Cab-Forward vs. Cutaway Van: Which is Better for Delivery Fleets?

What truck chassis is better for your fleet? It depends on several factors. 

A cab-forward chassis (also known as cab-over or tilt cab) is designed with the cabin sitting directly above or over the front axle and engine compartment. Since the engine is underneath the cab, there's no need for a front overhang (hood), giving the truck a flat front end, from the top of the front bumper to the top of the cab.

In contrast, a cutaway van chassis is built with the cabin located behind the front axle and engine compartment. Unlike the cab-forward cabin, the cutaway cabin has no permanent backing.

Instead, the cabin is open immediately behind the driver seat, essentially "cutaway" from the rest of the van. It's ready for a secondary manufacturer to install a body that encloses the cabin and completes the truck. This open configuration allows for direct, unfettered access from the passenger compartment into the cargo box.  

While both types of chassis can be used for delivery applications, each offers its own set of strengths and limitations. The question is: Which type would work best for a delivery fleet? Here are 11 factors to weigh to help answer this fundamental question.

1. Driver Visibility Advantage: Cab-Forward

Both the cab-forward and cutaway configurations offer advantages, but the cab-forward design is the best option in terms of visibility.

"The cab-forward eliminates front-end overhang, increasing visibility and front clearance," said Kim Hearn, vice president, Vehicle Services at PHH Arval.

Bill Byron, senior truck specialist, Donlen Corp., agreed. "Because the driver is actually sitting over the engine compartment closer to the oversized windshield, a cab-forward chassis allows for increased driver visibility," he said. "A cutaway has a standard-sized windshield, similar to a regular cab [pickup] chassis, and the driver sits further back from the windshield or behind the engine compartment. The upside here is that the cutaway would be less susceptible to rock chips in a rural-type operation."

2. Delivery Location and Route Type Advantage: Mixed

Are deliveries mostly made in city or rural locations? "A cab-forward chassis performs best in city delivery applications due to the tighter turning radius of the cab," advised Byron of Donlen. "If the bulk of a company's customers are located in rural areas where a tighter turning radius would be less important, the cutaway would be a good option."

Also, the cutaway tends to work better in long-distance delivery routes, which require significant amounts of highway driving, because it offers higher top-end speeds and a smoother, more comfortable ride.

3. Seating Capacity Advantage: Cab-forward

What is the maximum number of employees, including the driver, the vehicle will need to carry at any given time? A cutaway van chassis is limited to a two-person seating capacity, including the driver.

Cab-forwards offer two cab configurations: regular cab (three-person capacity) and crew cab (seating up to six). If deliveries require more than two people, the cab-forward is the better fit.

4. Cab-to-Cargo Access Advantage: Cutaway

Does the driver need to access the body area from the cab? "If the answer is 'yes,' the cutaway would be the choice," said Byron of Donlen. "A cutaway body offers an optional sliding door located between the driver and passenger seats, allowing the driver to access the body interior. A cab-forward chassis doesn't offer this option. Instead, access to the body is typically through the rear door [of the body] or by adding an optional body side door."

However, there is a downside of cab access with cutaways. "There is increased noise in the driver's compartment," cautioned Ken Gillies, truck operations manager for GE Capital Fleet Services. "There's also major impact on the temperature control for the driver with the large volume of space in the cargo body that will need air treatment. Proper bulkhead/wall configuration will mitigate this issue."

5. Engine Options Advantage: Cutaway

The cutaway chassis currently holds the edge over the cab-forward design in terms of engine selection, according to Gillies of GE Capital Fleet Services.

"A cutaway chassis more frequently has an option for gasoline or diesel engines. There's also increasing availability in the cutaway OEM space for alternative fuels - compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, and some hybrid offerings," he said. "Cab-forward chassis - while expanding engine options - tend to only offer a diesel engine with a lower probability of gasoline or alternative fuel engine availability."

6. Engine Longevity Advantage: Cab-forward

How long will the vehicle be kept in service? How many miles will the vehicle accumulate? The diesel engine for Isuzu's NPR cab-forward, for example, offers a B-10 rating of 310,000 miles, which means that 90% of these engines are expected to reach that mileage before requiring an overhaul.

Mitsubishi Fuso's FE series diesel engine provides comparable longevity. As a frame of reference, cutaway engines, either gasoline (Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford) or diesel (Chevrolet and GMC only), are rated for approximately 200,000 or fewer miles.

Therefore, if expecting high lifetime mileage for a truck, a cab-forward design clearly has the edge.  

7. Engine Maintenance Advantage: Cutaway

A cutaway chassis offers a pickup-type engine compartment where access for maintenance is relatively simple and familiar to most service technicians. In contrast, the cab-forward design needs to be tilted up for access to the engine to perform routine maintenance.

"Although the cab-forward models have been around for years there are some areas of the country where service technicians are still unfamiliar with the chassis," explained Steve Jansen, truck service account executive, Donlen.

8. Size of Dealer and Service Network Advantage: Cutaway

Do various plant or driver locations have dealerships in the area that can perform warranty repairs and normal preventive maintenance?

"Cutaway manufacturers [GM and Ford] typically offer larger dealer networks, increasing the likelihood of a dealer being conveniently located in a driver's area," observed Jansen of Donlen.

Gillies of GE Capital Fleet Services advised that no matter which configuration you choose — cab-forward or cutaway — confirm that there is a repair facility available nearby that is familiar with working on those trucks.

"Where a brand-specific dealer isn't available for warranty, parts, and service, consider how acquainted the repair provider is to your chassis type and what access they have to repair parts," Gillies said.

9. Chassis Order Lead-Time Advantage: Cutaway

Since most cab-forward chassis are manufactured in Japan, there can be unexpected delays due to the logistics of shipping, port conditions, and accessibility to the upfitter.

 "The cutaway chassis usually enjoys close proximity to the body company resulting in potential timing gains," said Gillies of GE Capital Fleet Services.

10. Resale Considerations Advantage: Mixed

Which is better for resale purposes? Gillies said much depends on regional demand for each type of chassis.

"A lighter GVW [gross vehicle weight] cutaway chassis allows for a single rear wheel configuration [and thus, a smaller and narrower body]. A cab-forward chassis is only available with dual rear wheels. Depending on regional demand, one or the other may hold a slight advantage in terms of resale," Gillies explained.

One advantage the cab-forward chassis offers is the flexibility to remove the body, which can help increase the truck's resale value.

"The cutaway chassis eliminates the option of separating the body from the chassis to increase the pool of potential buyers. In some cases, the regional market has a higher demand for a cab-forward chassis [with the body removed] versus the cutaway with the body," Gillies added.

11. Maximum Body Length Advantage: Cab-forward

Whereas cutaways are limited to a maximum body length of 16-17 feet, cab-forwards offer body lengths up to 18-20 feet. If the extra cargo capacity is important, then the cab-forward is the better option.

The Bottom Line

Keep in mind that these 11 factors apply only to cab-forward and cutaway chassis up to 14,500-lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the top-end of the van cutaway spectrum. For heavier applications, cab-forwards offer GVWRs up to 19,500 lbs.

Cutaway Van Advantages

• Cab-to-cargo access.
• Driver comfort.
• Service network.
• Engine options.
• Order lead-time.

Cab-Forward Advantages

• Driver visibility.
• Maneuverability.
• Seating capacity.
• Engine longevity.
• Maximum body length.

Originally posted on Work Truck Online