Why Do Some Semi-Trucks Have Such a Long Cab?
So you were driving down the highway the other day, and as you passed a semi-truck, you noticed something odd about its cab. Behind the front doors was a long section of cab, complet with its own windows. No semi-trucks do not have a back seat, but some have a long cab because they include a “sleeper” section where the driver can grab a nap when they pull over for a break.
Do truck drivers sleep while driving?
There is no semi-truck available with an autopilot mode so drivers can sleep while it drives (not even the Tesla semi). But long-haul drivers do pull over and sleep on multi-day trips. Many trucks are set up for these kind of trips with a sleeper compartment behind the driver’s seat.
Federal and local regulations govern how long a truck driver can be on the road before they must take a break. These guidelines are designed to keep the driver alert so the driver and everyone else on the road stays safe.
Some drivers pull off the road and find a motel every time they have to stop. Others park at a truck stop and nap in the driver’s seat. A good middle ground between these options is buying a truck with a sleeper section built behind the cab.
What is a semi-truck sleeper?
Some semi-truck cabs just have a front row of seats but others have an entire second section with a bunk and small appliances. This semi-truck “sleeper” is a sort of mini RV built into the truck. Long-haul drivers use this sleeper section for a nap or an entire night off when driving for multiple days.
There are a range of semi-truck sleeper cab configurations. Some shorter sleeper cabs save space by having the bunk above the living area and a ladder behind the seat. Others are longer and offer more room to stretch out (Road Warrior).
Some sleeper cabs have basic appliances, such as a TV, coffee machine, or even a kitchenette with a microwave. Basic comforts like these can make long-haul truck driving much more comfortable.
Do semi-truck sleepers have toilets?
Very few semi-truck sleepers have built-in toilets, but some of them do. If RVs have toilets, there’s no reason a sleeper truck couldn’t have a toilet, but few drivers need them.
Engineers have built sleeper truck toilets that fit in boats, RVs, and even in small airplanes. There are obviously portable toilets that can fit in large semi-truck sleepers.
So why do most semi-trucks not have a sleeper? Because truck drivers have to stop to fuel up anyway—often multiple times every day. When they pull over to sleep in the truck, it is often at a truck stop where they can eat and shower as well. So while semi-truck sleepers could have a toilet, few manufacturers bother.
Next, find out why some semi-truck trailers have a tiny door set into their main door or check out a semi-truck sleeper for yourself in the video below:
