Trucks on Display
Below is a sampling of the many trucks on display in our Trucking Hall of Fame® Exhibit Hall. Check out our app for more information, photos, and an audio recording for each truck. Click here to download.
1959 Kenworth TCF 521 CBE
Engine Type:
Cummins 175 HP turbodiesel
Transmission Type:
4 speed w/ 2 speed auxiliary
Truck Information:
This 1959 Kenworth is a rare example of the Cab Beside Engine body style, or CBE. CBE trucks boasted several key advantages over traditional COE (Cab Over Engine) models. They were much lighter, which allowed the trucks to carry heavier loads. The design also made maintenance significantly easier. In a traditional COE, the whole cab had to be tilted forward to access the powertrain. On the Kenworth CBE, all one had to do was remove a side panel on the cab. Finally, CBE models provided the driver with unparalleled visibility. It was these advantages which persuaded Yellow Transit Freight Lines to invest heavily in these unusual trucks, ordering 350 in total for their fleet. The distinctive looking vehicles became a marketing icon for the company. The CBE design never caught on for over-the-road long distance hauling, however. The space left for the driver was cramped and claustrophobic and serious freight companies were more interested in traditional two person cabs. However, the design did find a niche use in terminal tractors. Terminal tractors are vehicles used to move trailers around a truck yard and are not driven on the open road. The added visibility of the CBE cab is an enormous benefit for these vehicles, and since these trucks see much less driving time, the claustrophobic cabin is much less of a concern.
Cummins 175 HP turbodiesel
Transmission Type:
4 speed w/ 2 speed auxiliary
Truck Information:
This 1959 Kenworth is a rare example of the Cab Beside Engine body style, or CBE. CBE trucks boasted several key advantages over traditional COE (Cab Over Engine) models. They were much lighter, which allowed the trucks to carry heavier loads. The design also made maintenance significantly easier. In a traditional COE, the whole cab had to be tilted forward to access the powertrain. On the Kenworth CBE, all one had to do was remove a side panel on the cab. Finally, CBE models provided the driver with unparalleled visibility. It was these advantages which persuaded Yellow Transit Freight Lines to invest heavily in these unusual trucks, ordering 350 in total for their fleet. The distinctive looking vehicles became a marketing icon for the company. The CBE design never caught on for over-the-road long distance hauling, however. The space left for the driver was cramped and claustrophobic and serious freight companies were more interested in traditional two person cabs. However, the design did find a niche use in terminal tractors. Terminal tractors are vehicles used to move trailers around a truck yard and are not driven on the open road. The added visibility of the CBE cab is an enormous benefit for these vehicles, and since these trucks see much less driving time, the claustrophobic cabin is much less of a concern.
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