Have you ever wondered where truck drivers sleep? Trucking is a demanding job that requires adequate sleep for optimal performance. But do truck drivers get enough rest? How do they sleep on long haul trips? If you want to become a trucker, it is essential to know if trucking companies ensure their drivers get enough rest. You might not be home every night if you are an OTR driver, but you need sound sleep to stay alert on the road and deliver your cargo safely. To outsiders, it is difficult to understand the sleep pattern of truck drivers who don’t come home for several weeks or even months. Some people believe truckers sleep in hotels when they are not at home. But this is not true. Trucking is a time-sensitive profession that does not allow for the luxury of checking in and out of hotels. If you see a long-range driver and his truck, you will notice a large compartment after the driver’s seat. That is where truckers snooze at the end of their shift.
So where do truckers sleep? Truckers sleep in the sleeper cab of their trucks. A sleeper cab is a small room behind the driver’s seat. If you look at trucks used for long-distance haulage, you will notice a small compartment behind the driver’s seat. That is where OTR drivers sleep at night. But not all truckers sleep in their truck. If you are a local truck driver, you go home after closing every day. And that is why trucks that ply local routes do not have sleeper berths.
The sleeper cab or sleeper berth is where truck drivers sleep. However, the question can also mean the location where truck drivers sleep. In that case, truckers can sleep in company facilities, rest areas, and truck stops along the route, or near the delivery point. However, some consignees, i.e., the owner of the cargo allow truck drivers to park in their parking lot and sleep before heading out the next day. If sleeping locations is one of your concerns, be sure to ask your employer for the full details before signing up for the company. As we said earlier, not all truck drivers sleep in their trucks. Drivers who go home every day drive a day cab which lacks a bunk behind the driver’s seat. However, drivers who spend one or more nights away from home drive sleeper cabs that have a bunk space at the back of the seats. Tractors used by team drivers come with double bunks to allow each driver adequate sleep at night.
What Is Inside a Sleeper Cab?
A sleeper cab is a tiny room. While many see semi-trailer trucks every day, most people don’t know what the interior of one looks like. If you get to see one, the level of comfort cramped into that small space will surprise you. From the year 2000, truck manufacturers have included sleeper berths in about 70 percent of new trucks made in the United States. The sleeper cab is a home away from home and comes with all the basic amenities truckers need to stay comfortable while on the road. It is the main reason owner-operators can spend months on end driving all over the country in their truck without coming home. They carry their homes with them.
The inside of a sleeper cab has a full size mattress complete with pillows and sheets to make sleeping as comfortable as possible. Depending on the manufacturer and driver preferences, the sleeper berth can also come with a small cooler/refrigerator, Thermo-flask, a microwave, a television set, entertainment system, gaming console, a small wardrobe, grooming equipment, a portable toilet and more.
Individual drivers try to get as much utility out of their sleeper cab as possible, but there is a limit to what you can do with such little space. Some companies will order customized trucks with luxurious sleeper berths for their drivers’ comfort. But you can’t expect every company to spend so much on driver comfort because it will affect their bottom-line.
Do Sleeper Cabs Have Toilets?
No, neither do they come with showers or sinks. But truck drivers can buy a portable toilet. A portable toilet is a valuable investment for any truck driver as it saves truckers a lot of time and money. Instead of having to pull over whenever you need to answer nature’s call, you do it right there in the truck. Thankfully, there are several additives you can use to reduce odor and break down the waste while on the move.
If you don’t have a portable toilet, do your business at truck stops, in bottles while on the road, or straight in nature itself. As an OTR trucker, it’s better to invest in a portable toilet and grooming tools that will help you stay fresh on the job.
Why Don’t Truckers Sleep in Hotels?
Truckers avoid hotels because they are expensive. The trucking profession takes a huge toll on social life, so truck drivers want to make as much money as possible. Staying in hotels is an unnecessary luxury most truckers cannot afford. Also, hotels waste time, and most outlets cannot accommodate trucks. A truck stop or business parking lot allows truck drivers to park their vehicle and have a hearty sleep before hitting the road once again. The only time truckers usually stay in hotels or motels are during extreme weather when it is not advisable to keep the engine running or too dangerous to stay out in the open.
How Many Hours of Sleep Do OTR Drivers Get?
According to the Hours of Service rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers must take a break of 10 consecutive hours after 11 hours of driving. The regulations also prohibit drivers from driving after the 14th consecutive hours of resuming duty, including time spent on non-driving activities such as fueling, loading and unloading among others.
But does this mean truck drivers have enough time to sleep? On paper, ten hours of break is enough to rest and get your body rejuvenated for the next lap of your journey. Unfortunately, things are not so clear-cut in reality. This is because most truckers have to wait at the customer to be loaded, unloaded, cleared, sign inventory and bill of lading documents and more. Loading and unloading can take up to four hours.
You also need to spend up to an hour looking for a suitable parking spot. Add eating, going to the toilet, shower time, and you have less than 5 hours of sleep time. In reality, you have less snooze time even though the law stipulates 10 hours as many drivers have to eat into their sleep time to stay on schedule.
A study from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows fatigue caused 31 percent of crashes where the driver died. So make sure you get enough sleep every day. Your routine might require driving over 8 hours per day and another 4 hours on non-driving tasks. But you must create time to rest your body fully before hitting the roads. Your life and cargo depend on it.
How Long Do Truck Drivers Stay on the Road?
As an over-the-road truck driver, expect to spend over 300 days on the road. Truck drivers don’t have a definitive sleep pattern and their schedule is fluid. The Department of Transportation regulations stipulate that truckers can work up to 70 hours every eight days.
For every 70 hours worked, you must take a break of 34 hours before your next shift. Drivers can only drive for a maximum of 11 hours per day after which they must take 10 hours off driving. Most trucking companies expect their drivers to drive 125,000 miles a year which is a considerably long distance. For perspective, that means you will drive 2500 miles a week or 500 miles a day. This routine is hard on the body and mind, and many truckers don’t last on the job because of the huge toll on their relationships and mental health.
If you are considering trucking as a profession, make sure you enjoy solitude because you will be on your own for up to 20 hours each day. The job pays well though and offers a unique opportunity to see the country.
How do Truck Drivers Stay Warm at Night?
How do truck drivers stay warm during the winter? Here are ways to keep the blood flowing when the temperature drops.
Run Your Heater: For most truckers, the best way to keep warm at night is to run the truck’s heater. However this may run down your battery. An external power source such as an inverter, solar power pack or diesel-powered auxiliary power system can help run a space heater while you sleep.
Sleeping Bag: A heavy-duty sleeping bag is also an excellent way to stay warm while sleeping in your truck. Plus, it’s relatively cheap to get a quality and comfortable one. In extremely low temperatures, you may need thick blankets for additional insulation from the cold.
Down Comforter: A sleeping bag might be too cold at first, making it difficult to sleep. A simple solution is a down comforter that warms up your bed when you are ready to sleep.
12V Mattress Pad: All you need to power this mattress pad is your lighter socket. This keeps you warm all night while running on the battery. If your battery is in good working condition, you won’t need to idle the engine throughout the night.
If the weather is too cold for comfort and you need to sleep, turn on the engine. Don’t endanger your health to save gas. Sleep, rest and have all the fun in the world.
