Driver Lifestyles
Trends in Expedited Truck Sleepers
With the changes that expedited truck sleeper cabs have enjoyed over the past few years, it just might be time to consider a name change for the cubicle. No longer is the truck sleeper just a place for the driver(s) to stretch out and grab much-needed shuteye.
The sleeper is now a living/dining/sleeping area that should more appropriately be called a rolling apartment.
For the expediter who spends weeks or even months between trips back to the house, along with the sometimes extended layovers that are a part of the business, the sleeper is home.
In addition to the basics of bed(s), cabinets, closet and table, sleepers now have many additional extras, especially in team operations. Kitchen facilities with running water and microwaves have become standard equipment in new sleepers Accessory items such as flat-screen TV's with satellite hookup, DVD player and surround sound have become commonplace. It’s not unusual to find sleepers with showers and toilets.
Jon Mosier of Freightliner of Knoxville, TN says, "One of the changes that we've seen in the industry is the amount of research that we do before we introduce a new sleeper. We want to be sure that we are building the units according to what the customer desires."
"Our latest version of the 960 Express Cruiser bears that out. We've included the microwave/convection oven, a larger refrigerator/freezer, a flat-panel TV with DVD and the optional "Porta Potty - these all come from customer requests. We have begun putting double bunks in the units because that's what people ask for."
"We work very closely with our sleeper manufacturer, Bentz Transport Products of Ft. Wayne, IN. They have a long-standing reputation of being very customer-oriented and when we communicate our needs to them, they produce what we ask for."
Mosier says that the female half of the owner-operator teams has been the driving force in sleeper design and appointment.
Sulekh Jain, President of Alumi-Bunk says that the guiding principle behind today's sleepet design is, "The husband/wife teams in expedite want many comforts in their sleeper."
"Customers tell us what their needs are and we respond. At Alumi-Bunk, you can give us your needs written on a paper napkin and we'll build a home for you. That's literally what we do."
Sheel Advani, General Manager of Alumi-Bunk in Woodhaven, MI says, "At Alumi-Bunk, we're trying to educate customers about the realities of buying and maintaining sleepers."
One of the first manufacturers to provide sleepers to the expedite truck market, Alumi-Bunk has long been known for its Condo-type units. In 2006, the company introduced its entry into the upscale expedited sleeper market, the RVEX - a 120" sleeper Mounted on a Freightliner M2-112 chassis, the RVEX features a 120" sleeper and Alumi-Bunk 20' van body.
Advani explains the thinking behind the RVEX configuration: "The reason we chose a 20' cargo box is that it's large enough to carry 10 pallets. With a 22' box, you're not using that extra 2 feet of space, so with our idea, you can use that room for the 120" sleeper."
He continues, "People are actually giving up a fixed address and are living in their trucks. We need to give them the amenities they need to provide them with a home away from home."
Owner-operator Al Mann and his wife have the first RVEX equipped with an optional shower and toilet. He says Mrs. Mann loves the shower/toilet facilities and he feels that this RVEX option will be very attractive to the ladies who won't have to trek into the truck stop or rest area to use a shower or rest room.
The Manns' RVEX interior is finished in "velvet blue" with pinewood cabinetry. Other appointments include hardwood floors, a 50" wide 'Gaucho' bed, a fold-out table and bench seats.
"I've been in a number of motor homes and this is basically a ten-foot long RV," says Mann.
"For over a year now, we have been hard at work designing and building a sleeper unit that incorporates many of our customers' requests," says Heath Wood, Sales Manager of the Macon, GA-based Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu dealership.
"These innovative sleepers will be manufactured under our direction by a firm that we have been working with for the past few years and our first prototype is ready to be unveiled."
"The "Georgia Classic" is 100" deep by 102" wide and is loaded with features that include an aerodynamic roofline that is pre-set for a roof-mounted air conditioner, a flat, smooth floor entry and a multi-bag air suspension.
The interior is highlighted by luxury appointments such as oak cabinetry, a fold-up bunk with 48" inner spring mattress that turns into a dinette, a compact HVAC system, 18" flat-panel TV, a Porta-Potty, microwave, sink and other features.
Wood says that the current crop of sleeper buyers are looking for enhanced electronics packages that include larger flat-panel TV's, surround sound systems, etc.
Indiana Custom Trucks (ICT) of LaGrange, Indiana turns out more than one hundred custom sleepers a year – from small, 36" models all the way up to super deluxe 230" custom-designed units.
Elwin Eash, co-founder of the firm, says sleepers are not built to be exotic, although it might appear that way. He says, "These amenities really do save the owner money if used properly.â€
Eash identifies downtime as a prime money drain for the owner-operator/driver. When a driver visits a truck stop to shower, eat and do laundry, he’s not only spending money, he’s losing time on the road and efficiency. Having a sleeper with a full range of appliances, especially in team situations, can reduce truck stop time.
The real force behind the changes in the manufacture of sleepers says Eash is the female driver/team member: "When the ladies started coming out on the road, that changed everything, toilet facilities, storage space, etc."
"Also, for those people who have made expedite their lifestyle, they have come to the realization that they can have more of a "normal" life when they carry the comforts of home with them."
He continues, "Instead of the well-equipped sleeper being regarded as a luxury item, people now understand that they can save money by eliminating most of those truck stop and motel expenses and at the same time, depreciate the sleeper as well:
"It's very easy to break even on that sleeper investment within three years."
Eash says that there are some readily apparent trends in sleeper construction: "For the expedited market, the 96" sleeper has become a standard size because it still allows the mounting of a 22' van body."
And, he says that one comfort option has become standard equipment: "Today, it's almost unheard of to build a 96" sleeper or larger without a toilet/shower."
The Sundowner Series is the top-of-the-line sleeper series offered by ICT. Says Eash, "We start from scratch and with the customer's help, we design it from the ground up. With this line, the choices become endless - whatever the customer desires."
"Every customer has his own application. The only thing that we won't put in a sleeper is something that we regard as being unsafe, whether structurally or unsafe to a user. Other than that, we will try to meet any customer's request."
Eash adds, "The electronics available for the customer are always changing, always evolving. For example, blind spot cameras are the wave of the future. These electronics have required us to utilize a higher-end inverter - a true sine-wave inverter - for the modern, computer-controlled devices."
Some of the other changes that Eash details include gel-coat finishes, rivetless walls, and the one-piece fiberglass roof for aerodynamic purposes.
He says, "We now offer double-pane windows in our sleepers for better insulation qualities."
Morgan and Tina Morris are the proud owners of a 156" ICT sleeper. This home-away-from-home sits on a Kenworth Class 8 chassis with a 14' refrigerated box for the freight.
The ICT unit contains a refrigerator/freezer, sink, stove, hot water system, and bathroom (no shower). The top bunk has a 15" flat screen TV and the bottom bunk has a 20" flat screen. Both TV's are connected to in-motion "cable" system. "Tina can watch her progams on the top bunk TV with a wireless headset while I'm watching a movie on the other TV."
Says Morgan Morris, "I designed the truck so it's got shore power, water tanks and all, just like an RV. I can pull up to any RV spot, plug in my electric and water, and we're ready to go!"