Why Absurdly Large Trucks Are Terrible For Cities

Large pickup truck models are the top three selling vehicles in the US, now holding over a 20% share of all new vehicle sales. The Ford F Series, the Ram, and the Chevy Silverado dominate car sales, and the growing share of heavy vehicles on the road creates problems for the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of our transportation system.

This video explores the evolution of truck size over the past 40 years, how they're marketed, and a bit of the science around why this growing segment is so hazardous to other transportation system users.

Other CityNerd videos referenced in this video:

Other Resources:
- "Pounds That Kill: The External

Photo/Video Credits:
- Monster Truck pics by CraigL from Pixabay
- Pickup truck vector Image by Susrut Mishra from Pixabay
- Leaning Tower of Pisa Image by Please Don't sell My Artwork AS IS from Pixabay

Music:
CityNerd background: Caipirinha in Hawaii by Carmen María and Edu Espinal (YouTube music library)

Twitter: @nerd4cities
Instagram: @nerd4cities

[amicaaranearum]

One thing I've really noticed lately is that since nearly every other car on the road sits higher than my sedan, their headlights shine right at eye level for me. That, combined with the ultra-bright LED lights that new vehicles all have (did headlight brightness regulations change?), makes night driving a harrowing experience. (Sometimes, even with my rearview mirror flipped to night mode, the lights are still blindingly bright.)

[timothystulken]

My wife was in an accident last year with a f-series pickup. She was driving her Chevy Spark. The pickup sustained minimal body damage and all its occupants were completely unharmed. My wife’s vehicle was crumpled beyond repair and the crash smashed her knee so badly she needed surgery, a bone graft, and had her knee completely rebuilt. She was unable to walk without crutches for 3 months.

When she was finally able to drive again, we replaced her car with a midsize suv because she didn’t feel safe driving in a small vehicle anymore. Her new vehicle gets about 18 mpg while her old one got more than 30.

I hadn’t been able to express everything you have in this video before, and I really appreciate you putting into words something that I’ve been thinking about for the past year. Were vehicles lighter and less likely to cause injury to someone in an equally light vehicle, my wife would have likely purchased a lighter more fuel efficient vehicle when she replaced her old one, but as it stands, she felt forced to purchase something that she would rather not be driving.

[TheRealCatof]

The worst part is 90% of people that drive trucks will never tow or haul anything that would require a truck.

[johnjriggsarchery]

As someone who requires my '07 Silverado for work, it irks me that BECAUSE most of them are posh pavement princesses, they've gone up in price way too much, and stripped down long beds are as rare as unicorns.

[thomasgraham]

As a landscaper who replaced my old beater pickup, I found it EXTREMELY difficult to find a simple 4wd pickup without bells and whistles and preferably a V6 cause I only do residential and don't need to burn too much fuel. Every truck out there seemed to have so many "features" that I didn't want and jacked up the prices on these things

[anamandic]

I had some German colleagues visit a few years ago (I live in Texas) and we were walking through a parking lot to somewhere and I remember suddenly being confused by them laughing loudly and taking pictures. I was like, what? Turns out they had stumbled upon one of our monstrous pickup trucks. They are now so normal in our cities I couldn’t even tell initially what they were reacting to.

[spyone]

The Hummer used to be the go-to example for a vehicle that was too large to be practically used. Most modern full-sized pickups are bigger than a Hummer.

[MSmithNYC]

As a city dweller, I don't own a car but my retired parents who live out in the boondocks have always applied this same logic as to why they absolutely need to buy the largest car on the road. As they say "the bigger car wins" (in the event of an accident) and so they currently drive a Lincoln Navigator - effectively a truck with an air conditioned truck bed. Because, you know, safety first. I feel such irritation any time I visit them and they use it to go to the grocery store to pick up a head of lettuce in a three ton tank. But if I ever express my frustration to them my words simply flutter away and pollinate the trees.

[jacobkorducki]

This sort of creates a rat race effect too because as more and more drivers switch to bigger and heavier vehicles, the more unsafe I feel driving a small sedan. Makes me want to size up my vehicle as well for a piece of mind for my own safety

[modalmixture]

The modern pickup with all the luxury options is about the farthest thing from a utilitarian working class vehicle you can get. I remember opening the door of my coworker’s new F150 and seeing the power runningboards lower into place. It was so ridiculous I had to laugh.

[zewudhv]

As a machanic who works specifically on pickup trucks, I can tell you that when it comes to light and medium pickup trucks, only 15 to 30% of them are used as intended, most of them are just pavement princesses.

[marihawley]

I lived on and around military bases for almost 20 years and I used to love watching people (guys) having to sell their giant trucks because they got overseas orders.... yeah you're not taking that massive thing to Japan or the Azores.

[paulwiest]

I drive a 7, 000 lbs pickup and tow for work everyday. My vehicle before that was a VW golf. It baffles me to see how unsafely pick up owners drive. The vehicles are much heavier and therefore the braking distance is much shorter. Still you see full size trucks tailgating and speeding on the highway, even weaving through traffic. I think driving a heavy vehicle should come with a heightened sense of responsibility for the safety of others around you and yourself. Unfortunately, the opposite happens. Something about being the driver of the bigger vehicle gets to peoples heads, amplifies their ego and the next thing you know they start driving around like maniacs endangering everybody on the road.

[michaelcoakley]

As someone who owns and drives a full size pick up for work, filled with hundreds of pounds of tools all day, everyday -- I agree with you.

[JessieBanana]

What is so absurd is when the cabin part is huge, but the bed is tiny. It’s like WTF? This is not a functional vehicle. I guess it’s better a towing.

[shocktrauma]

But but but Murica. But but but mah right. The vast majority of these enormous trucks are driven by people who aren't hauling shit except their fragile egos.

[gregburgin]

My father lived in town and bought a 4 door dual wheel F350 I think for the main purpose of giving him a reason to scream and yell about the narrow streets, curbs, and roundabouts.

[TheSpiffyNeoStar]

I like the old Steven Colbert joke: "This pickup truck is perfect for towing the boat I don't own up the mountain I don't live near!"

[paranoidandroid]

I live in a metropolis of 3 million+ population. The number of giant pickup trucks and SUVs I see with only the driver, and completely empty cargo areas truly horrifies me. Do you really need a Navigator to buy your groceries and drop your child off at school? Cuz that's all thats happening around me.

[ThePorpoisepower]

I love how Top Gear took a F150 "Raptor" offroad and broke the axle almost immediately. Super useful truck that was.