Truck Topics

Spec'ing It Where It Counts: Truck Seats

Driver fatigue is a subject frequently found in the news these days with the tired driver being the focus of numerous studies.

Poor sleeping habits, bad diet, sleep apnea and other items are often given as the cause for fatigue, but missing from these studies is an examination of a component of the driver's immediate work environment, the truck seat.

Ergonomics is a hot buzzword of today's business culture and what could be more ergonomically important to the professional driver in his working office than the chair in which he/she spends most on-duty hours?

A poor truck seat will render you tired long before a good seat will. Your ability to concentrate is at risk when, after hundreds of miles and many long hours of repositioning yourself, you're still uncomfortable. It can flat wear you out.

A good seat also keeps you alert by supporting your back and your legs properly, by helping to keep the blood flowing through your veins, and by making sure you stay firmly in place. Your seat has to do all those things so that the stresses of sitting in the same spot for hours on end don't overwhelm you and reduce your ability to keep it between the lines.

Many studies have shown that back problems are extremely common in the trucking industry. It's easy to understand that a tired back, tensed up after several hours of driving in an unsupportive seat, is not a back that will last long when it comes time to load or unload — or even to just climb down from the cab.

Until recently, the only adjustments available on truck seating were maybe fore/aft selection and a small amount of height adjustability. There was not much in the way of customizing a seat to suit your personal tastes or requirements. Thankfully, that's changed.

In today's truck market, there are a wide variety of seating options available complete with custom comfort adjustments which would have made the driver of ten or twenty years ago green with envy.

Today's Truck Seats And Areas To Consider:

THE BASE

Possibly, a seat with a wider base will be more stable and achieve better weight distribution. Also a shroud covering the base will keep the underseat area cleaner and protect the mechanical parts.

AIR RIDE

"The suspension is the key to comfort and performance of the seat," says Renee Johnson of Comfort Ride USA, manufacturer of aftermarket truck seats. "Quite often, the cushions and other features of the seat are given more attention when selecting the seat, but the suspension system is probably the major factor in how well that seat will perform."

Nancy Colby, Marketing and Systems Analysis of Seats Incorporated agrees, "Whether mechanical or air ride, the suspension system of the truck seat is the basis of how well the seat rides. In one of our company's new models for example, we utilize a wide parallelogram suspension which is about 5 inches wider than conventional seat suspensions. It also features dual shocks which reduce the side-to-side movement."

Accepted by most as the standard for truck seating, air ride should probably be chosen for the passenger seat as well, and definitely in a team operation. Other considerations in choosing the air ride seat would include the types of controls available for fine-tuning the seat, optional self-contained air supply with compressor and automatic leveling system.

Some top-end seats are offering this leveling system which uses a hydraulic damper with controllable magnetic fluid and microprocessor controls that constantly adjust seat movement. The idea is to reduce the topping and bottoming associated with manual seat controls, and some come with a choice of soft, medium and firm settings.

THE SEAT BACK

Given a choice, most drivers will probably select a high back seat. Understandable, because the high back gives support to your back, shoulders and neck. On some seats, the headrest is a separately adjustable unit, on others, integrated.

Options would include an extra-width seat, reclining capability from a few degrees off vertical to all the way flat and bolsters on the sides of the seat back for body securement. The reclining feature is usually found in the aftermarket seats, and could be one to consider.

LUMBAR SUPPORT

This is a sore spot(pardon the pun)for many drivers when discussing seat design. Lack of support for the lower back can not only result in many uncomfortable and even painful hours behind the wheel, but it can also be a major cause of fatigue.

The higher quality seats will offer, depending on model, sometimes three or more adjustable air bags in the seat back to supply that support for the lower back. Better seats will provide support for the middle and upper back as well as the lower region, by way of separate inflating air bags.

THE CUSHIONS

Besides the seat back, this area of the truck seat is probably the most dependent upon personal preference. With everyone's body being unique, it's time well spent in selecting and trying out different seats and the cushioning they offer. Some drivers prefer a firmer seat that they sit on top of, some find a seat that they "nestle" into to be more comfortable.

The upper-end seats available today offer adjustability for under-thigh and hip support with added adjustability at the front of the seat by changing the slope of the cushion and extensions. Some manufacturers are offering upwards of seven adjustable air bags throughout the seat's cushions, allowing for complete form fitting seats for all types of drivers.

COVERINGS

A wide range of selections in this area allow you to customize the seat to your preferences, ranging from the economical vinyl to the luxury car-style leather.

Vinyl is practical in that it's easy to clean, but will not offer the durability and longer life of the other coverings. This material is also the most temperature sensitive; we all know what a vinyl seat feels like in a cold truck in below freezing temperatures.

Vinyl with cloth inserts or all cloth seats offer a higher degree of comfort in regards to temperature changes. This is the OEM covering of choice for many mid to upper scale trucks. It could be a good compromise between the less expensive vinyl and top end leather upholstery.

Velour is another uplholstery option offered by manufacturers. It's very plush, very thick, available in a variety of shades and presents a very upscale look on a par with leather.

Nancy Colby of Seats Incorporated tell us about an option her company offers: "We call it 'Tufftex;' this fabric, which has a somewhat tweed-like appearance, is incredibly durable and long lasting."

Leather is regarded as the high-end covering and it does give that luxury car feel and look. Again, this material is temperature-sensitive and does require more maintenance and cleaning to maintain it's appearance, but it is a desired covering by many.

SELECTING A TRUCK SEAT

"We design our truck seats with everyone in mind, but seat choice is a very personalized decision," says Ron Mock, Director of Marketing for Sears Seating, a manufacturer of truck and commercial off-road vehicle seating. "One factor which could possibly be overlooked is the driver's size; with many women involved in trucking today, the truck seat which a full grown man might find acceptable would not necessarily be a good choice for the smaller-framed female driver."

Renee Johnson of Comfort Ride USA adds: "It can be difficult to select a truck seat that will receive years of use by trying it out for a few minutes in a showroom or at a truck show. That's why Comfort Ride USA offers a trial program for our customers giving the driver enough time to make that important decision."

OTHER FEATURES/OPTIONS TO CONSIDER

Fore/Aft Travel Adjustability Height Adjustability Vertical Travel Fore/Aft Isolation Control Type and Placement

There's no reason for the professional driver to work in any less comfortable environment than the average office worker. Perhaps with the safety issues of alertness and comfort being involved, it's even more important that the driver have the best tools at his/her disposal, and the driver's "office chair" fits that bill.