I imagine the truckers in Europe are also smaller than their American counterparts.

And that is the difference between a hired employee and an owner-operator.

I mean, I'm sure European truckers would love a full kitchen, a shower and a double bed if they could get it. But the length limits would still be a problem and it would be hard enough to stay competitive without having to refuse the standard length trailers.

You're not going to see a full kitchen and shower in a standard sleeper cab. You'll get one or two beds, maybe a dinette, a microwave, and a fridge. To get the kitchen and shower, you're going to have to go custom. Going custom, you're only limited by money, space, and regulations.

And the 'dinette' is literally a fold down table in front of the bunk.

Cabovers had all of those things too.

I doubt euro trucks had different chassis designs if trucks were owned by truckers.

But trucking in Europe is a mess with massive companies squeezing truckers and importing cheaper workers from wherever to keep salaries low and conditions shitty.

At least one sector where Europe out-big-corps US?

Rest assured: the American trucking industry abuses workers too.

In NL plenty of truckers own their own truck.

Because US truck drivers are well known for their amazing working conditions and financial independence?

In the US a lot more truck drivers are owner operators, so yes to the financial independence part.

Is that true? Contractors supplying their own tractors is the norm in Ireland, at least.

Most truckers in Denmark own their own trucks?

Fair enough, that was sloppy terminology of me!