The Growing Popularity of Cabover Trucks
With the growing popularity of cabover trucks, what are your real-world opinions?
Kenworth, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Mack – all of these truck manufacturers are now producing medium-duty cabover trucks.
We, at Work Truck, have written several articles on whether to choose a cabover or convention medium-duty truck. We have discussed the benefits, and the differences.
Our 2013 Medium-Duty Truck of the year was the Isuzu N-Series – a cabover. It’s offered in both gasoline and diesel models. The 2014 model-year Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is even getting a solar-power option.
These trucks are great for urban delivery, which requires a tight turning radius and a more maneuverable vehicle.
At a recent Kenworth event, Doug Powell, medium-duty marketing manager for Kenworth, noted that these trucks had a stigma that they still needed to overcome, which included the viewpoints that the trucks ride rougher and noisier than a conventional truck. But, that the latest generations of these vehicles were quieter than ever before.
(Check out the photo gallery from the Kenworth event here.)
But, in the real world, what are you as a fleet manager seeing? Are you starting to purchase more medium-duty cabover trucks? Why or why not?
Share what you think – leave a comment below or e-mail me directly at Lauren.Fletcher@bobit.com
By Lauren Fletcher
More Blog Posts
Technicians Are Doing More Than Turning Wrenches
Technicians do far more than repair vehicles. Six professionals reveal the problem-solving, pressure, and pride behind keeping fleets moving.
Read More →WWCD? What Would Coach Do?
A personal reflection on Ed "Coach" Bobit, the mentor who shaped my career, and why I still ask myself one question 12 years later: WWCD?
Read More →What the Fleet Industry Still Gets Wrong About Talent
What can the fleet industry learn from the women helping shape its future? A look at talent, leadership, sponsorship, and why new perspectives drive progress.
Read More →AI Isn’t Killing Content, but Lazy Expertise Is
Thought leadership loses value when AI does the thinking. Here’s why authentic industry voices still matter most.
Read More →Do I Need a U.S. DOT Number?
Whether you operate a small fleet of light-, medium-, or heavy-duty units, or are merely the owner of one truck wanting to ensure you adhere to the law, knowing if you can need a U.S. DOT number can be confusing.
Read More →Is Retirement in Fleet Now More Like ‘Rewiring’?
Fleet professionals rarely retire for good. They return as advisors, mentors, and consultants, keeping hard-won experience in the industry.
Read More →What Does Visibility in Fleet Really Look Like?
Advocacy changes things. Visible trust changes things. Structure changes things. Access changes things. A willingness to share connections, rooms, and opportunities, and a belief in someone before it is convenient, changes things.
Read More →Work Truck Week 2026 Shows an Industry Focused on Practical Progress
Taken together, these themes show an industry that is not chasing a single technological solution. Instead, it is building a broader toolkit designed to support the diverse and demanding jobs fleets perform every day.
Read More →What New Fleet Voices Need From the Rest of Us
The fleet learning curve hits fast. Here’s how new pros push through the overwhelm, find their voice, and start thriving in the work.
Read More →We Rise by Lifting Others in Fleet Management
We rise by lifting others. This Black History Month, explore stories of resilience, innovation, and progress in fleet. Watch, learn, and be inspired.
Read More →










