Cab Overs

Has anyone considered head on accidents in these things? Had a friend that was avoiding an accident, hit a concrete barrier. Bottom of the tractor and the driver's legs came to a stop, the top of everything did not. These provide no "safety cushion" in front. Everyone is right: you're the first to the scene, and the last one hauled out.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2J4KdQQIzW4

Now this takes guts

 

I wanna try that. I've heard that those euro coe's beat our US conventional's in power, comfort, and fuel milage. Anybody know what kindda truth there is to that?

 

I've seen pictures and they look pretty nice (the newer Volvo's at least, and some Scanias) but I think the general consensus is that getting into the bunk still sucks.

I can believe that fuel millage is better... I don't know oif they haul as much weight but they have less axles (and I think, if they have tandems on the trucks one is usually tag).

DAF:

 

I don't think that's a racing truck... it looks like a normal COE from Europe to me.

 

that is cool to watch but you know that guy is "crapping" his diaper(diaper because he ran out of underware long ago!) you know you are gripping leather when you take a turn in a COE ! i learned to drive a "stick tractor" being a COE 86 friegtliner with a 9 speed . the good thing is the dog house and only when you have a dummy for a a-driver(shotgun) because you know you can not krewl over there an killhim then be back in the seat to continue steering fast enough!yes they-
-ride rough
-loud
-pain to lower the cab and have the shifter fall in the right spot!
-jack goes out and then pre trips are a pain!
-jack cab up and things are not left where they were!!! i.e. coffee (only happens once!!)
-total pain to learn to drive sitting on the wheel !!!
but-
-looks cool like grandpas' 1940 rig!
the dash makes great drink bottle holders and is closer(right above your knees!)
-the steering differents is the best ! truthfully backing made easy!
-yea the bads out weigh the goods -sorry
-best of luck -arick

 

Don't write the obituary for the COEs in the USA just yet. You guys may be going to Mexico on runs in the future, and if you're pulling a 53 down there, you'll have to drive a cabover. This assumes the Mexican government remains its inefficient self and doesn't relax length laws. I think even a COE with a 53' wagon may still be too long for those guys, meaning the government will have to relax the laws in two stages if you want to keep your present 53'/conventional combos. Good luck getting them to allow even the 53' box with a COE. That'll be a battle in itself.

 

New COE's are also still being made, justdelvd to Freightliner Plant in Cleveland,NC the other day, and they had at least 200 of 'em in the lot. And not just stretched wheelbase ones for car haulers,etc., most were short wheelbase trucks.

 

I think there's a 20-mile buffer zone beyond the border in which 53s are allowed. But when you go to Mexico, you'll be running far beyond 20 miles. Enter the COE and maybe even the 48-footer. If you already have a load on a 53 and are going to Mexico, you'll have to get it switched over to a 48. More than likely, YOU will have to do this on the US side, unless you hire a lumper to do it. And you'll probably have do some slip-seating. You'll have to leave your hood in the US and jump in a COE to make the run south of the border.

And the weight laws in Mexico? Who knows what they are.

I cringe at the thought of going to Mexico in a rig, and I don't even have a CDL. If I were a driver now, I'd be getting a new career lined up. This is because I'd quit trucking before going to Mexico, and that's without all the switcheroo hassles at the border that drivers will have to do when they go down there.

After the Mexicans start coming up, YOU will have to start running to Mexico in return. When white boy drivers start going to Mexico, the turnover the industry sees will make today's 150% rate look like a really good rate.