Day Cab Truck vs. Sleeper Cab Truck: What is Best for Your Business?
The trucking business is one of the major industries in the United States. It is the leading player in bringing goods from one point to another. Although many are considered an unpopular job or industry to enter, it is one of the pillars of the economy. It is a stable and robust industry to enter.
Trucking businesses are responsible for moving 70% of products, goods, materials, and machinery in the United States. Without it, it would be close to impossible and costly to move merchandise from one place to another. Almost every industry relies on the trucking business to function, making it an integral part of the American economy.
There are plenty of entrepreneurs that see the opportunities in the trucking industry. However, you will need to learn about the business and invest in the right type of machinery to get your trucking business going. If you want to start small and slowly immerse yourself in this lucrative yet straightforward industry, you will need to identify the best types of semi-trucks or trailers to help you begin with your business.
The Role of Semi Trucks in the Trucking Industry
Semi-trucks are the most common type of freight vehicle used to transfer goods and other products to different parts. They are big enough to accommodate heavy materials and small enough to get around the narrow roads and streets of the main roads in the country. However, as a start-up business, one with a limited budget, you might be confused about which type of semi-truck would suit your business well.
There are two major types of semi-trucks involved in the trucking industry – Day Cab trucks and Sleeper Cab trucks. The latter is more significant and more robust compared to Day Cab trucks. Yet Day Cab trucks are staple hauling vehicles we usually see in the bigger cities and urban areas in the country. So which is the best semi-truck for your business? Here is a comparison that can help you decide which semi-truck is worth your investment.
Day Cab Truck vs. Sleeper Cab Truck
- Day Cab Trucks
Day Cab trucks are semi-trucks that can quickly go around traveling up and down roads. It does not feature a sleeper cabin at the back and features a single compartment located at the vehicle’s engine portion. Day Cab trucks are also popularly known as cab-over trucks. Mostly designed for short journeys, it is the best option to transport goods and materials within shorter destinations.
The lack of the sleeper cabin in Day Cab trucks does not make them inconvenient. However, it does provide a smaller space where the driver can move around while in transit. The lack of the cabin is simply because it is not needed in such vehicles.
Day Cab trucks are around 72 feet in length, 8.5 feet wide, and 13.5 feet tall. It features a total gross weight of up to 80,000 pounds. Unlike sleeper cab trucks, Day Cab trucks feature better fuel efficiency. They have a lighter chassis, thus requiring less fuel to operate. They can easily be maneuvered compared to sleeper trucks that are built to sustain large, heavy loads. Enjoy greater visibility while hooking up loads, lower mileage, and fewer maintenance costs with these types of semi-trucks.
If you are planning to start a trucking business in massive business districts, it would be ideal to go for day cab trucks instead of sleeper trucks for sale. They are more affordable and can easily be managed since you’ll be handling short deliveries that take less than a day to accomplish.
- Sleeper Cab Trucks
Sleeper Cab trucks are semi-trucks that feature a cabin or sleeper at the back of the seating area. The sleeper serves as the area where the driver can sleep and rest during long delivery trips. Unlike Day Cab trucks, Sleeper Cab trucks are used mainly to transport materials for long hours, sometimes even days. Instead of getting a hotel or renting for a place where the driver can sleep and rest in between long trips, a sleeper cabin is instead placed on the back of the seating area to offer a safe place for the driver and save on operational costs.
Some sleeper trucks also feature kitchen areas and storage compartments to add comfort for the driver during their trips. Truckers can keep their clothes, utensils, food, and other personal items inside these areas. Some bigger sleeper cab trucks feature tables as well as nightstands too.
Among the other features that you can see in a sleeper truck that is not available in day cab trucks includes the following:
- Closet space
- Bathroom area
- AC and Heating
- Electricity
- Television
- Refrigerators
However, not all these areas and features are available in a sleeper truck, and some truckers don’t enjoy or experience such luxuries while transporting goods. Older trucks do not feature sufficient noise-reduction accessories, ventilation, and other modern facilities that make resting and sleeping in sleeper day cabs relaxing. But, despite the unguaranteed comfort, sleeper trucks do the job well.
Sleeper cab trucks spend more fuel compared to day cab trucks. Although bigger, the cabin area in sleeper day trucks takes up a large space that could have been used to accommodate more load for your haul. Environmental issues and truck idling are also pollutants that come with sleeper day cabs, because they need to sustain a comfortable living or resting area for their drivers during their long trips. Getting around small roads can also be challenging and inconvenient with sleeper day trucks compared to day cab trucks.
What to Look Out for in Purchasing Used Semi Trucks
If you decide to buy a day cab truck for your business, remember to consider the following.
Check for signs of damage, fillers, and obvious re-sprays. It would be ideal for inspecting them in daylight, together with an expert, to ensure that you do not miss any details about the truck’s structural soundness.
Ask for service records. A complete service record means that it would be easier to understand your truck’s history – including all the repairs, upgrades, and other work that have been implemented to it during its time with its former owner. This makes it easier for you to identify solutions for any problems you may encounter in the future or if you would want to resell your truck as well.
It is also very essential to understand which niche you prefer to serve in the trucking industry. If you wanted to start small, it would be ideal to invest in a day cab trucker and focus on serving short distance transport services. Long freight hauls bring in a lot of income, but require a considerable investment and risks and experience in the trucking industry.
Joie Mojica
Joie is the passionate writer and blogger of UsedVending.com. She enjoys writing and works at an amazing pace. Blessed with two adorable boys, she dreams of creating a successful career online. She also loves to write about parenting, home and family life, technology and gaming, as well as beauty and health.