Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Changing topic a bit

 

No side impact airbags built into seat? I can get those on a KW or Peterbilt.

 

@nevesu runs in area's as cold as yours.

 

Nice.

 

Nope.

 

One of my drivers sons in in law is professional ice skater. Has been to winter olympics last year in South Korea.

He brought him some nice thermal clothing. In summer it can be +30C oustide, and -25C on reefer, if you don't know what you are doing, quite easy to get sick

 

Commercial Trucks | What is RollTek | IMMI

 

No, DAF, and most likely others as well, do have an air bag in the steering wheel. It is not allowed to use air bags with some seats, why I don't know.
Since all manufacturers over here are working on new cabs, it would not surprise me if the new cabs get side air bags.

 

Makes sense..... But many of them will make damage anyway.
Driving school in many african countries is not exactly what it is in Europe or America.

Reminds me of a road test we were doing in Nigeria.
70 tonnes gross weight, new chinese tractor, 370hp.
Older trailer with questionable brakes, like all of them.

Local driver behind the wheel, quite new on the job.
I was in the passenger seat making adjustments in the software.
My colleague and local representatives in a car following us, in case something would happen during the test.

When we started driving I was told to keep window closed (about 100F outside, and we were in Lagos traffic, and no AC).
And to keep door locked.
"Too many Ali Baba's. Dangerous when they see white man with laptop."


After a few miles, and a couple of almost accidents, I just did not feel safe, and I was afraid that he would have ruined the engine or transmission before we finished the test.
At some point he managed to change down instead of up (with a non-synchro box!). He simply forced it into gear, and then released the clutch. The engine hit >2980rpm.
That's when I told him to stop and park the truck, and to have my colleague do the driving.


During the rest of the drive, the local driver was with us in the cab and we started a conversation with him.

How did he get his license?
"I did not get it, I had to pay for it"
But did you have any lessons?
"No, I just paid for it"

And how was the hiring process when you applied for the job as truck driver. Did you have to do a driving test then?
"Yes, I had to drive a truck"
He pointed to a "truck" to show us what kind of truck he meant, something like this:


And how far did you have to drive it?
"Oh...., about 25 forward, and then I had to reverse"
25 kilometers? And how far did you reverse, around corners as well?
"No no, not 25 kilometers, 25 meters, forward in straight line, and then 25 meters reverse in straight line"

And what other requirements were needed to get the job?
"I have to be muslim, and speak Hausa language"

And that was all to get the job? Nothing else?
"Yes, that was all"


Thank God not all of them are like that.
The next day we had a different driver.
He knew what he was doing, and could really handle the 70 tonne truck and make the little chinese engine sing. Very impressive after the earlier experience.

 

True, or use thicker cables. What capacity (in Ah) batteries do you use?