who do Europeans drive big cab over trucks

look 171 · 11-09-2015, 10:55 PM

instead of ones like ours such as Kenworth. The rest of the world seem to drive cab overs too. Is it because their streets are smaller? Those Cab over trucks are not exactly small.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

As a European , I don't even know what you mean by cab over truck

rwest · rwest's Garage

Cab over is just like it sounds- driver is over engine rather than the engine being in front of the driver. Should make for a shorter truck.

Holger · 02:05 AM

I suppose he means cab over the engine instead of long nose

Uuups, not fast enough!

Willem Fick · 11-10-2015, 02:07 AM

By sitting on top of the engine the driver has a better view of the front corners of the vehicle so it becomes easier to maneuver on narrow and congested European roads.

afterburn 549 · 02:26 AM

Small roads.
When one gets rid of wheelbase ( long hood) you get a shorter turn rad.
This work here in the states too.
They are Not as popular now that the O.O. ( owner operator )is about gone and they have to entice trk slaves with a "long hood".
Its hard to get people to drive up the road for "chump change," but give them a shiny long hood, and Viola!
The COE ( cab over engine ) works great for "real work trucks " like back yard delivery boat haulers.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

oh trailer trucks thought you meant trucks as in F150'ies or something..
Well yeah, long nose is no use for smaller roads

And there are regulations about max length of the truck+trailer so a shorter truck means longer trailer.

berettafan · 11-10-2015, 03:05 AM

Great question OP! Now we know.....the rest of the story...good day

afterburn 549 · 11-10-2015, 03:42 AM

Here in the USA there used to be much more non-uniform length laws.
To get around it the trucks were made shorter.( for longer trailers )
It is getting better.
Still each state creates its own crap dept ( DOT ) as e ach one thinks they know best.
A 40-foot trailer was once thought of as long now a 52' is standard fare.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Afterburn is correct. The laws have changed. Conventional rigs get better gas millage than the COEs and they ride better and have less engine noise.

asphaltgambler · 11-10-2015, 06:34 AM

Also class 7/8 transit style buses - engine in back - flat front / driver at windshield is very popular for similar reasons where the driver can have the "up front view" and the rear has a lot less tail swing when turning on narrow roads............

Holger · 11-10-2015, 06:37 AM

It has to do with length restrictions:
Europe: the whole truck and trailer is one unit and measured as one unit, so smaller truck, longer trailer
USA: only the trailer is measured
Correct?

And, of course, traditions.

It has nothing to do with smaller roads.

asphaltgambler · 11-10-2015, 06:49 AM

I'm certain in the US that the entire truck / trailer length is considered........

afterburn 549 · 07:04 AM

Quite a bit to do with smaller radius.
I can out a 50-foot trailer in a lot more driveways then I ever could with a pimped out long nose, as the front axle is always wanting to run off the ditch or into a fence.
With O.S. loads on two lanes, a long nose just hides problems.
I think you would have to be there to understand.
Back onto the OP
A COE is much more user-friendly in tight quarters.
I have zero for clues on European DOT law.
In parts of Aussi land they have truck trains ...like 10 or 12 trailers behind a single power unit.....
Pretty impressive !

creaturecat · 11-10-2015, 07:27 AM

i like the way they stay in their own lane, over there. makes things a lot less complicated. the drivers seem content to do the speed limit, following each other in a uniform, predictable fashion.

look 171 · 11-10-2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcommin

Afterburn is correct. The laws have changed. Conventional rigs get better gas millage than the COEs and they ride better and have less engine noise.

Ok, now I know why they make "long Nose" trucks.

look 171 · 11-10-2015, 09:29 AM

Sorry for the confusion. I have no idea what I am talking about but only noticed the differences between what I see on the road.

look 171 · 11-10-2015, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Quite a bit to do with smaller radius.
I can out a 50-foot trailer in a lot more driveways then I ever could with a pimped out long nose, as the front axle is always wanting to run off the ditch or into a fence.
With O.S. loads on two lanes, a long nose just hides problems.
I think you would have to be there to understand.
Back onto the OP
A COE is much more user-friendly in tight quarters.
I have zero for clues on European DOT law.
In parts of Aussi land they have truck trains ...like 10 or 12 trailers behind a single power unit.....
Pretty impressive !

Noticed those are mostly long nose trucks hauling those big loads. Impressive to say the least. Is there a reason why?

look 171 · 11-10-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creaturecat

i like the way they stay in their own lane, over there. makes things a lot less complicated. the drivers seem content to do the speed limit, following each other in a uniform, predictable fashion.

I think our truck drivers are pretty good here. I do notice more and more of them are riving in the #2 and 3 lane in a 5 land fwy around here.

look 171 · 11-10-2015, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme

oh trailer trucks thought you meant trucks as in F150'ies or something..
Well yeah, long nose is no use for smaller roads

And there are regulations about max length of the truck+trailer so a shorter truck means longer trailer.

I did not see one pick-up truck when we were there between Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium. Not even a small one in the farm countries. Lots of cargo vans.