Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/723417
40 | Overdrive | September 2016 BEAT THE SEAT After riding with a trac- tor-trailer driver, Bose Chief Engineer Jim Parison was appalled at how the driver was shaken around. "It's not a single bump that hurts the driver, it's being shaken over time," Parison says. The constant daily ex- posure to bouncing and more subtle vibrations results in "some problems with internal organs, like kidneys in par- ticular," he says. "Most truck drivers, by the time they've been driving for fi ve years, have back problems. A lot of that is associated with the compromised position that their spine is in when they're seated." Parison's research led to the 2010 introduction of the Bose Ride system, a seat designed to counteract road vibrations. Minimizer, known for its fenders and other truck prod- ucts, also focused on coun- tering excessive vibrations as it developed a seating line in conjunction with seat maker Isringhausen. Its Minimizer Long Haul Series, released this year, includes six seats. The company released a report, based in part on research from chiropractic doctors Joseph Sweere and Michael Peterson, detailing SEATING FEATURES AND TIPS The back of the seat should be reclined slightly so the angle between the back and the legs is about 110 degrees. The backrest fully reclines for relaxing. High backrest with adjustable shoulders. Adjustable head restraint. The back of the seat should be reclined slightly so A seat that can swivel helps minimize the neck strain that can accompany trying to look behind the seat. The tips and ideal seat features are recommended by the American Chiropractic Association and other sources in the Minimizer report on truck seats and health. A massage option improves blood flow and loosens tightness. A fore and aft isolator feature allowing the seat to "float" and absorb some of the cab movement. Shock absorbers should dampen vibration frequencies between 1 to 20 Hz. Lower and upper air lumbar adjustments, providing firm but comfortable support. A seat that can swivel helps minimize the neck strain that can accompany trying to look behind the seat. absorbers should dampen Adjustable seat bottom depth (from seat back to front edge). The front of the seat should not contact the back of the knee. Adjustable seat bottom depth (from seat back to front edge). The front of the seat should not contact the back of the knee. The high end of custom seats was expand- ed with the introduction of the Bose Ride system in 2010, which uses sophisticated technology to detect road vibrations and cancel them. While the truck still shakes and vibrates, the seat's base prevents those disturbances from reaching the trucker. The company's research showed that 97 per- cent of drivers using the Bose Ride System reported a reduction in back pain, while 94 percent reported reduced fatigue. Bose referred price inquiries to truck dealerships, but single-unit pricing through online sourc- es ranges from about $4,500 to $6,000, depending on features and discounts. Each seat in the Minimizer Long Haul Series is equipped with 14 standard features. The listed price for the six models ranges from $1,600 to $2,100. The right seat can "reduce pressure points and can support the body in a way that reduces the effects of vibration," says the Minimizer report that accompanied the release of its seats. "The right seat will reduce discomfort, pain and fatigue." Seats with cooling back rest and seat cushion options should have layers of wick- ing fabric over the foam so moisture does not get into the foam, which can mold. The seat pan should be tilted so that your knees are slightly lower than your hips. Lower and upper air lumbar adjustments, providing firm but comfortable support. A fore and aft isolator feature allowing the seat to "float" and absorb some of the cab movement. Shock Lower and upper air lumbar adjustments, providing firm but comfortable support. ENHANCE YOUR SEATING The sedentary nature of long-haul professional driving also exposes drivers to a potentially big problem that desk jockeys don't have to worry about: frequent and excessive vi- brations both large and small. Custom seats with good shock absorption features can reduce those vibrations signifi cantly. All custom seats offer varying degrees of vibration reduction, as well as support for the back and overall improved circula- tion through fl exible adjustments and other features.