Titanic On Wheels
The argument that we hear over and over again is: bigger is safer. Other than the fact that that argument is very misleading, we got news for you... your bigger just got smaller.
What the hell are we talking about? Check out that behemoth to the right. Yes, you're right, it's a goofy-looking pickup truck. Goofy-looking or not, it's big, and it's gonna be on the roads with all of us pretty damn soon. "Now, now, calm down," you say. "There are lots of big rigs on the road today. What's the difference?"
Well the difference is this: At full capacity this International 7300 CTX will weigh almost 26,000 pounds. The average sedan (while sadly getting bigger) is maybe 3,500 pounds. And herein lies the rub: this truck isn't just bigger, it's a lot bigger... as in it requires much more stopping distance than your typical sedan (or even SUV for that matter). But, get this, you don't need a commercial license to drive it. Hell, we could go buy one and run your ass over while learning how the thing handles...
We think there need to be new license requirements because all of this is getting out of control. More weight, more horsepower, same stupid driving test? Who are they kidding!? This thing can push a commuter bus out of the way. Parallel parking... ha! Seriously, you could go borrow a Mini, get your driver's license based on that and then go buy one of these dealies, and it's all legit. No training, baby!
We aren't saying these vehicles shouldn't be made (eh, they shouldn't but that's not the point here) or that people shouldn't be allowed to buy them. If you want to go out and buy one, you should able to, whether it's a Peterbilt, Western Star, Freightliner, International, Ford, White, Mack or Kenworth. But you should also have to know how to drive it. In order to buy any vehicle that's over 6,000 pounds, you should have to get a different and additional license in order to legally drive it. And you should pay a hell of a lot more in registration on it (Think it's the Volvo cars that are tearing up our roads?).
And for our legislators not to require an additional license for something this big... well, they should remember their kids are on the roads with these beasts, too.
Related: More ranting about driver training
Image courtesy International
This entry has been edited for clarity
how much is the truck
Posted by: jake | Friday, October 05, 2007 at 08:58 PM
how much is the truck
Posted by: jake | Friday, October 05, 2007 at 08:57 PM
Those of us who have had training should be able to go out and buy the CXT if we want to. But then again I said those of US who have had the training to drive something this big.
Posted by: Daniel J Rioux | Monday, May 29, 2006 at 04:50 PM
The guy wants to make a point. That's for sure. More money for registration wouldn't stop the joker that can afford to buy one of these. Trucks this big are definitely different to drive but I have a different feeling about driving tests. Since I started driving an eighteen wheeler just over a year ago I believe EVERYBODY should have to log some time in a big truck just to get a feel for what the idiots driving four-wheelers can do to jeopardize each other's lives with a simply foolish manuever.
Nice slam on International but did ya check out the GMC or Ford behemoth?
Oh, and HELLO! but guess what kind of license gets the average dope behind the wheel of a U-Haul!
Posted by: thedeliveranceguy | Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at 09:29 PM
This thing could stop on a dime if it ran into a mountain. "...with air brakes and 6 tires...”, ha, ha, ha ROFL. Why compare a gas engine HP to a truck engine HP? An average Kenworth with a Detroit 60 series has a mere 300 hp to pull 80,000 pounds but a Porsche Cayenne has well over that. It would, however, never be able to pull 80,000 pounds across the country. The writer of the article seems quite well informed and is definitely right on with the 6000 LB and over license requirement.
Posted by: Dalton | Monday, January 10, 2005 at 09:30 AM
A truly biased article with plenty of personal hype. My 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS has 185 hp standard to the 220 hp standard in the new 7300 CTX. More stopping distance? Hardly, with air brakes and 6 tires it could stop on a dime. Your uninformed commentary is sad indeed.
Posted by: Michael Tinsley | Sunday, October 03, 2004 at 02:09 AM
Great site. I am kind of new to this b-log stuff. Let me know what you think... http://themotorcity.blogspot.com/
Posted by: The Motor City | Tuesday, September 21, 2004 at 10:52 AM