The tiny 5-star hotel room inside Volvo's new semi truck
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Volvo's "5-star" sleeper cabin in the VNL is designed to make life easier for truckers on the road. Photos: Joann Muller/Axios
My overnight stay in the sleeper cab of Volvo's new long-haul truck had all the trappings of a 5-star experience, right down to the monogrammed robe and the mints on the pillow.
Why it matters: Driving a truck for a living is grueling, both mentally and physically, and turnover rates are high.
- Volvo's bet is that prioritizing a good night's sleep for drivers can reduce fatigue-induced crashes and even help truck fleets recruit and retain employees.
The solo slumber party was perhaps the weirdest offer I've received in three decades as an automotive journalist.
- Volvo invited me to drive its new VNL heavy truck at Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds near Greenville, South Carolina, and then spend the night in the sleeper cab.
- My response: Hell, yes.
There was a backup plan: If I got uncomfortable, I could always go back to my room at the hotel where the truck was parked overnight.
- I didn't.
Peeling apart the magnetic curtains behind the driver's seat, I was slightly flabbergasted to find a tiny hotel room: a comfy-looking twin bed with two fluffy pillows and the aforementioned cotton robe and Andes mints.
- A second bunk had been pushed toward the ceiling to make the space appear even bigger. (Some versions even have a reclining bunk, like an easy chair.)
- To my left was a mini-fridge, a TV and a microwave. A pull-out table and a storage drawer were sandwiched between the TV and fridge.
- To my right, a roomy half-closet could hold at least a week's worth of clothing. The bedside table above it was stocked with snacks and even had a designated nook for a CPAP machine.
- There were plentiful USB and 120V outlets to plug in my laptop, phone and smartwatch overnight, and lots of storage spaces.
I plopped down on the supportive mattress and fiddled with the control panel above the bed.
- From here, I could change the cabin lighting, access Bluetooth audio, lock the doors, set an alarm and control the thermostat.
Zoom in: The VNL has a new integrated, battery-powered cooling system that keeps the cab and sleeper comfortable during rest periods without idling the engine, conserving fuel.
- It uses the truck's batteries, combined with onboard auxiliary batteries, to maintain a set temperature for up to eight to 10 hours, so there's less noise and vibration from auto-starting the engine during the night.
As I settled in for the evening and dimmed the lights, leaving a blue-tinged glow under the bunk in case I had to get up during the night.
- The VNL has just about everything — except a toilet.
- Luckily, the hotel was only steps away.
The bottom line: It sure beats placing a piece of plywood across the truck's seats to catch a few Zzzs, which is what truck drivers used to do before sleeper cabs came along.
