Anybody with advice as to which trucks are more comfortable for short drivers? Or are there any aftermarket items designed for short drivers you've had experience with? I've been wanting to drive OTR for some time now. I'm 5'4" and have heard that some trucks aren't designed well for those with short legs.

 

Seats are adjustable in class 8 trucks. There are a lot of women driving. I would say most are around 5'5". I haven't heard any of them mention having any special problems due to their height.

 

my favorite was an old CRST truck our former employer had bought, International Eagle.........I remember telling him "Hey I 'fit' in this truck" before that one we had other Internationals just that last one had more adjustments I could make (versus the previous Freightliner with broken seats lol)

 

i hear there is a shortage of drivers :roll:

 

bollo55 ... as far as the question about height ? .... I'm 5ft and don't have any trouble doing my job. I just move the seat up close to the stirring wheel and lower the seat to were I can reach the peddles comfortable.

Sure - maybe all the other driver is going to see of me is my head ~ just above the window, I have heard drivers on the cb holler out to other trucks and say " Hey man - did you see that truck going east ? All you can see is her head !! " ... LOL I can still see the road safely and I've never had any problems doing my job safely. Don't let height stand in your way of doing something you want. ..... What's fun to watch is the look on drivers faces when I get out of my tractor or walk up to the drivers door to get in .... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ....... A nice thing about being short .... is the fact that when I want to check something under my trailer - all I have to do is lean my head over and walk under .. :lol:

Isn't life grand .... there is a Bonus in being short. :!:

 

The most important consideration regarding being short is that you are tall enough that your feet reach the floor! LOL

 

I'd say that trucks are more adjustable for the shorter people than we big monsters... Once we are in a truck, thats usually the only space left. These Day cab Internationals are and always have been killers!!!

 

I had problems with the Swift Freightliner FLD models because my steering column did not tilt and my seat was still a little too far back for me to properly activate my clutch brake. That said, the current fleet of Freightliner Columbias and Volvo 660s are more than adjustable enough. I've driven International Eagles with no problems, Peterbilts, Kenworths... no issues.

I myself prefer a Freightliner Columbia, but I also think that's mostly because it's the truck I "grew up" in the industry with.

For reference, I'm about 5' 6", but my legs are a little on the short side even for my height :wink:

 

most of the short drivers I see at truck stops are climbing out of kenworth and pete,s , these trucks are meant for those short ended people.. I am 6 foot tall and a kenworth t600 was just too small inside for me...

 

Freightliner century and columbia class trucks. Most companies have these, too bad I have such long legs. I don't fit in these truck very well at all :roll:

I'd love to have a kw or a pete as my next truck.