TRUCKING: Comfortable and Connected
Life on the Road Gets an Upgrade
Truck driving is a difficult job, but living on the road may be even harder. Those realities are reflected in the current shortage of drivers coming into the industry. Both fleets and OEMs understand that integrating advanced technologies and modernizing truck interiors are wise investments in the recruitment of new drivers and retention of experienced ones.
The soaring popularity of ‘designer’ RV and bus interiors had far outpaced concerns for the comfort of the OTR truck driver, which were either an afterthought or ignored entirely. But in recent years, serious design efforts have been underway to offer comfortable, stylish cab interiors. That effort, along with high-tech upgrades, continues; new entertainment technology, computing devices, social media, the Internet and anti-idling regulations are leading a major industry overhaul.
From Sleeper Berth to Master Suite
It goes without saying that a good Sleeper design maximizes space and weight limitations. But the overall design goal is much more profound: creating a comfortable living space to allow drivers to recover from a long day behind the wheel and rest well to deal with tomorrow’s challenges.
Beautiful, right? Gone are the days when a sleeper berth was exactly that: a blank space with a bunk and some cramped storage space. Such Spartan interiors won’t fly today, designers say. “Sleeper layout is something we’ve looked at a lot through the years — not only for its intended use, but also for office, entertainment and lifestyle use, including exercise and other uses,” Ito says. “At the end of the day, it needs to be quiet and comfortable with the ability to close out the world and get rest.”
Ito says that in terms of dimensions, the industry is seeing improvements with better use of limited space, rather than just making trucks larger. Customers have different needs — from low to high roofs and various cab and sleeper lengths, depending on the application and average number of days on the road. “Again, it all centers on offering choices,” Ito says.
All About Choices
Mary Aufdemberg, Director of Product Marketing for Freightliner Trucks, says the truck maker’s latest design trends are aimed at creating more choices for drivers. “A well-rested driver is ultimately a safer and more productive driver,” Aufdemberg acknowledges. “We are reviewing designs that create a comfortable driving environment and contribute to the overall health and wellness of the driver. Many of our options — heated and cooled seats, comfort upgrades, seating suspension systems and more — are selected with the driver in mind.”
Safer operating environments with strategically placed handles, airbags, wider entries and steps for entry and egress are also on Freightliner’s long list of design considerations. Aufdemberg adds that entertainment options have become increasingly important. “We understand that being on the road can be challenging, so we are providing the luxuries of home in the cab, such as TV options, microwaves, refrigerators, improved mattress options and inverters to plug in hotel-like amenities.”
In addition to stylish amenities, today’s driver needs a cab interior offering more and vastly improved power outlets to meet the demands of smart phones and tablets. “As drivers become more connected, the number of outlets and the types of outlets will increase to become more convenient in cabs,” Cary says. USB ports will be more prevalent throughout the cab and sleeper, while Bluetooth connectivity will be standard.
And look for auxiliary power units to become more integrated into vehicle designs. “We’re already shifting toward APUs and battery systems and will continue to improve in those areas,” Aufdemberg says. Freightliner currently offers diesel-fired and electric APU systems that provide enough power to run most common household amenities, she says, without draining the truck battery.
Next-Gen Digital Dash Displays
Truck interior design essentially falls into two categories: the driver’s work environment and everything else. While a quiet, comfortable sleeper berth is important, the money is made from the driver’s seat.
Truck OEMs are focusing on designing dashboards with high-visibility displays to consolidate a variety of information and minimize driver distraction. Chris Ito, Navistar’s Director of Design, says the company is currently focusing on enhancing storage, accessibility to switches and controls, the feel and accuracy of the switches and material choice for ease of maintenance. Another focus is centralizing driver information into high-visibility displays to consolidate a variety of information. “Fleets consistently tell us they want to minimize and manage driver distractions. So we have to strike a balance between important information and overkill.”
Cary says today’s drivers already have infotainment systems and driver information centers where they can choose the data they want to see — in other words, what is most important to them. He points to Mack’s Co-Pilot Driver Information Display , which provides dozens of easy-to-read driver-selectable information options.
“Any such display must be easy to read at a glance so drivers can keep their attention on the road,” he says. “Most of all, it must be kept simple. “The driver needs to operate the truck with minimal distractions using only the information to operate safely.” Drivers will be able to use more programmable information systems so they can prioritize the data and alerts they want to see.
Volvo Trucks’ Jason Spence says connectivity is already a consideration in Volvo’s designs — especially as it applies to uptime and Volvo Remote Diagnostics — and will become even more important as the company addresses the future driver environment. “Managing driver information is key to limiting driver distraction,” he says. “Providing the correct information to the driver while allowing back-office applications to collect information on the trucks is part of Volvo’s strategy for uptime services.”
Ito agrees. “Navistar is working with 10 different telematics providers to offer the greatest choice and flexibility to our customers,” he says. Other primary considerations at Navistar include electronic log adoption, the company’s OnCommand Connection to link the truck directly to its service network and personal use devices.
As technology advances, traditional gauges and instrument clusters will give way to more animated and organized information systems. “Real-time information feedback to the driver is becoming more commonplace, with systems such as collision mitigation, lane departure, hard braking and real-time traffic and weather conditions, to name a few,” she says. “These systems have varying levels of feedback ranging from simple visual and audible warnings to [safely] assuming control of the vehicle.”
Ito says that with an emphasis on minimizing driver distraction, the information a driver needs must be centralized with prime visibility in a single optimized display so that it is easy to see while driving. “At Navistar, there will likely be more consolidation of displays to minimize driver distraction and an increased ability to configure what the driver sees,” he says.
OEMs say the cabs they are designing today will soon offer drivers unprecedented levels of connectivity with both fleet and family, be more energy-efficient and allow drivers to work smarter and relax in comfort once the workday is through. “Understanding how drivers use the interiors, equipped with the latest technology and meeting the latest regulations, is key to developing future driving and living environments,” says Jason Spence, Volvo Trucks’ Long-haul Product Marketing Manager.
“When drivers need to rest, they want to do it in style and comfort with a minimum of hassles, including staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter — all while maintaining a self-contained environment,” says Phil Cary, Mack’s Highway Segment Manager. Cary says that in addition to cutting-edge design ingenuity, designers and engineers must listen to customers who often suggest the very ideas that lead to design improvements.
Alkane thanks Jack Roberts, writing for ccjdigital.com, for the content of this article. Also find Jack on Twitter @JackRobertsCCJ.
Alkane Truck Company is currently raising capital on the crowdfunding platform StartEngine. Find out more here: https://www.startengine.com/startup/alkane
