Real world A truck that works
A pickup truck has a cab for the driver and passengers and an open bed for cargo. Builders, farmers, plumbers and electricians use pickups to carry tools, materials and equipment to job sites, and many can tow a trailer.
Real world Bigger and bigger
In North America, pickup trucks are among the best-selling vehicles, and many people drive them as family cars. Over the years they have grown taller and heavier.
Road safety researchers have found that vehicles with tall, flat fronts are more dangerous to people walking, and can make it hard for the driver to see a small child in front of the vehicle.
Real world Electric pickups
The first electric pickup trucks went on sale in 2021 and 2022. With no engine at the front, some have an extra storage space there, nicknamed a "frunk", and with the right equipment, some can even power a house during a power outage.
Art In this artwork
This illustration shows a blue four-door pickup. The back view shows the open cargo bed and the tailgate.
Look closer
- Find the cargo bed in the back view.
- Compare the height of the hood with the taxi.
Think about it
- What jobs really need a pickup truck?
- Should streets have rules about vehicle size?
- How could a vehicle be designed to protect people walking?
Key words
- Payload
- How much weight a vehicle can carry.
- Tailgate
- The door at the back of the cargo bed.
- Blind zone
- An area around a vehicle the driver can't see.
Sources
The facts on this page are based on these sources:
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, research on vehicle height, front-end design and pedestrian safety
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Automobile" and "Model T"
- International Energy Agency, "Global EV Outlook"
