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Why the world’s largest e-car never needs to charge
by Dayan Pfammatter
Come to think of it, why do US trucks have such long noses?
10.5.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Anyone who’s travelled on US highways will be familiar with the imposing trucks and their long noses. They’re very different from the trucks in Europe. Flat noses are the norm here, courtesy of a German transport minister.
I mused on what it would have been like had the trucks been reversed – with Meersdonk in the US truck, and Snowman behind the wheel of the cab-over-engine Mercedes. A strange notion, isn’t it?
So, why exactly are trucks in the USA so much bigger?
Long-nose trucks were around after the war
In the post-war period – before Seebohm’s intervention – long-nose trucks dominated German roads. In long-nose trucks, the engine lies in front of the front axle, and the driver’s cab is located behind the engine. In short-nose trucks, the engine lies on the axle, and the cab is on top of the engine.
The trucks produced in Germany by manufacturers such as Faun, Magirus Deutz, MAN and Mercedes Benz usually had a nose, be it a long or short one. The hood provided ample space for the large engine, which could be easily reached for repair and maintenance. There were no regulations yet defining how long a truck could be. With that, most manufacturers simply continued building what they had built before and partly also during the war.
In the United States, truck manufacturers were spared any drastic legislative changes. Sure, there were weight regulations, some of which varied greatly from state to state until 1982. Certain states were generous with their length provisions, others had none at all. Either way, long-nose trucks continued to exist.
Truckers – modern cowboys of the road
In the 1970s, truckers became a cultural phenomenon; a predominantly male group, they were called modern-day cowboys – rebelling against speed controls and road tolls. That was the romanticised version.
In reality, truckers travelled the endless interstates, mile after mile, for days at a time. The distances in the United States are so great and the population so sparse that the truck isn’t only a working tool, but also a home on wheels.
Long noses have many advantages
The long nose increases the truck’s crumple zone, meaning truckers are better protected in the event of a collision. This is especially important, because trucks are often allowed to drive as fast as cars on the highway. 110 or even 120 kilometres per hour aren’t uncommon. In Switzerland and Germany, the maximum speed for trucks is 80 km/h.
More comfort on the road and easier repairs
Long-nose trucks are also easier to repair. To get to the engine, you simply have to open some flaps on the nose. In flat-nose models, on the other hand, the entire cab has to be folded forward to gain access. This means that anything in the cab that might fly around and fall onto the windshield must be secured or removed beforehand.
That’s something truckers in the USA don’t have to worry about. In addition, their trucks offer ever more comfort for long-distance driving, with newer models coming with sleeper cabs.
These include a wardrobe, sink, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning, sitting area or sofa and, of course, a comfortable bed (often a loft). Here’s a look inside the Volvo VNL 860, for example.
Header image: Martin Jungfer
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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