowledge are gonna be a bit more tongue heavy then the +5 spread axle lowboy with active steering that are in europe. European pickup trucks would sell like hot cakes.

[@spinosaurr]

@leotimtom6637 why ur text has so many spaces between words...

[@leotimtom6637]

@@spinosaurr I own the space.

[@rick5793]

One of the worst things about CO trucks is if you're in an accident you are the first one there. When dealing with turning space I really liked a CO. Where the hell do they get the 30min idea of raising the cab? I could raise mine in about 5-8 minutes.

[@edzus100]

I kinda dismiss the "accident" argument ... either you are 10x more prone to ACCIDENTS in america .. or Europeans drive better ... because as we see ... we ... europeans drive nothing but CO

[@MephistoDerPudel]

​@@edzus100 European roads are way safer, speed limits for trucks in Europe are lower, and driving hour regulations are way stricter, so the small disadvantage of the cabover (really only matters if you hit something big) should not be visible in the statistics.

[@justins.1283]

Last one I drove was an international 9700 148" wheelbase with the Eagle edition cab . There was a place in the back where you could actually stand up on each side of the doghouse . My truck had an air-powered cab jack and I could raise it in about 3 min.

[@Curt-ge9gc]

Unlike a Conventional where you are more likely to have an engine in your Lap.

[@Gripen1974]

@@edzus100 i think regulation is one reason, in most EU countries are it strict regulation in how long and how many hours you are allowed to drive, i have heard horror stories from USA where the driver have driven maybe 2-3 times as long as driver is allowed in EU and i think by drive so long will the driver be over tired and more prone to crash. So work hour regulations and worker safety regulation could be serious factor.

[@nenadcubric2663]

They didnt want those European Trucks on US Roads

[@zoneundertop]

KW 200, Australia Assembly & supplies NZ. Twin steering cab overseas major thing in NZ . Drivers in USA have requested K 200, but USA KW says fu@k off! That's the problem!

[@Dachamp2001]

@@zoneundertop i Did not know that why is that!! I luv the old k100s Thats the reason i wanted to truck. But when i got of age the cab overs were long gone smh😪

[@kissmlungu7883]

Volvo?

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

European trucks in Canada like Volvo are also used for firetruck and de-icer at the airport.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

They also have Japanese trucks including JDM RHDs also driven in Guam.

[@shaneroper5470]

Always liked cabover trucks. Aside from the lack of a crumple zone in the case of accidents, they offer many advantages. And they look awesome too!

[@xavier4519]

I don't think the "lack of protection" really plays a role when you're talking about accidents involving cars which is the majority, probably. any car or pickup would get flattened before the truck driver even feels a hit

[@xenomorph9114]

​@@xavier4519it only works for cars like a sedan is more likely to survive from a head on crash than a japanese kei truck. Like how often does a head one crash between two semi's, the long nose won't survive either

[@sepachortels6366]

@@xavier4519good

[@kadrell37]

European trucks tend to be more advance with technology and that's why most european trucks are safer nowadays, so you don't have to worryy about the lack of crumple zone in a cabover truck.

[@GeorgeDryer-r2h]

Semi trucks don't have crumple zones

[@FAS1948]

In English they are known as 'forward control' and they are not only favoured in Europe because of legislation, but because of the roads. Many roads through European villages, towns, and cities, have remained unchanged for hundreds of years and were designed for horse-drawn vehicles. You're welcome to try driving one of your monstrosities around Europe, but I wouldn't recommend it. Even with the limited overall length of European vehicles, it's still not unusual for them to get stuck on narrow roads.

[@filanfyretracker]

happens in a lot of northeastern US cities too, As like the ones in Europe they predate motor vehicles.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

You’re also first on scene of an accident, plenty of cases of ejections through the windshield from impacting other vehicles, COEs are cool but conventionals are much safer for the driver

[@vekssi]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 modern cab-over trucks are very safe, i think volvo has one of the best safety features in their trucks today.

[@TheEulerID]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Not much evidence of that. From statistics from the NHTSA, in 2020 there were 608 drivers of heavy trucks killed in the USA. In the UK (where cabovers are universal), 18 drivers of heavy trucks (called HGVs in the UK) were killed. That means in the USA there was almost 34 times as many trucker deaths with just 5 times the population. That's over 6 times higher adjusted by population. Of course, distances driven are much higher than in the UK, but when I looked up the statistics further, there were 3 truck drivers killed per billion miles driven in the USA and 1 per billion vehicle miles in the UK. That's close on a ratio of 3:1. There is another point, that a cabover gives much better visibility at junctions, simply because the driver is so much further forward. Safety isn't just about surviving a crash, but avoiding them in the first place. In any event, in both countries it's other road users who are in more danger. In accidents where a heavy truck is involved in the USA, only 17% of the fatalities are to the truck driver.

[@kaiharvey5992]

If you put your seat belt on, it's not a problem....

[@masterb2130]

Each truck has its own niche and at the end of the day it's all about using the right machine for the right job.

[@vekssi]

Exactly!

[@derrickbonsell]

Whoa, leaving a comment that isn't just about bashing the US?

[@charlesreid9337]

No no it isn't. I'm done about every kind of driving you can think of from bed bugging, go to pneumatic bulk, flatbed, Dry van. In New York, Chicago, la, Dallas. 10 years driving a road where you had to stop in two places each way to make sure no traffic was coming because you had to take two lanes. At no point ever with a cab over have been a better choice. Not once

[@masterb2130]

@@charlesreid9337 Sounds to me like you worked in the niche for conventional style trucks ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@johnshields6852]

I drove a cabover rig for years, great turning radius, especially for the east coast cities with multiple deliveries and pickups, so much asier to handle in small loading docks off street.

[@PD-yd3fr]

Our fleet put half sphere convex mirrors sticking a foot out on the corner passenger side window, you couldn't read the license plate, but you could see it

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@PD-yd3fr We called them school bus mirrors.

[@Bryan-Hensley]

I hated driving a "long nose" truck. I chose a cab over if they gave me a choice..

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@Bryan-Hensley FRIEND!

[@fairfaxcat1312]

@@PD-yd3fr Did they charge you for banging up the mirror?

[@yiannisdanatzis2889]

In Australia, we have both European cabovers and American longnose, manufacturers who offer trucks in Australia will give cabovers the European badge and longnose trucks the American badge, for example Volvo & Mack (which come from the same parent company) have a manufacturing plant in Brisbane where all their longnose trucks are Mack and all their cabovers are Volvo, Mercedes and Freightliner do the same by importing the cabovers with a Mercedes badge and longnose with a Freightliner badge, only Kenworth makes both with the majority being longnose and continues the K220 as the last remaining cabover just for the Australian market.

[@PrometheusHR]

Who else is still alive after reading through this 😅

[@egdiryellam68]

The K220 may be the last remaining cabover from Kenworth ----- defiantly not the last cabover suitable for Australian conditions that is available in Australia.

[@Dunki113]

What's funny is that Paccar owns Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF and yet kenworth make the cab over trucks

[@666Buzzsaw]

@@Dunki113DAFs are only cabover champ and the crapest truck on the market by a large margin.

[@666Buzzsaw]

@@egdiryellam68did you seriously say that with a straight face…. None of the euro trash is suited for out here, they are only bought over kenworth and western star because of price and the shortage of real drivers who don’t need an automatic piece of garbage.

[@SchwererGustavThe800mm]

I remember seeing them back in the late 90s and around the early 00s. As a kid, I didnt know what they were called so I named them 'flat face' trucks

[@Yggdrasil42]

Modern cabover trucks cannot be compared to the old ones shown in this video. They're easy to maintain and comfortable. Some of the downsides mentioned here simply no longer exist.

[@leo_0644]

He said cab overs are sold only in niche nations, what do you expect lol, he considers the whole europe a niche

[@notlogical4016]

@@leo_0644well they suck so

[@leo_0644]

@@notlogical4016 so we should have worse veichle for our needs cause of the american thinking? Sounds like your brain sucks

[@datonedoge822]

@@leo_0644europe is a niche market, they have a fraction the truck transport of the US

[@benedekhalda-kiss9737]

@@notlogical4016 Old ones may suck but new ones don't. New scanias or the merc actros are really good. (Both comfort and looks)

[@SotonSam]

I moved from the UK to Canada and our trucks are waaaaay better. Smaller, more maneuverable, comfier, they look better, quieter, etc.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

Smaller is not a particular advantage here in Canada.

[@sandysamith7218]

I 100 % agree with you as a European.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

blah,bah,blah you NEVER drove LONG HAUL!

[@joe1940]

It would be interesting to see how well they sold if a company started selling them again here in the states. Some guys would buy one just because they like the looks and they'd definitely come in handy for guys who do a lot of runs in the big cities.

[@Dr.Dish69]

Freightliner announced that they are going to start making them again. I can't wait

[@dbclass4075]

Volvo could try since they already have FH and FM.

[@roundsm18]

We went from Cabovers to Conventionals about 8 years ago. We didn’t notice any major benefit to the cabover. Volvo has a great turning radius but they have had massive failures way too soon. The Peterbilt conventionals we got at the beginning of the change have consistently hit almost a million miles without major issues and turn just fine for city use even with doubles and triples. The best part about the cabovers being gone was the increase in cab space… and I’m short. I have no idea how guys over 6’ even considered driving one.

[@donmcatee45]

Thousands of miles a year? More like thousands of miles a week!

[@michaelcliffe562]

Strange video. Comparing new US trucks to the cabovers of 40 years ago. Should really be comparing them to present Scania, Mercedes, Volvo and MAN cabovers instead. Riding in one of them is like riding on a cloud.

[@brianb-p6586]

But the transition occurred 40 years ago, so thise were the trucks to ne compared. If an overall length limit had contnued and were just dropped now, the result may have been different.

[@user-ol1lu6ok8t]

Cab over trucks are interesting

[@DemonlordC137]

He's talking about the evolution of trucking in the United States, not anywhere else you're thinking of 😂😂

[@Buses2Bikes]

My dad drove a GMC Astro 95 for years and never had an issue with comfort. I went with him on plenty of trips from NY to FL and back. The seats were comfortable with plenty of room. The bunk in back was wide enough for two people to sleep but we used it mostly for storage. That was a good truck.

[@miroslavzima8856]

I can't imagine American truck not being long nosed. It's such iconic feature!

[@kathyyoung1774]

Until you have to back into a dock in NYC that was built in 1923.

[@cantstandapinko]

As someone who has driven both styles, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Long noses feel safer driving because if someone comes head on in to you you have something in front of you keeping them out off you. C/O's offer better visibility and are easier to park. C/O's with a double bunk offered limited standing room. A GMC C/O I drove had a bunk added to the top , like a cap, and you stood on the engine cover and climbed up to get in. I'd still use a C/O for yard and city work, but I'd prefer a long nose on the long hauls.

[@aperturix]

Haha, while Cab-over trucks are the normal thing all over the world, Americans think they were used in "some countries". Yeah, just like SI units are used in "some countries" execpt for the US...

[@rishabhadarsh5227]

Americans are like those frogs in well who think that well is whole universe 😂😂😂

[@WC3fanatic997]

Hence why he said "they are still doing well in other parts of the world" 5:59 Besides the fact that they aren't ubiquitous because not every other country besides the US is the size of a shoe box. Normally I'd be annoyed, but more and more these days I kind of enjoy watching you people get mad at the US for literally every single tiny thing you can grab onto. "How dare Americans be stupid about the unique tractor-trailer trucking trends of other countries! Haha dumb Americans!"

[@nugs5967]

oh my god they said some countries I hope you can recover from this traumatic expierence

[@aperturix]

​@@nugs5967Don't worry! I hope you can recover from your hurt MAGA feelings, too.

[@Isaacsth11]

This video is about America tho

[@TheWoblinGoblin]

i am pretty sure that modern european cabovers are as comfortable as convential trucks

[@williwass6837]

Even more!

[@johnnymason2460]

Cabover tractor rigs are important to me because the first Optimus Prime was a cabover design. Lately though(especially with the movie versions), Optimus Prime is more known for the long nose design.

[@NeoRocket001]

LOLOLOLOLOL😆😆😆😆😆

[@j.o.cizzle8804]

That's Right.....💪

[@WesCaptain480]

Optimus Prime : With the All Spark gone, we cannot return life to our planet. And fate has yielded its reward: a new world to call home. We live among its people now, hiding in plain sight, but watching over them in secret, waiting, protecting.

[@motofoxx13]

I like how they call all of Europe a niche market haha

[@USandGlobal]

Because they gotta compare dozens of country to one country to be competitive 😂

[@rockydungdung9187]

@@USandGlobal WORLD is not only about America. Some find it hard to believe.

[@SpaceCoffee700]

@@rockydungdung9187 its still the glue so as important as anything else 50 stable countries basically that buy alot of stuff that requires global efforts to provide alot better than colonial brute force british empire where even the "subjects" had to be lucky to be apart of a inbred maniac royal family or some higher up to get a better life

[@kachhu6863]

And all of India

[@dunderzubbi5663]

@@USandGlobal people like you make us think education is illegal in america

[@1stGregA]

You said it correctly right near the video beginning. The COE answered the length regulations dilemma at the cost of driver comfort. What more needs to be said? I'm close to the end of my now 45 yr trucking career. First 9.5 were spent as an O.O. in my COE. Thing few years in another as an employee. Wouldn't go back in one for hell or high water!! Peace

[@parzavaal5335]

Thanks for your service lmao

[@tommy22b]

In Europe you rarely see US style long nose trucks. The only ones I see in the UK are recovery vehicles that have been imported from the US. And a boxer named Chris Eubank had one which i saw parked up a few times. Amazing when you see them.

[@dallasfrost1996]

Here in N.Z we're quite spoiled for choice, we have American, Asian, and European trucks. Cab-Over and Long-Nose styles as well. American trucks are my favorite!

[@fairfaxcat1312]

@@tommy22b The Eubank boxer made a wise choice. The death rate is high over there.

[@JohnSmith-cf4gn]

I started out in cabovers about 45 years ago. I loved driving them . I've always preferred them over conventionals.

[@Guspech750]

The last five years or so. I have seen more and more COE trucks on the highways pulling loads again. They look fanfreakingtastick and brings me back to a simpler time when I was a kid.

[@oregonfordguy9812]

there making a come back as specialized haulers and customs. I bought a 89 shaker double bunk.

[@TarielTavartkiladze]

Modern European Cab-Over trucks has own "beauty" - different style - different design school, technically with own advantages and disadvantages same we can talk about traditional trucks. But Old American Cab-Overs was really something incredible! For me Freightliner Argosy was kind of last Mohican from this unic tribe. But it was Amazing looking model!

[@nenadcubric2663]

Tiny Sleeper Cab is the biggest minus

[@martinpoulsen6564]

​@@nenadcubric2663Stack on an external sleeper, like you would on a 359 then. Pretty sure maintenance and aerodynamics would be the bigger issues.

[@denislipp790]

After driving conventional cab trucks for years, then I began using COE. Ford 9000, Freightliner , Peterbuilt, then back to Long Nose, IH 4300., each served a purpose at the time.

[@brianb-p6586]

They're certainly different, and not just in style. Traditional American cab-over-engine trucks place the driver directly over the engine and front axle, with minimal front overhang. The door is directly over the wheels, making entrance difficult. This continued right up to the final Argosy, and continues in the Kenworth K200 in Australia. European cab-over-engine trucks place the driver ahead of the front axle, with significant front overhang. The entrance steps are ahead of the front wheels. Current cabover trucks in the US are generally medium-duty and have European or Japanese cabs, and are forward control; specialty trucks such as for waste collection (such as the Mack LR and Freightliner Econic) are low cab forward designs, placing the driver even further forward, entirely ahead of the wheels and ahead of the engine, allowing easy access.

[@trevorpokela6962]

Freightliner still sells new cab overs in South Africa, but the newest one I saw was a 2020 Argosy

[@johnd9405]

Cab overs turn my head everytime.

[@haroldbenton979]

As someone who drove both COE and Conventional trucks I would take the Nose any day of the week. Why my worst accident was in a COE and that one dang near killed me. Drunk driver coming the other way hit me right under the driver seat on a 71 IH Transtar COE blew the cab off the frame threw it about 20 feet from the rest of the truck. I ended up with a severe concussion and a TBI that blew up so to speak about 4 years later and caused seizures. I drove everything from a Anteater T600A to T2000 in KW's to 377-379 Petes FLD 120 C120 condo Freightliners IH 4070 Emeryville COE's and a 9300 that would eat hills for breakfast.

[@MartintheTinman]

Yes, much better to kill everyone else because you can't see them but you'll be right

[@charlesquick3091]

I read a article a few years back that was from a industry reviewing company back in the 70's and they recommend the cab over for driving in city's because of the field of view and turning ability in the narrow streets.... They then started looking at the long haul over the road trucking part of the industry and stated that the cab over truck while having ease of maintenance, great viewability for the driver, good sleeper area, and great movability it was also very hard on the drivers because of road bounce transfer to the drive ( resulting in things like separating ddiscs in spine and other back issues, and even reports of internal organs dislodging from the walls of some drivers who had been drivers for years.. They also stated that the cab over trucks were not safe in a collision because there is no buffer between the front of the cab and the driver.... However the industry standards are extremely different today compared to back then, so with modern technology, manufacturing, materials, and safety standards comparing the old and modern cab over is like comparing the red barons to the F16 they are both planes just vastly differt, one did it's job and did it good, the modern one is just built better, and safer. So maybe they should look at them again. Respectfully.

[@kathyyoung1774]

The difference in "rough ride" just isn't that much. I drove both, still prefer cabovers. Big rigs just do not have the suspension systems of Cadillacs.

[@Superliegebeest0]

Maby that was before every truck had airsuspension driverseats

[@Demonoid1990]

For what I do hauling glass on flatbed, I'd prefer a Euro style cabover over what we have now. Quite a few of the customers I've delivered to can be a pain to back into their bays. Takes a bit of skill backing in at a few of these places, some of these bays I back into have concrete piers on either side. Sometimes you only have a foot to a few inches of wiggle room on either side of the trailer. Depends on the angle of the sun too, get that load time at a bad time of day, and it's like backing your trailer into a black hole, one screw up and you'll either tear the shit outta you trailer or mess up the bay. Maneuverability is certainly my preference.

[@ClericChris]

The long nose isn't about comfort, it's about safety. Safety is the main reason there was a switch after 1982.

[@brianb-p6586]

The forward-control fire engine and dump truck shown @3:26 are not "conversions"; they are built with that cab configuration.

[@briantaylor6562]

You could see so much better. They weren't that bad inside. We will end up there as our cities expands. I guess some get put out too easily. Look it what they're doing now for aerodynamics, they're nearly back where they were. Many newer models have lowered the engines, and the noses are shorter.

[@thehun06]

Cab-overs need to come back to America!

[@cristiancristi9384]

In Europe there are almost only cab-over trucks...long-nose are extremmely rare and wherever one may appear ,it would be so exotic everybody would look amazed: ---"Look!! An american truck!" 🤩.... It's what I also did when I first saw one, some years ago at a car show 😆 I know a few truck drivers but still themselves never saw a long nose 😄 If you ask any european kid to draw a truck.... It's a cab-over he would draw 😄 When I was a kid, me and my dad took a pitstop and such a truck stopped and took us.... I Still remember the cab being so hogh up you would feel as king of the road looking at everyone from above... and the suspension was so soft, and comfortable.... I just didn't want to get out 😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Lakeman3211]

I started by driving cabovers, then semiconventionals, then back to cabovers…finally to a freightliner conventional…I will say I did like the cabover for a host of reasons over the conventional…

[@allennezi1674]

I saw the conventional cab a hiring tool. The company I worked for replaced the cabover to entice new drivers. The freightliner cabover I drove had a larger bed than the conventional truck. I felt safer with the engine out in front of me instead of underneath me. Bless all truck drivers.

[@saywhat664]

In Japan long nose tractor are very limited use only in such as privately owned hwy and port. Vast majority of tractors/trucks are cab-over but likes of 4 front directional turning wheels or smaller diameter wheels with low loading floor, they have lots of unique design options.

[@fahrenheit2530]

I think there's a mining company in Japan that uses Australian built Kenworths and Macks to haul coal, in both cabover and long nose format. I've seen a few pictures of them using long nose Nissans as well. There's quite a few long nose Peterbilts in Japan as well I believe

[@saywhat664]

Yap, we’re probably talking about a same company “ UBE Corporation “ their main business is cement and coal, they own 32 kilometer private hauling hwy and they use Kenworth, Mitsubishi-Fuso, Isuzu and Scania,usually pulling 88ton double trailer. Few of the trucking companies owned hi-powered long nose (Mack and Kenworth)tractor heads for transporting heavy loads on public roads.

[@kathyyoung1774]

I rather imagine they don't have much use for 53-foot trailers either with Japan's topography.

[@rpvitiello]

New York City never removed the length limit, but because you can’t get canovers, they usually tolerate the longer trucks if you don’t hit anything… If you hit something though, you get a ticket for operating an over length vehicle. There really should be SOME cabovers sold in the USA, especially the northeast which is more similar to Europe.

[@alabamasmokeywilson6818]

You got that right. And they should have never let trailers go past 45 feet.

[@kathyyoung1774]

NYC doesn’t allow 53 foot trailers, but I sneaked a few in. When you pick up a preloaded trailer, you take what you get.

[@alabamasmokeywilson6818]

@kathyyoung1774 Years ago I had to go to the Bronx with a 48 that was enough.

[@kathyyoung1774]

@@alabamasmokeywilson6818 I totally understand why NYC outlawed 53's. I ran over curbs with 53's, killed crickets on a ramp on the BQE, didn't fit into docks, and in one really old dock (inside a building) my tractor took up the sidewalk and half a lane of traffic and got hit by an angry old lady who apparently needed new glasses. How can you not see a vehicle 13' 6" tall taking up half of the lane you are dirving in, in slow-moving morning traffic? That would have been worse with a conventional.

[@dangold9556]

Most comfortable truck I’ve driven is a Freightliner Argosy cab over. Crazy amount of room.

[@kiwidiesel]

I wouldn't exactly call an Argosy a smooth operator but it still light-years ahead of comparable japanese units.

[@fourierrocket]

I once mangled the cross piece on the chassis in front of the fifth wheel, on a brand new Freightliner.

[@ssssssss6889]

The main problem with the us cabovers is that they changed nothing from the conventional ones. They just put the cabin over the engine and that's it! They were never designed as cabovers from scracth.

[@edwardantrobusjr2253]

I've driven 2 Mack coe's from the 70's. 2 K100E's 2 Pete coe's &1 Freightliner coe from the 80's. Presently driving a 23 Freightliner. I think both of the Petes & both KW rode better than this freightshaker. The 1st KW, was mostly owner operator spec, except it was a flat top. I really miss that truck.

[@kiwidiesel]

Hell yeah brother, I peddled an 88 K100E with 60inch flat top sleeper. Right hand drive and cat powered. Loved that truck and it was the last cab over I drove before switching to T900 and W900 kw's.

[@kahlil2638]

​@kiwidiesel hell yeah brother. All great trucks.

[@GarryJantzen]

Friend of mine owned a CO tractor. He finally decided to remove the fifth wheel and built a huge open pickup box on the back, making a really _big_ pickup! He got a friend to paint "Innernashenal" on the tailgate. It's major problem was the lack of weight, then, on the rear wheels! His 'family' car was a turbo VW. On one trip, driving the "Truck" he hit a deer, glad he wasn't driving the VW!

[@xheralt]

Cabovers exist where overall length is limited by some factor -- be it regulation or garage housing for the unit. This is why fire departments are the mostly likely place to see them in the US, the better to fit urban firehouses that cannot be expanded or easily replaced.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

There is more to that than just the cabover part, you see a lot of U.S conventional too in firehouses.

[@solarissv777]

and because of lack of access to big cabover market, American firefighters are forced to buy their trucks from low volume manufacturers like Pierce. This makes them 2 - 4 times more expensive than the European analogues on commercial cabover chassis (Volvo, Scania e.t.c produce versions of their trucks with "crew" cabs for firefighting). Having said that, some rural American FDs, that do not have such tight roads save a lot of money by using commercial (long nose) chassis.

[@veebee592]

Kenworth is still making them in Australia. Selling shit loads too.

[@63stratoman]

I drove trucks in the 90s. Anyone who actually drove a COE back then will tell you exactly why they are not popular today! All of the mega-companies switched over to conventional trucks because no one wanted to drive the COEs. Even Schneider and JB Hunt eventually relented and sold off their COEs. Those wanting to become owner/operators could buy a COE for cheap but switched over to conventionals as soon as they could!

[@johnrich2102]

The Ford C-series was OMNIPRESENT for decades. It was in production from 1957 to 1990. It's on my bucket list to drive one, if I can ever find one here in the mid-atlantic states!!!

[@johneckert1365]

I've owned 2 Ford C series firetruck, a 1968 and a 1972 ❤

[@timsharpe3498]

I used to maintain a fleet of CT8000s. I didn’t enjoy working on them but they were decent to drive.

[@Zeakthecat]

theres plenty of areas in the states, especially the northeastern us, where cab over engine trucks should be used but are not.

[@KevinRichards-my5oj]

Back in the day when the length limit in the USA was shorter, cabover semis were the king of the roads. They bring back good o memories. I sure do miss seeing them out on the roads.

[@taurus600]

Austrailian road trains are amazing. The long nose trucks are a style i dont want replaced. I dont much care for todays style of "long nose truck" like new volvos and cascadias... but old long nose machines like the petes and KWs are gorgeous. Wish we could go back to that era

[@douglaswood3083]

I lived in Wellington, New Zealand back in 1998. I marvelled at the Kiwi truckees squeezing into places so tight up on those hills above the harbor. The roads in NZ are the narrowest I have ever seen. Cab overs are the only trucks that would fit those tight driving quarters.

[@billdo1]

They never stopped making them in the US I have a 1994 International and an 09 Kenworth and I just bought a 2023 Freightliner so now I have three cabovers

[@brianb-p6586]

Is your 2023 Freightliner a low cab forward Econic? There are no other current Freightliner cabovers and there has not been a heavy-duty cabover highway tractor from Freightliner since the Argosy.

[@eriktenhag2022]

Cabovers are common in Europe due to size restrictions which in place are put because of the prominence of relatively narrow roads in Europe. The US does not have that problem and hence there is no need for a cabover. P.S. no I'm not American, I'm from Asia.

[@dougtaylor7724]

I worked on Mack F700’s for years. We had mostly flat backs and some sleepers. Easy to work on because the cabs tilted all way over. The only PITA was the foot valve. Still remember seeing the Ford cab overs that had the air ride cab. Looking in the mirror and watching the cab move around was odd. Everyone that drove them loved the ride. Big difference in the old Ford W model that had absolutely no frills whatsoever. The reason cab overs vanished in the US was the DOT relaxed the length restriction. Most road drivers preferred them. The west coast people and owner operators liked the long nose better because half the drivers practically lived in them.

[@TheLp8840]

I drove a lot of miles in a Chevrolet Bison hauling wheat and corn for my dad. Never had a license. He told me i didn't need one as it was for farm use. Never had a wreck on the road and never carried less than 100k. The elevators hated my dad. I have no idea how we got away with this. My dad lied so hard to me. It was awesome. This was all before i was 18. God bless him.

[@williamcarlson5405]

From WC, as one who has driven both CO and long nose,if you are only driving expressways long nose trucks are great, but we all had to do some driving in towns and cities and I can remember even now trying to make a right turn with a 48 ft. Trailer and all those sweet people in cars that didn’t want to give you an inch to make your turn!

[@svgPhoenix]

Drink whenever he says "a cabover truck is a truck with the cab over the engine" at your own risk

[@chucklowe7983]

One main reason they disappeared is because the industry couldn't find drivers and needed to improve the comfort and livability for OTR drivers. Simple

[@chrislahey1786]

When Schneider and JBhunt switched to conventionals to compete for drivers was the end of cabovers in us

[@kathyyoung1774]

Yeah, that's why Burlington Motor Carriers switched to conventionals. Remember them? Spent a lot of money too fast to get them. And then went out of business during the downturn in freight after 9-11.

[@fahrenheit2530]

Cabovers are beginning to make a comeback in the USA, a lot of newer truck manufacturers like Nikola and Tesla are using the COE design because their trucks are electric, which don't really need to be in the conventional format. Additionally, European manufacturers like Dennis, DAF, and Scania are importing their trucks to the US, and antique cabovers are resurging on the highways. A lot of Gen Z drivers want to drive older trucks, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw 70's and 80's cabovers making a significant comeback later in the decade. In certain areas of the US, cabovers still have advantages, particularly in New England. About the only place in the US where you can still find new cabovers for sale is the Northern Mariana Islands, and while the roads there are big enough for conventional trucks, the islands are close enough to China that it's easier to import Chinese built cabovers and spec them to US regulations, rather than ship them across the ocean from the mainland. If you want to see antique cabovers, then New Jersey, Alaska, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and Ohio would be the best states to look, although you'll see cabovers pretty much anywhere in America if you drive around long enough.

[@jerbear7952]

Nikola isn't a truck company. They are a con job

[@TenGreenRangers]

Tesla doesn't make a Cabover .. sorry about that fog you're in.

[@fahrenheit2530]

@@TenGreenRangers I suppose it's more of a cross between a cabover and a conventional, similar to International Conco.

[@fahrenheit2530]

@@jerbear7952 They're more of an assembler than an actual manufacturer, except for the drive components their trucks are Ivecos through and through.

[@kdrapertrucker]

​@@fahrenheit2530no, Nikola was a total scam, they never had a running truck. The guy who started it took the money and ran. GM is keeping it alive in a bid not to look like total morons for being scammed.

[@tonysilliker5977]

As for easy access to the sleeping area there's no difficulty getting in any bunk on a cab over..

[@gru-ninja]

Wish there was a conversation about set-forward vs. set-back axle cabovers.

[@kathyyoung1774]

I loved cabovers, BUT I didn't really like set-back axels. Felt weird.

[@plymouthmechanic3423]

The COE truck had a wider cabin and allowed more space between the chairs. The access to the bed is perfect. In the super space cabs, you can stand up with headroom to spare

[@xanitrucker9946]

My dad used to have a K100 with an original 3306 CAT, abnormally beautiful truck, did 1.7-ish million miles before he swapped out the engine for an 8v92, did around 700k more until he sold the truck entirely to buy an 359EXHD with a Cummins and twin sticks, definitely my favorite truck for now, but I sure do miss that K100. He's planning to turn that Pete into a showtruck and then sell it for maybe 200 to 300 Grand, depending on how much he does to it, what comes next is still unclear, but I assume it's going to be an International Harvester, as it was his first ever truck he's driven and wants to drive it again badly! The journey of making profit will definitely go on and on. I'm planning to get an R model MACK soon enough, and then probably keep it as a show truck for myself, but I'll most likely build it up and then sell it, just as my dad does it.

[@matthewcyrulik7213]

An old skool Mack DM800 would be a cool show truck

[@Trucker2487]

I grew up in the trucking industry, I drove a few cabovers when I was a good bit younger then what I am now and they were decent trucks but I much prefer the long noses. Not a big fan of the sloped hoods either but anything is better then automatics and electric trucks.

[@ernestpaul2484]

I drove for Schneider Specialized hauling glass out of LOF in NC. My first couple of tractors were International cabovers. I took great pride in keeping it buffed and polished with everything organized. They were under powered and regulated by the company, but they were very suitable for the places we delivered. Quite a few of the glass houses we went to were built in the 20's and 30's inside the cities with very tight entry ways. The snub nose of the cabover made it easier to maneuver a trailer that was 53' long with a spread axle, especially backing in to a spot designed for a 20' to 35' single axle trailer and a single axle tractor. I would have liked to run a Flat Floor Argosy Freightliner when they came out, but I ended up moving into a conventional International and then a 377 Peterbilt.

[@jamesthomasjr9911]

I used to haul glass for Schneider out of LOF in Illinois around 1999. My first International had already turned over the odometer and read about 130k, I think. No jake brake, either. You weren't kidding about some of the places we delivered. A place in PA comes to mind that had a wicked T intersection on one side, and an extremely low weight bridge on the other side. Or another in Indianapolis, I think, that you had to block 4 lanes of traffic to be able to back into their dock. What a trip that job was.

[@ernestpaul2484]

I was with Schneider from 95' to 03'. I enjoyed running up to the LOF in Illinois, the town name eludes me right this second, but the bar and grille outside the drop lot had great food. Yeah some of the first tractors that were bare bones caused me some concern, especially running thru the hills in VA/WVA and out West .@@jamesthomasjr9911

[@UnderDaGroove]

LOF in Laurinburg, I’ll bet.

[@UnderDaGroove]

And probably LOF in Ottawa ,IL maybe?

[@ernestpaul2484]

@@UnderDaGroove Yes. And...

[@abcdef-qk6jf]

There are some misunderstandings in this video. European modern cabovers are very silent. A robust frame is NOT what you want in an accident. If a long nose is incabable of absorbing the forces of an impact in an accident - they're more dangerous than a cabover made to absorbe the forces. European trucks are made with a deformation zone. Prolonging the time of impact and reducing the forces.

[@thetowndrunk988]

I put over half a million miles on an Argosy. It had every bit as much room as the Century class of that time. The grill was latched, and supported by struts. All you had to do was lift it up, and you could check every fluid from there. It was much easier than pulling a hood down. When the cab did have to be lifted (which was rare, as even service could be done from the bottom and front), it had an electric-hydraulic pump, and it took all of maybe a minute, at most, to tilt. It’s a shame they stopped building them. They were perfect for stinger setups, especially boat hauling.

[@blastingcapps4341]

I thought they got rid of them because the drivers were getting so fat they couldn't climb into the cab

[@Lt-Dan]

I remember a good friend cut into driving a cab over, and after that, they started to purchase the long-nose trucks

[@matsv201]

"optimizing driver comfort" Yea.. no.. that is not really true. Someone who have written this have never been in a European truck. "moving the engine away reduce the vibration" While that seams like its true in theory... Air suspended cabs are a thing.

[@USandGlobal]

Long nose trucks are air suspended aswell 🤦🏽. Some jobs require air suspended trucks you can tell you never been in an American semi.

[@matsv201]

@@USandGlobal And you never learned to read. I never claimed that airsuspension is not a thing in American trucks. Read what i actually wrote. "Some jobs require air suspended trucks " I was talking about a 4 way air-suspended cab, not suspension.

[@TonyM1961]

As a retired long haul driver, I can tell you what caused their demise. They were a rolling death trap... literally. You had zero protection in event of a crash and if you didn't get killed in a crash you got killed by kidney, liver or spinal failure due to how rough they rode. I am not saying that they couldn't overcome these issues with modern tech and materials, but that's how it was at the time and there was a revolt by drivers who began refusing to drive one due to those concerns. A company quickly begins losing money if it's drivers won't drive, so they pressured manufacturers to switch to the long nose in order to get their cargos moving again. Whether YOU think they are superior or not is irrelevant compared to the people who had to actually use them

[@jakubbenes4704]

That's an fairytale.

[@benedekhalda-kiss9737]

At the time they were utter horrible deathtraps but modern cabovers feel like you're on a cloud

[@kalle5548]

Yeah, driven a couple of modern Scanias (Euro COE) and pulling some 60 tons (130k lbs) and it's like driving a car, smooth ride, just some small V8 noises, automates manual and a roomie interior that rivals Audi

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

Cab overs have moved on, I've been driving them for over 25 years, their level of comfort has improved massively since I started driving.

[@TonyM1961]

@DomingoDeSantaClara They may have. I wouldn't know because I retired in 2014 after having tried cabover in the 70s, then moving to, and staying with, long nose Pete

[@CJWerner-h8r]

I'm a teen, but it amazes me seeing a cab over semi

[@fugu4163]

Modern cab over trucks are more comfortable and more safe because in europe those trucks has been further developed and refined since 1982. Besides i think that US truck companies are cutting corners and buys just the most basic trucks to increase profit rather than thinking of their drivers. US companies are over all more greedy than most.

[@SamuelGonzalez-pn8yn]

Cabovers are hard to work on and you have to make sure the jacks that make the cab go up are working properly but if you don't know what your doing they can also be dangerous

[@Rose-yx6jq]

Cabover Optimus Prime looks way cooler than the new standard.

[@fobbitoperator3620]

They were about as aerodynamic as a brick wall, yet so nice to look at!

[@marcgannello2923]

Bring am back . Bring am back.Bring am back. When I was growing up in the 70s 80s and early 90s. My dad had 3 mack cabovers over the course of his career. What a beautiful view from those big windows.

[@victorlee7601]

I use to drive a cab over truck year's ago when I was younger. I miss them. The were great especially in city's and a lot of customers who had tight loading docks. They made double sleepers called aerodyne s which you could stand up in and were extra wide with had bunk beds. Talking about a death trap research the cab under which didn't last long at all you were basically sitting in the cab under the nose of the trailer. Anyone out there remember the day of the air starter on trucks? Talk about someone scaring you as you walk by, they hit the starter and the sound it made.

[@jeraldbottcher1588]

I remember when I was in the Army. I was in the MLRS system. This had a cabover design, to do maintenance on the engine (even to check the oil) we had to crank the cab over. You bet we had everything secured or it would be a mess. There was also very limited storage space in the cab. We were called Gypsy Wagons cause we would haul a lot of our gear on top of the cab. What a pain in the rear!

[@kathyyoung1774]

I built wooden cabinets into my bunk area for that reason. Everything had to besecuredwhen the cab was jacke up for maintenance.

[@timsharpe3498]

I used to maintain a fleet of sanitation trucks and most were cab over. In the early years we had mostly Ford CT8000s with 3208 and Allison autos. They kept us very busy but later we switched over to Volvo and they were very dependable.

[@seed_drill7135]

Cab over garbage trucks are pretty much all Autocar makes these days.

[@darylturner6094]

After Optimus Prime died, all cabover trucks were retired in North America

[@stigandrmyrardalur5208]

European cabovers are safer, more comfortable and aerodynamic than american conventionals.... Tilting a cabover cabin takes two minutes, not ½ an hour, and gives better access to the drivetrain than on a conventional. The main reason conventionals are used in North-America is that the crumbling infrastructure demands that the ridicilous low weight are spread over long distance... as described in the bridge weight formula

[@chrismacdonald102]

You seem arrogant and mad over a truck design. But opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. I’ll take my Pete 379 with a Cat C16 any day over any cabover. I’ve had absolutely no mechanical issue with this truck except regular maintenance and I haul exclusively overweight construction equipment, farm equipment, and fire trucks. This Pete rides smooth as butter, even with 170,000 pounds. Have a nice day.

[@Streetrocker28]

They are not , I’ve driven, one for years , small , uncomfortable , there a bigger cabovers but since they’re optional not many companies are happy to pay for more comfort for the drivers …. I prefer a long hood truck

[@stigandrmyrardalur5208]

@@Streetrocker28 your personal preferences is not up for debate at all. The handling, driving characteristics and therefore comfort is better on european cabovers than american conventionals of several reasons. American frames are long and weak so they flex so much that it effects the stability and driving characteristics of the vehicle. The suspension on american trucks are a joke compared to the systems used in Europe, which makes american trucks to be "shakers". American cabins are narrow and "crampy" compared to european cabins, and european cabins have much better noise insulation and are much quieter inside. Anothe topic is the electrical system where no one can explain why american trucks still have 12 volt

[@BlueDually4x4]

@@stigandrmyrardalur5208 The voltage is just a standard, all cars are 12 volts. A higher voltage just allows you to run a thinner wire and get a bit more voltage stability if a wire gets partly broken or a ground is less than ideal. Which sounds good until you need something like a 3" by 5" / 76.2mm by 127mm amber turn lamp; 12 volt $46 USD vs 24 volt $200 USD for the same size light made by the same manufacture and from the same parts store. Now, prices over in Europe might be a lot different since the higher voltage is standard, I don't know. Yes our roads are in terrible shape, and a longer wheelbase rides better over poor road conditions than a short one. That is the basic reason we run longer trucks, as well as our population density is so much lower in parts of the country. Imagine how quickly you could cross Germany if only 584,000 people lived there.

[@stigandrmyrardalur5208]

@@BlueDually4x4 higher voltage makes electrical compnents stronger, and it makes components drain the batteries less. With 24 volt your refridgerator and webasto heater or parking aircondition can run 24 hours without making starting the engine cumbersome. The cables and lights are the same, you only need right lightbulb. In prinsipal longer wheelbase would give you smoother ride, but more important is the suspension and chassis. The population density is completely irrelevant to the issue about how trucks are built.

[@noahsabana1042]

Cabovers is one of the beautiful looking american trucks ever made 🇺🇸 ❤

[@cdl9239]

On all these comments a lot of people are crying about cabovers in the 80 90s everyone wanted a hood now 2023 they dying for one I know this was mine

[@tommyt329]

Its up to the individual. I've driven both types & found them to be great trucks either way.

[@bmo3778]

ah yes, the indifferent one.😊

[@meh.7640]

i see no reason why a cab-over wouldn't be able to have the same comfort as a long nose. it's just all a bit higher up above the road, no?

[@joelg8004]

I’ve always been kind of confused why we don’t use cab over for local deliveries in cities for their mobility. But probably since I’m not a truck driver I don’t see the actual reasons.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

The only cabover or Coe trucks are of the all in one or straight job Ie no seperate trailor trucks. Those are everywhere in the US.

[@topfloorstudio2684]

I learned something new today. At 6:50 that cabover Freightshaker says White Freightliner. I never knew White GMC Volvo also was with Freightliner too!! Thanks for this cool history!

[@zachlenning2653]

Learned on and drove (locally) a 1978 cab over Mack. Great truck. Would turn on a dime. Used it to load and unload trailers on a ferry boat.

[@ralphaverill2001]

No mention of the reduced aerodynamic drag of conventional, long-nosed rigs, resulting in better fuel mileage, a major factor in trucking costs.

[@brianb-p6586]

Do you have any actual test values showing the difference in aerodynamic drag between long-nose and cab-over trucks?

[@ralphaverill2001]

Do I have test results? Hell no. I read about it in a number of places years ago.

[@brianb-p6586]

That's the problem,@@ralphaverill2001. People usually assume that the "flat" front of a COE will mean higher drag, but drag varies greatly between even one conventional design and another, and between COEs... and most people have little understand almost nothing about real aerodynamic behaviour. Very little real data is involved in these discussions, so no valid conclusions are possible. I found a research paper about drag reduction by adding devices to a typical European heavy COE truck and trailer, and the starting point (the vehicle without any improvements) has a coefficient of drag of about 0.59, which is at the low end of the range usually quoted for North American conventional trucks (0.6 to 0.9). Tesla claims (if I recall correctly) 0.35 for their Semi; that is both hard to believe and much better than a typical conventional truck. _Heavy Truck Drag Reduction Obtained from Devices Installed on the Trailer_ (SAE publication 2015-01-2898)

[@USandGlobal]

@@brianb-p6586yes you can watch videos of truckers explaining it here on KZbin and it’s common sense it’s more aerodynamic 😂

[@brianb-p6586]

Truckers know as much about aerodynamics as physicists know about trucking regulations,@@USandGlobal. And "common sense" is very often very wrong in aerodynamics.

[@watchthe1369]

Most american cities have "break bulk" or "Delivery Hubs" where the big trucks drop their over the road cargo and pick up a trailer for the return trip. Local delivery trailer trucks save lengths by not having driver comfort provisions since those driver typically live in the city they deliver in.

[@Gonner453]

Only if you are less than truckload. I am over the road and I myself have been in some of those places that should have a smaller truck so the final delivery. You will also find some OTR drivers doing local pickup and delivery.

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

In Australia we have a Combination of Cab Over And Conventional Trucks 9:34

[@kirkbrown2147]

I've driven both trucks. I don't like cab over except for the visibility and the way it turns, it's uncomfortable. It's also dangerous to get inside.

[@marcushennings9513]

The motor in conventionals protects the driver a lot more but in a cabover the driver is the first one to the accident.

[@brianb-p6586]

It's only dangerous to climb into a traditional American cabover, with the door directly over the front tires. Euro cabover trucks are forward control, so there is a good set of entrance steps ahead of the tires.

[@williwass6837]

🤣😂

[@KevinRichards-rk3gp]

Yep advantages about cabovers are they're easier to maneuver & park in than conventional cabs & have better visibility too. The disadvantage about them is if you get into a crash like a head on collision with a drunk driver or so, you get smashed because you're sitting right at the front end of the frame leaving you very little protection between you & whatever is coming at you in front unlike in a conventional cab where you sit further away from the front end of the frame for better protection. It's good the old length & weight limits were lifted to allow conventional cabs to pull longer trailers & carry heavier loads because safety is a top priority.