If you've ever noticed the stark differences between European trucks and US trucks, you are not the only one. These trucks, with their cab-over design and different axle configurations, reveal two opposing methods of freight hauling. Among the most interesting differences is the existence of boogie axles (commonly referred to as bogey axles) on a majority of European-made trucks, a feature that you will hardly see in the case of American trucks.
The configurations of axles do not only serve for beauty or the preferred engineering aspect, but they are of great importance to the trucks as far as weight distribution, adherence to local laws, and performance under different conditions are concerned. The right configuration can effectively differentiate between passing inspection and incurring heavy fines, or between easy handling and a hard time getting through the narrow streets of towns.
