Front Overhang

Front Overhang is a unique property of buses which allows for greater maneuverability.

In many buses, the driver actually sits forward of the front wheels. Furthermore, buses usually have greater ground clearance than cars. Combined, these factors give buses the ability to sweep the area in front of the front wheels over curbs, bumps, and other low surfaces, in a practice known as "dragging the bumper."

As an example of this, though LEDs are actually slightly longer than Internationals, the LEDs are similarly maneuverable due to their ability to "drag their bumpers" over curbs or areas that the wheels might otherwise hit. Because Internationals have little front overhang, they cannot do this without running over curbs with their front wheels.

Dragging the bumper can often be a disconcerting experience for new drivers who are unaccustomed to driving over curbs.

The analogue of Front Overhang for the rear of the bus is known as Tailswing, and is generally a negative trait rather than a positive one.