Truck driving is one of the most demanding jobs in modern economies. Drivers often have to cover long distances in control of a vehicle weighing several tonnes. For this reason, it is only normal for most drivers to complain of backaches, fatigue and leg pains, among other things. The good thing is that you can look out for your driver's well-being by choosing a truck seat with a good suspension system. Second-hand trucks particularly present a big challenge because some trucks may have obsolete technology that doesn't work so well for your driver. The following discussion evaluates various suspension technologies for truck seats.
Leaf-Spring Seat Suspension
The leaf-spring suspension is one of the oldest and perhaps the simplest technologies for truck seats. It comes as a slender arc-shaped spring made from steel with a rectangular configuration or cross-section. The semi-elliptical springs (this is another name for them, by the way) are stacked above each other within the seat with holes on both ends. The holes provide space for attaching the semi-elliptical springs to the truck seat's frame. This structure minimises shocks and vibrations felt by the driver when they are on a bumpy road.
In spite of the sturdy and reliable construction, leaf-spring construction suffers from inter-lead friction and offers negligible ride comfort for the driver.
Walking-Beam Seat Suspension
The walking-beam suspension is also referred to as the Hendrickson suspension. Developed in the 1960s, the system comes with two short springs that carry a balanced bar. The truck's seat sits on the bar, and the springs absorb the shock generated by other parts of the car. Even though it provides better ride comfort than leaf-spring suspensions, the walking beam makes the driver feel like he or she is sitting on a seesaw in the playground.
Bose-Ride Seat Suspension
The Bose-ride suspension system is the most popular among modern truck manufacturers. The Bose system is evidence that manufacturers have shifted from a reactive to a proactive era whose objective is to reduce pain and fatigue among drivers. This system uses electromagnetic motors to sense, analyse, and counteract the movements occurring on the floor of the driver's cab. The sitting apparatus is flexible and able to move in response to the movements on the cab floor. Ideally, this keeps the driver from whole-body vibration (WBV), which is harmful and dangerous. When your driver's body experiences WBV, their body does not move as one whole part. Instead, smaller bones, muscles, and organs vibrate and move separately, bouncing off each other in the process.