this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024
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Fuck Cars

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Most owners don't need them. Else why is there not a single one of these cars on the roads in the entirety of Europe? Are we so different?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

Europe licenses trucks and trailers differently than in the U.S. An American one-ton pickup can tow at a combined weight of up to 26,000lbs in most states on a standard Class D license. The same license you need to operate a Honda Civic. This weight would require a commercial license in Europe, raising the bar for entry.

The lengths of trucks and trailers is also regulated more heavily due to smaller European streets. A vehicle rated to tow a 26,000lb load in Europe would need to be much shorter in length to abide by these regulations. This is why you only see “cab-over” style “lorries” in Europe.

What follows is my opinion on some additional factors:

It’s more affordable for Europeans to hire a professional driver for heavy loads owing to the short distances between destinations. It’s also less likely that your average European owns land or has a need to haul a heavy load to maintain said property.