Art Director
Buying Commercial Truck Guide
Why should I choose a cabover instead of a conventional commercial truck?
Conventional medium-duty work trucks place the engine and hood in front of the driver, which adds to the vehicle’s overall length and weight. This reduces payload potential and makes maneuverability and visibility more difficult. A typical conventional work truck blocks the driver’s view of the ground up to 25 ft from the front of the truck.
FUSO’s cab-over-engine design eliminates the hood and features large expanses of glass around the driver for maximum visibility. The driver can see the ground just 6 ft in front of the truck. And because the cab occupies less space on the frame, the truck body occupies more space for a significant payload advantage. That makes a cabover ideal for dry freight van or cube bodies, refrigerated transport, lawn service, lawn chemical and landscaping bodies, contractor, dump truck and utility bodies, and more. Cabovers are also more maneuverable in narrow streets and alleys than conventional trucks. In fact, our FE130 cabover has a tighter turning radius than a MINI Cooper!
What type of cargo will your commercial truck carry?
What you’ll carry determines what body style is right for your new commercial truck. Do you transport perishable or frozen items? A refrigerated van body would be best. Are you delivering goods in boxes, bread or baked items, furniture, hardware, parts, consumer electronics, etc.? A dry freight or cube body is appropriate. How about agricultural or construction products, plumbing supplies, or large, heavy objects? A stake body or flatbed with fold-down sides or lift gate would make sense. The same goes for landscapers or lawn service companies hauling plants or equipment. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, or craftsmen would find a utility or contractor type body a likely choice.
Bottom line: No matter which commercial truck body you choose, a FUSO work vehicle is engineered with the body-builder-friendliest frame in the business, ensuring quick, secure mounting. Your local FUSO dealer is very knowledgeable about work truck bodies and has established relationships with body builders to help you select the right one for your needs, or help transfer your current truck body to a new work vehicle.
What's the difference between "gross vehicle weight" and "curb weight"?
MODELS GVWR
FE130 13,200
FE160 15,995
FG4X4 14,050
FE160 CREW CAB 15,995
FE180 17,995
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the total weight of a work truck and everything on and in it, including driver and passenger(s). Exceed it, and you could be ticketed by local law enforcement. Better to under-load a higher GVWR commercial truck than to over-load a lower-rated one. So think about the loads you typically carry, and spec accordingly.
GVWR is not to be confused with “curb weight,” which is simply the weight of an empty, unmanned work truck. However, the lighter the curb weight, the better, because it can produce a payload advantage. FUSO trucks have a lower curb weight than competitive medium-duty trucks within similar GVWRs, which could give you a payload edge of up to 2,200 pounds.