Investing in ergonomically-friendly cabs can help improve employee health and productivity, and protect your bottom line from out-of-pocket expenses.
By Mark Howerton
The cab of a refuse or recycling truck is more than just a cab. It is a workplace occupied for long hours by operators who need an ergonomically friendly cab to stay alert along their routes.
Well-designed vocational trucks benefit both the operators and the municipalities and businesses running fleets. These design features can contribute to driver comfort, productivity and safety, ultimately, improving performance.
Vocational trucks should be designed with comfort in mind, while offering a portfolio of safety features that come standard. Look for refuse and recycling trucks that place a premium on performance and maneuverability.
If a cab鈥檚 interior is laid out logically, it leads to better driver productivity. Driver comfort not only prevents fatigue and helps get jobs done faster and more efficiently, but it can also contribute to improved driver health and less out-of-pocket insurance expenses for fleet owners. If drivers feel good, they are more likely to do their jobs well. This drive is increased when they are working in cabs designed to help them be more productive and efficient.
In recycling and refuse, operators are often in and out of their trucks and must maneuver them down narrow and congested streets. Truck engineers design cabs with these challenges in mind, including improved visibility, easier ingress and egress, and an improved wheel cut. Below are the elements of an ergonomically friendly cab that can benefit the recycling and refuse industry.
Cab Comfort
Cab comfort and ease of entry for the driver is of utmost importance. Especially in recycling and refuse, workers must climb in and out of cabs all day. Spacious cabs provide comfort for bigger and taller operators, helping to reduce driver fatigue.
In addition to the cab being more spacious, an automotive-style wing dash that is set at an angle improves access to controls. This dash allows drivers to easily read and reach controls, helping to prevent distracted driving. It also enhances driver productivity through a comfortable, ergonomic interior.
Look for cabs that are available with tilt and telescoping steering wheels so drivers can adjust its positioning to a height that is comfortable for them and prevent fatigue. Fully automatic transmissions and automated manual transmissions also enhance driver productivity.
Optimized Operator Visibility
Downward sloping hood designs provide open fields of vision. Windshields and hood slopes should be designed to provide a clear path of vision for drivers to the ground and nearby vehicles. This is especially helpful when parking, positioning the truck and driving in cities. A better overall view of congested streets can help to prevent accidents and help drivers be more efficient on their routes. Paired with an aggressive wheel cut and turning radius, operators can more easily navigate narrow streets.
Standard Safety Features
Cab safety starts on the outside. A natural evolution of the cab design is a low step-in height to help operators ingress and egress more easily. This is both ergonomically-beneficial as drivers do not have to reach or hoist themselves up as far, but it also contributes to safety. In addition to a lower step-in height, the steps also have a slip-resistant design to prevent slips and falls.
Cabs should also have strategically-located grab handles. Optimal positioning of grab handles is of utmost importance for operator safety to help prevent slips and falls. Optional rubber inserts improve grip in slippery conditions. Look for cabs that are designed with a wide, 62-degree door opening for ease of exit and entry to the cab.
Customizable Electronics
Allowing fleet owners to customize interlocks will help operators perform their jobs safely, giving them greater ability to reposition, reprogram and customize the system. It鈥檚 even better if this can be done via laptop, versus hardwiring. For example, parameters can be set to sound an audible warning if the parking brake is not set when the driver leaves the cab, or automatically slow windshield wiper blades when a truck is in park to preserve the life of the blades and reduce maintenance costs.
The flexibility available with this type of system enhances productivity and increases safety due to customized placement. It is especially beneficial to TEMs and body builders, as it can streamline the upfit process, saving you both time and money.
Spec鈥檌ng Ergonomically-Beneficial Cabs
Everyone should have a comfortable work environment, optimized to help them do their jobs to the best of their ability. Operator health can be enhanced in ergonomically-friendly cabs by minimizing general fatigue. In the short-term, comfort leads to improved productivity that boosts your budget.
By equipping your employees with the best tools and trucks to do their jobs, you are showing them that you care about their well-being and value their hard work. You are also ensuring that the job gets done right, and gaining protection by investing in safety features that can help prevent accidents and injuries, and their associated costs. | WA
Mark Howerton is the Product Marketing Manager for Freightliner Trucks (Portland, OR). He has more than 25 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry. For more information, visit