If your vehicle or truck requires a sleeper berth, it’s important to obtain approval for it and make sure the mattress meets all the requirements listed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Following these regulations ensures the safety of everyone, including the vehicle driver and the general public.
The DOT’s website lists a table and paragraphs explaining all the requirements a semi cab mattress must follow in order to be approved. The main points include:
- Dimensions and size
- Shape
- Location
- Points of entry/exit
- Communication with the driver
- Equipment
- Ventilation
- Occupant restraint
Every point is detailed with specific guidelines and measurements for each. Below is a summary of the basic and most critical requirements from each point.
- Dimensions and size
The dimensions and size required for a sleeper berth depend upon the year in which the sleeper berth was installed on the vehicle.
- If it was installed after September 30, 1975:
- Length measured on centerline of longitudinal axis must be 75 in.
- Width measured on centerline of transverse axis must be 24 in.
- Height measured from highest point of top of mattress must be 24 in.
- To summarize, the size of the sleeper berth must be 75” x 24” x 24”
- If it was installed after December 31, 1952, and before October 1, 1975:
- Length measured on centerline of longitudinal axis must be 75 in.
- Width measured on centerline of transverse axis must be 21 in.
- Height measured from highest point of top of mattress must be 21 in.
- To summarize, the size of the sleeper berth must be 75” x 21” x 21”
- If it was installed before January 1, 1953:
- Length measured on centerline of longitudinal axis must be 72 in.
- Width measured on centerline of transverse axis must be 18 in.
- Height measured from highest point of top of mattress must be 18 in.
- To summarize, the size of the sleeper berth must be 72” x 18” x 18”
The only way these dimensional requirements may be different is if the sleeper berth uses an adjustable mechanical suspension system. In this case, the required clearance can be measured when the system is adjusted to the height that it would settle to when someone is present in the berth. Other than that, most truck mattress sizes are one of the above mentioned sizes.
- Shape
Sleeper berths must have a generally rectangular shape, although the horizontal sections and roof corners can be rounded to radii less than or equal to 10.5 in.
- Location
There are a couple locations where a sleeper berth can never be installed: in a semitrailer or full trailer, except in the case of a house trailer. When a sleeper berth is located in the cab of a truck or next to the cab—as is required for any sleeper berth installed on or after January 1, 1953—it must be securely fixed. When a sleeper berth is located within the cargo space of a motor vehicle, it must be securely compartmentalized from the rest of the cargo space.
- Points of entry/exit
The construction, shape, and location of a sleeper berth must allow an occupant to enter easily and directly. In addition, there must be a direct means of exit from a sleeper berth into the driver’s seat or compartment. The specific measurements include:
- If the sleeper berth was installed on or after January 1, 1963: The exit must be a door or opening at least 18 in. high and 36 in. wide.
- If the sleeper berth was installed before January 1, 1963: The exit must have sufficient area to contain an ellipse having a major axis of 24 in. and a minor axis of 16 in.
- Communication with the driver
Anyone in a sleeper berth that is not located within the driver’s compartment must always have the means to communicate with the driver, whether this is through a phone, buzzer, pull cord, or another working device.
- Equipment
Any sleeper berth must be properly equipped for sleeping, including:
- An adequate amount of bedclothing and blankets
- Springs and a mattress, or an approved equivalent
- Ventilation
Adequate ventilation within the sleeper berth must be provided through louvers or other reliable means. In addition, the berth must be protected from dust, rain, exhaust and fuel leaks, and exhaust heat. T
his can be achieved by positioning the sleeper berth in such a way that leaks do not allow fuel, fuel system gases, or exhaust gases to enter the berth, nor can exhaust heat overheat or damage the berth.
- Occupant restraint
The sleeper berth must be equipped with a mechanism to prevent accidental ejection of someone in the berth during the vehicle’s deceleration. The mechanism must be able to withstand a minimum total force of 6,000 pounds applied toward the front of the vehicle and parallel to its longitudinal axis.
Without a good night’s rest in a safe environment, accidents are more likely to happen. It is essential to follow the DOT’s guidelines and to make sure any truck mattress and sleeper berth are DOT approved to ensure the safety of everyone.
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