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> They just haul more Not really, they are just longer. For example the US interstates have a rather strict total weight limit (even by European standards) of
by eMSF 5y ago
> They just haul more
Not really, they are just longer. For example the US interstates have a rather strict total weight limit (even by European standards) of 36 tonnes. Where I live, the general legal limit is 76 tonnes, and there are specific (every-day) routes with vehicles weighing over 100 tonnes. Granted, such heavy trucks with special permits are longer than the 18.75 metres mentioned in the article, but even then you wouldn't want to make them any longer by wasting space for an overlong cab.
- renewiltord 5y agoWeight, the longer wheelbase US trucks haul less total tonnage than the shorter wheelbase EU trucks purely due to regulations? Or are you talking about rare cases that hit the limit? Because I would never have suspected that.
- 1123581321 5y agoInteresting; thank you. It looks like the federal limit in the US is 40 tons; some states are higher and others are lower. EU appears to mostly limit to 44 tons. Extensive freight rail in the US precludes much of the need for special high-tonnage routes, though you’ll see unusual items transported on trailers with extra axles from time to time.