alt Hacker NewsMy understanding is that in Europe regulations focused on the length of the whole vehicle, whereas in America the length of the cab and trailer were regulated separately.
Also American truckers do a lot more long-haul work and American roads are noisier, so they prefer being more insulated from the engine.
This is a bit counter intuitive, but Euro style cabovers are much quieter inside than a 'conventional'. Plus cabovers can have air spring suspension, they're often more comfortable. The downside is much less space inside, which is a big deal for the long haul drivers in the states, whereas in europe, they rarely do more than a month at a time.