Who cares about the sleeper? What options do you like?

personally i never really cared.

i had 2 nice tractors to drive when i worked for an o/o.

a 1986 Western Star, and a 1992 Pete 379

both had an "ok" sleeper.

i cared less, as long as there was a mattress, and some space to hang my clothing

then i worked at another company that had a "sit-in" sleeper.

again, i cared less.

it was a place to lay down and snooze.

no matter what sleeper(s) i ever had?

the noise outside still "got in".

making a restful sleep nearly impossible.

best sleep(er) i ever got..??

a day cab, and a motel bed.........quiet as all hell, bathroom close by, and cable tv.

 

My sleeper requirements are a good spot for microwave and fridge and preferably a drawer to put my chunk of countertop I use under my hot plate to cook with . Also a decent reading light . The rest don’t matter to me .

 

I had a 2003 T600 with a studio and the couch option it was nice especially when I brought my kids on the road because it had seat belts and side windows with screens for them. Ps I slept up top more often than not because if you rolled over seatbelt receiver would stab you in the side lol

 

The only thing I care about when it comes to a sleeper is .. can I sleep in it .. other than that .. F### the luxuries..
If it had a couch.. I would take it out and burn it .. just something to keep clean
If it had cabinets .. also gone .. just some more to to rattle when your driving
Work station ? ..lmao.. the only work I wanta do is rest my bones when I'am not driving
I stay out for 4 or 5 weeks during the busy season .. I'd be happy with a 36" coffin sleeper if I could store enough clothes & tools in it
Its a sleeper not a luxury apartment

 

I wish all trucks could have 120 inch sleeper.

 

My biggest grip about average sleepers is the lack of a decent table option. The little pull-out "tables" in most sleepers leave a lot to be desired. I think the studio setup that Kenworth offers is one of the most appealing ways to fix the issue, though the dinette options from Volvo and Freightliner would also work out pretty well.

When I drove OTR in the past having a decent spot to sit and eat a meal like a human or work on a laptop would have gone a long way toward making life on the road better. I work to live, not live to work, so even though I stayed out for months at a time, I rarely rolled right on my 10-hour break. Driving OTR for me was more about living cheaply than maximizing what I made so anything that could have improved the comfort and enjoyment of that life would have been welcomed.

 

when it comes down to it, i recall a former instructor telling the class, (and mind you, this was like back in the 20 mule team days), that all that fancy crap costs money...

"will you GET PAID a lot of money or lower money, for driving a fully decked out rig"..??

"if a company invests tons of money into rigs, they ain't gonna have enough to pay you"

and this,

"gimme a basic truck to do the job, and the money"

when a company invests tons of money in "driver retention", why do drivers still leave..??

1) the sleeper?

2) the tractor nameplate?

3) the long waiting times?

4) the long days on the road?

etc,etc,etc.

or is it the sleeper that keeps'em

an o/o can go all out, cuz he/she needs to stay out and earn the money to pay for all that, and do it in comfort.

a company driver..??

pfftt...
"gimme the money"

 

After the rolling garbage pile that has been my current rig. Id rather just have a rig that works. Gimme a sleeper with enough room to store my clothing, lay down flat a few weeks of food so im not relying on roller dogs. And room to change my pants and it can be the most bare bones sleeper ever and i would be happy.

Because a truck that makes lots of money and doesnt cost a ton to keep on the road means i can go home more often because i make less overall but i sure as #### pay a lot less to make that money. Fancy sleepers are nice sure. But there a gimic, unless you can find me one that can also have a fridge cook top shower and toilet without added weight....then id likely never go home.