Crew cab box truck: more seats, and what they cost you
UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
A crew cab box truck answers one problem: getting a crew to the job in the same truck as the freight. Movers, installers, delivery teams and trades crews use them so nobody follows in a second vehicle. The extra seats are not free, though. They take weight and length the box could have used. This guide covers the cab options, what the seats cost on a published spec, and the rules that apply.
Day cab, extended cab box truck and crew cab
Medium-duty truck makers offer three cab sizes on the same chassis. International lists day, extended and crew cab configurations for its MV Series, and Freightliner offers the same three on its M2 106.
| Cab | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Day cab | Front row only | Driver plus one or two helpers |
| Extended cab | Space behind the front row | In-cab storage, an occasional extra rider |
| Crew cab | A second full row of seats with rear doors | Crews of three or more |
SOURCE:International Motors, OCT 2026;Freightliner, OCT 2026
A box truck with extended cab suits a team that rides two or three up but needs secure in-cab storage. A box truck with crew cab suits a team that rides four or five up every day.
What the extra seats cost: a published comparison
Enterprise rents both a standard-cab and a crew cab 24 ft box truck and publishes specs for each:
| Spec | Standard cab 24 ft | Crew cab 24 ft |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 3 | 5 |
| Box | 24 ft x 102 in x 102 in | 24 ft x 102 in x 102 in |
| Volume | 1,500 cu ft | 1,500 cu ft |
| Payload | up to 10,000 lb | up to 9,250 lb |
| GVWR | 25,999 lb | 25,999 lb |
SOURCE:Enterprise Truck Rental, OCT 2026;Enterprise Truck Rental, OCT 2026
Same box, same rating, two more seats and up to 750 lb less payload. The likely reason is the bigger cab's own weight coming out of the same 25,999 lb budget. Enterprise notes payload varies by year, make, model and location, so treat the gap as an example, not a rule.
Then the crew itself rides on top of that. EXAMPLE, a five-person crew at an average of 200 lb each:
| Pounds | |
|---|---|
| Crew cab published payload | 9,250 |
| Five riders at 200 lb | 1,000 |
| Left for freight, tools and gear | 8,250 |
If your loads run close to payload, a crew cab plus a full crew can push a truck over its rating. Weigh the loaded truck at least once.
Length: the cab takes floor from somewhere
A longer cab makes a longer truck for the same box, or a shorter box for the same overall length. On city streets, in loading docks and in parking spaces, overall length is the number that matters. Ask the dealer or rental company for the overall length and wheelbase of the crew cab version as well as the box size. The box truck sizes chart covers box dimensions.
CDL and DOT rules for crew cabs
The cab does not change the rules on its own; the rating and use do:
- CDL: needed for a truck rated 26,001 lb or more, one carrying placarded hazmat, or one designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver. A crew cab box truck seats far fewer, so the rating decides. Enterprise's crew cab 24 ft at 25,999 lb is non-CDL.
- Commercial motor vehicle: a truck rated 10,001 lb or more used in interstate commerce falls under FMCSA safety rules and needs a USDOT number.
SOURCE:eCFR, 49 CFR 383.5, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 383.91, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 390.5, OCT 2026
Who needs one
- Moving companies: a three to five person crew and the truck arrive together.
- Installers: appliance, furniture and fixture crews who unload and set up.
- Delivery teams: two-person inside delivery, with room for a trainee.
- Trades and event crews: tools and people in one vehicle.
If the truck runs with one or two people most days, a day cab gives back payload and length. The box truck cab choice should follow the crew you actually run, not the occasional big job.
Buying one
- Count your daily crew, not your largest crew.
- Compare payload between cab options on the same chassis, then subtract the crew.
- Check overall length and turning for your streets and docks.
- Read the GVWR sticker for the CDL line.
- Inspect the rear seats, doors and floor on a used truck. See our used box truck guide.
Body and cab styles are compared in box truck types, the freight each suits in box truck freight, and the truck size calculator checks a load against a box.
SOURCE:Enterprise Truck Rental, OCT 2026;Enterprise Truck Rental, OCT 2026;International Motors, OCT 2026;Freightliner, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 383.5, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 383.91, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 390.5, OCT 2026
Questions box truck owners ask
Q-01How many seats does a crew cab box truck have?
Enterprise's 24 ft crew cab rental lists five-person seating, against three in its standard-cab 24 ft truck. Seat counts vary by chassis and configuration, so check the spec for the exact truck. Every passenger counts against payload, so a full crew is part of the load you plan for.
Q-02What is the difference between an extended cab and a crew cab box truck?
Both add room behind the front seats. An extended cab adds space behind the front seats, while a crew cab adds a full rear seat row with rear doors. International and Freightliner both list day, extended and crew cab versions of their medium-duty trucks.
Q-03Do you need a CDL for a crew cab box truck?
Only if the truck is rated 26,001 lb or more, or carries placarded hazmat, or is designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver. A crew cab seats far fewer than 16. Enterprise's 24 ft crew cab is rated 25,999 lb, so it can be driven without a CDL.
Q-04Is a 4 door box truck the same as a crew cab?
Usually, yes. A 4 door box truck means a cab with front and rear doors, which is how crew cabs are built. If seating matters, ask how many seat belts the cab has rather than counting doors.
Ryan, TruckSwing dispatch desk
UPDATED OCTOBER 2026 · EDITORIAL POLICY