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September 15, 1999 7:55 AM, EDT

In the wake of J.B. Hunt’s massive switch from to conventional trucks, Freightliner is insisting that reports of the death of the cabover truck have been greatly exaggerated.

The Lowell, Ark.-based truckload carrier announced Aug. 26 that it would convert its fleet of 9,000 cabover trucks to conventional tractors, replacing them largely with Freightliner Century Class models (8-30, p. 1).

The Oregon-based manufacturer is the last major company in the United States to make and market the configuration, which is becoming harder to find on the nation’s highways. Earlier in 1999, both Wal-Mart and Schneider National decided to convert from cabovers to conventional tractors.

Freightliner spokesman Chris Brandt said there is still a market for the company’s Argosy model — the last of cabovers in the U. S — in applications such as ports, where space is at a premium and a tight turning radius is needed.

For the full story, see the Sept. 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.