5 ms·

I suspect all of this is wrong. The maximum length of an articulated vehicle in Germany (and most of europe) is 16.5m or 54 ft. [1] The maximum length of a ve

by Aloha 5y ago

I suspect all of this is wrong. The maximum length of an articulated vehicle in Germany (and most of europe) is 16.5m or 54 ft. [1] The maximum length of a vehicle in California is 65 ft. California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network. The longest vehicle you'll see in the states are turnpike doubles, which are around 130 ft long, the longest total permitted vehicle length in Europe is 65 ft. The US used cabovers before vehicle length rules were liberalized, and thats why we don't anymore, drivers prefer conventional trucks, the ride better, largely handle better, and are safer for the driver. [1] https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/dimensions-2019.pdf https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/dimensions...

u320 5y ago
Sweden and Finland allows up to 25.5 m.
- Aloha 5y ago
  I did indeed say, most of Europe.
- ecdouvhr 5y ago
  Incidentally, Finland and Sweden constitute something like 20% of the EU's total area, and both have relatively small urban centres scattered all around the place. It's pretty natural both have somewhat differing regulations in regards to transportation.
mcguire 5y ago
"The maximum length of a vehicle in California is 65 ft. California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network." Sort of. https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-access/quick-guide https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-a... The STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982) trucks can have unlimited length cabs but are primarily limited to interstates and marked state routes.
- Aloha 5y ago
  As someone who drove trucks and was licensed in California - California has other rules that limit, including axle to tandem limits, and not allowing triples or turnpike doubles (both of which are allowed elsewhere, but not federally required). The unlimited length of tractor has practical considerations too, there are reasons why 95% of the long haul fleet is conventional condo sleepers (notwithstanding the folks who drive a RV style sleeper, with a little living area in it) - and 95% of the local fleet are conventional day cabs, mostly driver preference. So while yes, I used California's state limit as an easy from of comparison, because it is one of more restrictive western states - you're correct in that the STAA allows a longer tractor. In the end, the rules are lightly enforced - but the state limits guide the total length of combination. It's why (for example) you almost never see doubles being pulled by anything other than a day cab.
- tgtweak 5y ago
  Bit of a shitshow of authorities for any given piece of road but generally speaking it's the city streets and town-level jurisdictions that get restrictive moreso than interstates and major highways. There is also the weight factor - even if you could legally have 90ft trailers and 25ft cabs, it would probably put you over the weight limit for many roadways and negate the savings.
JudasGoat 5y ago
" drivers prefer conventional trucks, the ride better, largely handle better, and are safer for the driver." I drove truck in the 90's and the joke back then was "cabover driver's were the first to arrive at the scene of an accident".
- oblio 5y ago
  Are they better for pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and other drivers, though? I imagine it's much easier to see things in front of you with the cabover design. Personally I'd optimize a bit more for everyone else's safety, since you know, there's more of them. Plus a semi is a multi-ton missile going 90kmph.
  - AuthorizedCust 5y ago
    Can you share evidence they aren’t better? School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe?
    - oblio 5y ago
      I can't really share any studies, but some people seem to have more info: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30195371 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30195371 Intuitively it would make sense that being able to see in front of you with no obstruction would have an impact on safety. How much, I can't say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ > School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe? Guess what, European buses don't have a nose, either :-)))
    - stefan_ 5y ago
      Those hunking blocks of sheet-metal in the US that you call school buses (alternatively, prisoner transport)? Well, yeah. European buses share much with their truck counterparts, except the massively better visibility all around: https://www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/content/dam/mbo/markets/common/brand/omnibus-magazin/ecitaro-on-the-road/images/content/om19-content-ecitaro-on-the-road-1680x945-001.jpg https://www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/content/dam/mbo/markets/co...
    - 5y ago
autoexec 5y ago
< California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network. What makes the road network in CA so old compared to eastern states that had roads built so much earlier?
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  California has A LOT of roads given its size, and density is focused in the big cities, so you have a lot of country roads to maintain with limited revenue to maintain them. A lot of highways in California have warnings like "no services for 100 miles" and you won't encounter a lot of other vehicles (similar to Nevada and Oregon adjacent).
- Aloha 5y ago
  California started building a state highway network before the east cost did - also it has mountainous roads that have restrictions on overall length, simply because of curve radius.
- lazide 5y ago
  The first freeway ever was made in California. California is a huge state with widely dispersed population centers (since well before cars), and population growth only really took off around the time of WW2 and the widespread production and adoption of cars and trucks. It’s had a very road and car centric culture since then.
  - sk5t 5y ago
    > The first freeway ever was made in California What road is that? How about the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
    - lazide 5y ago
      That is a toll road and highway, not a freeway. Definitely some definition slicing going on - the 110 in SoCal was the first recognized freeway [https://www.motortrend.com/features/1804-americas-first-freeway-the-arroyo-seco-parkway-aka-the-110/amp/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/1804-americas-first-free...] Differences are typically that a freeway is designed and constructed to allow maximum speed and no interruptions/stops (hence all the on/off ramps, lack of lights, lack of toll booths), and is available to the general public for use without significant restrictions or costs. Which make it far easier to use, faster, etc. the interstate highway system was designed largely using the model.

by Aloha 5y ago

u320 5y ago

Sweden and Finland allows up to 25.5 m.

Aloha 5y ago
I did indeed say, most of Europe.
ecdouvhr 5y ago
Incidentally, Finland and Sweden constitute something like 20% of the EU's total area, and both have relatively small urban centres scattered all around the place. It's pretty natural both have somewhat differing regulations in regards to transportation.

mcguire 5y ago

"The maximum length of a vehicle in California is 65 ft. California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network." Sort of. https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-access/quick-guide https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-a... The STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982) trucks can have unlimited length cabs but are primarily limited to interstates and marked state routes.

Aloha 5y ago
As someone who drove trucks and was licensed in California - California has other rules that limit, including axle to tandem limits, and not allowing triples or turnpike doubles (both of which are allowed elsewhere, but not federally required). The unlimited length of tractor has practical considerations too, there are reasons why 95% of the long haul fleet is conventional condo sleepers (notwithstanding the folks who drive a RV style sleeper, with a little living area in it) - and 95% of the local fleet are conventional day cabs, mostly driver preference. So while yes, I used California's state limit as an easy from of comparison, because it is one of more restrictive western states - you're correct in that the STAA allows a longer tractor. In the end, the rules are lightly enforced - but the state limits guide the total length of combination. It's why (for example) you almost never see doubles being pulled by anything other than a day cab.
tgtweak 5y ago
Bit of a shitshow of authorities for any given piece of road but generally speaking it's the city streets and town-level jurisdictions that get restrictive moreso than interstates and major highways. There is also the weight factor - even if you could legally have 90ft trailers and 25ft cabs, it would probably put you over the weight limit for many roadways and negate the savings.

JudasGoat 5y ago

" drivers prefer conventional trucks, the ride better, largely handle better, and are safer for the driver." I drove truck in the 90's and the joke back then was "cabover driver's were the first to arrive at the scene of an accident".

oblio 5y ago
Are they better for pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and other drivers, though? I imagine it's much easier to see things in front of you with the cabover design. Personally I'd optimize a bit more for everyone else's safety, since you know, there's more of them. Plus a semi is a multi-ton missile going 90kmph.
- AuthorizedCust 5y ago
  Can you share evidence they aren’t better? School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe?
  - oblio 5y ago
    I can't really share any studies, but some people seem to have more info: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30195371 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30195371 Intuitively it would make sense that being able to see in front of you with no obstruction would have an impact on safety. How much, I can't say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ > School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe? Guess what, European buses don't have a nose, either :-)))
  - stefan_ 5y ago
    Those hunking blocks of sheet-metal in the US that you call school buses (alternatively, prisoner transport)? Well, yeah. European buses share much with their truck counterparts, except the massively better visibility all around: https://www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/content/dam/mbo/markets/common/brand/omnibus-magazin/ecitaro-on-the-road/images/content/om19-content-ecitaro-on-the-road-1680x945-001.jpg https://www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/content/dam/mbo/markets/co...
  - 5y ago

autoexec 5y ago

< California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network. What makes the road network in CA so old compared to eastern states that had roads built so much earlier?

seanmcdirmid 5y ago
California has A LOT of roads given its size, and density is focused in the big cities, so you have a lot of country roads to maintain with limited revenue to maintain them. A lot of highways in California have warnings like "no services for 100 miles" and you won't encounter a lot of other vehicles (similar to Nevada and Oregon adjacent).
Aloha 5y ago
California started building a state highway network before the east cost did - also it has mountainous roads that have restrictions on overall length, simply because of curve radius.
lazide 5y ago
The first freeway ever was made in California. California is a huge state with widely dispersed population centers (since well before cars), and population growth only really took off around the time of WW2 and the widespread production and adoption of cars and trucks. It’s had a very road and car centric culture since then.
- sk5t 5y ago
  > The first freeway ever was made in California What road is that? How about the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
  - lazide 5y ago
    That is a toll road and highway, not a freeway. Definitely some definition slicing going on - the 110 in SoCal was the first recognized freeway [https://www.motortrend.com/features/1804-americas-first-freeway-the-arroyo-seco-parkway-aka-the-110/amp/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/1804-americas-first-free...] Differences are typically that a freeway is designed and constructed to allow maximum speed and no interruptions/stops (hence all the on/off ramps, lack of lights, lack of toll booths), and is available to the general public for use without significant restrictions or costs. Which make it far easier to use, faster, etc. the interstate highway system was designed largely using the model.