Cab over

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Cab-over is a body style of a truck that has a vertical front or "flat face," with the cab of the truck siting on top of the engine. The truck design is currently common among European and Japanese truck manufacturers, although it was also popular among United States heavy truckers and trucking companies during the 1970s because of strict length laws in many states. It is still very popular in the light and medium truck segment, especially as the Isuzu NPR series.

The cab-over design made the wheelbase shorter than the regular conventional model with the long horizontal hood and engine placed in front of the cab. This shorter wheel base allows the semi trucks to have an overall shorter length allowing for longer trailers to be used. This design is somewhat less desirable (especially in the United States) than conventional models. Drivers have complained the truck was harder to ride in. The driver seat is above the front axle which causes the driver to experience a rougher ride than in a conventional cab and the cabin is somewhat noisier due to the fact that the engine is directly below the cabin. When the engine needs service or repair the entire cab is tilted forward, causing unsecured items in the cab and sleeper (if equipped) to fall onto the windshield, though this feature does make the engine more accessible.