Cabover Trucks

Vehicle length laws were relaxed.

 

Because, 'Merica!

 

Heck yeah!!

 

Too manly lawsuits / workers compensation claims.

 

They didn't want to be old school anymore ha, nahh, just kidding.... Like AModel said

 

Length and weights laws were taken out back about 1994 or earlier. There is no point to running them. In fact companies had recruiters asked one question: in those days...

Do you have cabovers or just all conventional?

If they said they had cabovers. Boom. no hiring me no siree no more cabovers again. Ever.

Fast forward to today, My last cabover was a 83 Eagle in JBH out of little rock as a experiment end of 2001 which was itself retired and sent to salvage or auction in 2002. I was only in it for three weeks. Just long enough to remember quickly all the reasons why I made sure to get out of cabovers, including taking out another vehicle. My third in my life time with those #### things. OTH the fleet shop did a good job loving on it. It was in perfect condition until Louisville DOT in Kentucky found a bad powersteering box in a intense inspection that turned into one of those story telling "You aint finding nutting. Oh ya? Fine sit there, we will find something wrong with that truck.." and they did. the box was replaced later that day.

I understand them and appreciated some of them for what they were for their time. And that is where they stay. Buried in that time. Conventional simply offer way too much more human type improvements that makes it possible to roll a year and not be tired of the big road. Its much more space etc. everything.

You had to be young and fit without being obese and floppy to ride cabovers because they will hurt you if you dont have airride at all not even in the drivers seat etc. (Bolted to the floor)

Again not all cabovers were bad. Just a memorable few. And it is very joyful to me that we finally put them into the ash heap of history. There is no point in having them.

 

Because the culture here places a premium on cool equal to around 5-10% in operational savings.

 

I hear they were extremely uncomfortable and you have a large blind spot right in front of the grill. The constant leaning checking that blind area would probably strain your neck and back.

Youtube has a couple of videos of cabovers pushing 4 wheelers down the road.

I never drove a cabovers. But in my freightliner I have good sight in front of my hood. I did drive with a couple guys that dropped their seat all the way to the floor, then leaned the seat back as far as it would go. told them they are going to end up pushing someone down the road like one of those old cabovers.

 

Well I drove plenty of cabovers, and can tell you I have more blind spot in front in any conventional, curb sniffers included. lol

Mainly just the ease of getting in and out and the comfort once in them, is the reason they are not popular here anymore. It is hard enough to fill seats when trucks have apartments attached to them, cabovers would be a nightmare to get todays drivers to stay in, but they do still have a place in trucking.