Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

I guess the OP just wanted to know if there were any legitimate reasons behind the opinions.
There is always room to learn when someone has an explanation based on more than just taste or ignorance.
No matter how long you have been at something there may be something you don't know or have ever considered.

 

I don't get the meaning of the thread title. Not sure how so many Americans can hate European trucks since they have no idea what constitutes a European truck. I would be willing to bet that you would have a hard time finding 1 in 10 commercial drivers in any truckstop across America that even have any idea of how a Euro truck is spec'd. Kinda hard to hate something that you have never seen or have any concept of.

 

True, I suppose most American truckers base this opinion on the styling of European trucks. They prefer there own baroque cathedrals over the sleek European cab-overs. The reason for the cab-over style is of course the maximum length of the semi-trailer truck in Europe, building a tractor in the US style would mean a much shorter semi-trailer. I think most US truckers would be pleasantly surprised by the comfort of a modern European truck. It has more comfort than a passenger car, its is more quiet etc. The can has an interior height of more than 7 feet, and of course you can get them with microwaves, refrigerators, TV, interior heaters, and so on. They will have an automatic gearbox, and in the top-of-the-line versions the gearbox will be connected to a GPS system. Many trucks drive the same route every time (Rotterdam <> Poland for instance), and with the GPS system the gearbox will 'know' which gear to use on every part of the route. That saves fuel, and speaking of fuel consumption, diesel is much more expensive in Europe, so European trucks are designed to be as efficient as possible. US truckers often own their own tractor, so driving a European style truck could save them a lot of fuel, and thus money.

Paccar is showing its European DAF trucks on its website, next to the Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. I suppose it would be a good idea if they would get a couple of DAF XF cab-overs from Europe, and hand them to US truckers and trucker magazines for a review. After all, for the small Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks they already use cabs of the smaller European DAF trucks.

 

Well, you have to find an interested group to make it worth while. While I get the jist that you seem to want us on this side of the pond to be aware of what is available to you folks, I am not sure there is any interest enough here to justify the magazines and others doing some sort of a review on your available trucks. That isn't hatred, it is just lack of interest.

You seem to be more of a salesman trying to convince folks to buy what you folks have over there. And it does sound interesting. But much of what you guys have, is available here too. Just a lot of it doesn't get spec'd. And some things really don't matter. An interior height of over 7 feet? Who cares? Most of the stuff we have had for at least two decades is over 7 feet inside. And everything you mention is available inside of ours also. But we have available what the market wants. I am not convinced there much of an interest for what is selling in Europe. That isn't hatred, just lack of interest. You elaborate on the gear box / GPS thing. Well, it is available here as well. The only thing that is not available here of all the things you mention is the body style. No COE's And again, I ask, given our situation, who cares? I Don't dislike COE's. Just don't feel the need for one and if they were available, not sure I would even take more than a first look. If I needed the shorter wheelbase of the COE, I would sure go for it. But many of us don't need that short wheelbase.

I get the feeling, that you seem more upset that you folks don't have the broad options in truck styles we have and you are hard selling to get us to be limited to what you have. There is no other way to explain why this thread has gone on for so long. Enjoy what you have, we will enjoy what we have. We can hold hands and sing Kum By Yah some other day.

 

Actros 1/2 mega or similar size is good for COE , anything more means sway,vibration, cab- air bag consistent replacement etc

 

What oem is selling a 700hp engine over here? We don't have everything they have......

 

kT 800 was 40 years ago.

 

Try to spec one tomorrow ....

 

They never offered a K series over 600hp in a truck.

 

Take the C18 that was offered at 700hp in the trucks over seas, that engine makes a maximum of 1900ft-lbs of torque so what did the 700hp gain you.