The term “cabover” or “cab over engine” (COE) typically evokes a sense of nostalgia within U.S. commercial fleets, as they had a much greater presence on the road in a bygone era. The 1950s to the 1970s could be considered the Golden Age of the cabover as laws of the time capped a truck’s total length at 65 feet, prompting manufacturers to place the cab above the engine to save some valuable horizontal footage. The cap was removed in 1976, enabling truck lengths to expand by nine feet and essentially ushering in the era of what we now call the conventional configuration.
Although cabovers remain the dominant format in Europe — trucks across much of the continent have a maximum length just shy of 62 feet — they’re mostly a niche here in the States. But that niche could be widening as fleets recognize one-size-does-not-fitall in delivery environments or vehicles. For one thing, they’re known for their greater maneuverability and visibility on narrow streets and around tighter corners, making them attractive for operations that serve urban markets.