A cargo van includes an integral structural bulkhead to separate a passenger compartment from a cargo area. The cargo van is designed such that the bulkhead wall contributes to the structural rigidity of the vehicle for purposes of meeting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requirements. That is, without the bulkhead, the cargo van would not meet NHTSA requirements. By designing the vehicle in this way, the overall vehicle weight is reduced as compared to vehicles in which bulkheads are optional add-ons.