Truck interior

Cabover models are very rare in the U.S. and I don't believe any manufacturer is still making them . We do have some Australian and European members on the forum though .

 

I was informed by a truck dealership manager a decade ago that cabover trucks had a higher injury rate among truckers in the USA, versus conventional trucks. When cabovers were prevalent, a lot of truckers sustained injuries while climbing up or disembarking from their trucks. The truck manufacturers had concluded that the higher injury rates were a potential lawsuit waiting to happen. Here in the USA, we have consumer protection laws against manufacturers marketing products that exposes people to an unreasonable risk of injury.

However, what is ironic is the lack of roof reinforcement on trucks built here in the USA. In Europe and most nations, trucks must have sufficient structural support to prevent the roof from caving in when the truck rolls over upside down. In the USA, this requirement applies to passenger vehicles marketed to the general public. But someone in Washington DC made the decision this protection would cost too much on semi trucks. This is why American-made trucks are banned throughout Europe, unless they're modified to meet their stringent safety requirements.

You may want to translate your inquiry to French, German, Spanish, Sweden, etc... then query the European truckers to get their feedback. Cabovers are prevalent in Europe, where streets are narrower in some places. You could also try contacting UK truckers. Their "lorries" are pulled by cabovers as well.

Edit► When cabovers were prevalent 2 decades ago, some owner operators and company drivers had unbolted and removed the passenger-side seat to allow more baggage room. I would suggest removable passenger seats that easily detaches, and can be folded & stored on the back, the roof, or the side storage compartment.

 

given that we here in australia have small sleepers in general, any extra space would be welcome. Especialy in a Cabover.

the comments about cab overs being a hazzard to health mainly pertains to trucks like Kenworth K100-104-108 where you climb up and swing in. very easy to fall.

Go look at a Freightliner Argosy, while annoying to keep maintained, the swingout steps were designed to aleviate the needing to monkey around into the cab.

 

musta been a while back, the BP oasis has been bulldosed.
Freightliner didnt getthe issues too fixed. they still do it.

The problem with the kenworth cabovers is the design of the cab doesnt allow the passenger seat to move back anymore, which leaves SFA leg room.
Also, havign such a large engine hump costs valuable space.

The true solution to our space woes, would be to allow longer prime movers to be used on our existong trailer fleets. Problem is the powers that be see anything larger than what we have as an increased danger... so they mandate stupid amounts of "saftey" equipment.

Something which would help, dependant on which co your talking to, would be to have a bed in the bunk that can be pushed up into a couch position with a fold out table. Much like the 86" kenworth bunks... ( on US kenworth site ) .
Working some better storage into the cab would be a huge help also.
On the cabs. like the argosy where the floor is relativley low, having both the driver and passenger seats being able to swivel around almost 180 would be good if there was a table that could be folded out.

Lots of ways to skin a cat, but no manufacturer is willign to invest the time and $ into options that most fleets wont spend up on. These things are already over priced as it is.. The AU market bites for truck prices.