Truck sleeper

Origin

In many countries, drivers are subject to work-time regulations which limit the amount of time they can drive before taking a mandated minimum rest period. Many drivers chose to sleep in the cab or cabin of their trucks rather than pay for a roadside motel. Truck manufacturers took notice of this and began developing tractor units with extended cabs to provide a sleeping area for drivers. Work-time regulations apply in the United States, Europe, Australia and in other parts of the world.

Sleeper cabins

Sleeping berths came into use as early as the 1920s, but they were often unsafe and uncomfortable. They nonetheless allowed owner-operators to spend months at a time on road, often driving in teams of two (one drove while the other slept). With this successful formula, drivers began making requests to truck manufacturers for larger and larger sleeping cabins. Manufacturers began catering to owner operators who requested greater luxury. Sleepers were initially developed without comfort in mind at 18 to 24 in. They quickly grew to 36 to 48 in with long-haul drivers in mind. Their size came to be regulated in the US in the 1950s but length restrictions were removed in the 1980s. Custom truck sleepers vary in size in modern trucks from 36 in to the massive 230 in. Custom sleepers come equipped with many of the amenities of modern RVs. By 2000, approximately 70% of new trucks manufactured in the US included sleeper berths.

References

References

1. (28 October 2019). "What is a sleeper cab in a truck".
2. "Truck Drivers Hours of Service Regulations". truckdrivernews.com.
3. "European Union (EU) rules on drivers' hours and working time Simplified guidance". Department for Transport.
4. (21 December 2013). "Truck Sleeper Cabs under Authority Spotlight".
5. NTSB, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2Xl2cziobgsC&dq=NCHRP%20Report%20324&pg=PA6 Truck parking areas]'', Diane Publishing, May 2001, p. 6
6. "Motor Traffic Amendment (Two-up Driving) Regulation 1996".