Truck cab vibration testing system - GIF

[Altair]

Truck cab vibration testing system.




Previously:

Mercedes-Benz truck factory tour - video
Crash ejects truck driver out of cab - GIF
Unsecured load rips cab off truck - GIF
Driving a truck with its cab tilted forward - GIF
Nissan pickup truck production - video

[Nick79]

My hat is tipped to all big rig truck drivers, their jobs are not easy. I know the drivers seat also is designed to curb road shocks, but I had the experience of riding in the passenger seat for only about 160 miles. My driver faired well, I however, felt every bump. Imagine being in a seat linked directly to the vibrating cab in the video. That was my ride....

[nova_robotics]

My hat is tipped to all big rig truck drivers, their jobs are not easy.

Absolutely. It's a very tough job.

[NeiljohnUK]

Good going if it stands up to that.

Post WW2 my demobbed father was looking for work, having trained as a commercial vehicle body builder (wooden frame stuff) he ended up working for Brigg's Motor Bodies in Southampton, with contract test cab's for the Army's new trucks were on the agenda. These were to be built using ready stamped steel sheet, the first was built by the foreman using arc welding and broke pretty quickly, the second gas welded lasted a little longer, as the whole factory was dependent on the contract being won the body builder's were asked for ideas, my father suggested gas brazing as it would stick the steel sheets together ok, spread the load wider than a weld and anneal the steel better to reduce repeated stress fracturing. So he got the job of building the next two test cabs, spent several weeks prepping and cleaning the joint areas and bronzed together the cabs, both passed the required tests just fine, none of the other companies had brazed their samples, so Brigg's got the contract, production however was time intensive so minimum prep and then arc welded was the norm. Given the army's ability to destroy things it didn't matter how the joints were made...

[Frank S]

That simulator is a good step, a full chassis simulator is the next step followed by a dynamometer, would be a good final step to the assembly of a truck, to make a well put together long-lasting truck.
Being a truck driver not just a steering wheel holder requires 7-sided observation at all times front rear left right bottom top and inside. In general, the average car driver may at best be aware of fewer then 4 of these most times much less as they are barely even aware of what is in front of them if at all hence the reason why cars are equipped with so many questionably safe safety features.
A truck driver not only has to know the relationship of his rig to surrounding traffic at all times he or she has to try and figure out what everyone else sharing the motorway with them might do next this is 4 of the sides knowing far enough in advance if there are any low overhead obstructions particularly if hauling over height, and watching out for ruts changes in the road surface or debris on the road 2 more of the sides of observation. the 7th is keeping a running knowledge of what is going on with the instrumentation is the engine running hot are they driving in the most optimal gear ratio for the speed or incline keeping the engine RPMs in the best torque and economy range is the air pressure correct and so on, A steering wheel holder's truck might only have a few gages Speedo Tach fuel air temperature oil pressure, and battery or ALT even a couple of those may just be idiot lights. and to top that off the truck will most likely have an automatic transmission. A professional or seasoned driver will want a few more gages. Owner operators and in particular those who haul heavy and over dimensional NEED more, they will require temperature gages for all gear boxes might even have multiple transmissions even though their main box might be an 18 speed. It is not uncommon to see as many as 25 or more different gages plus with the newer trucks they will even have on board scan tech monitoring everything going on electronically They might have 3 or more digital display screens as well not trusting just a single GPS 1 will have the planed route displayed another will be set for city interchange highways 1 will be the scan tech and if they happen to also be ham qualified, as an addition to their 1 or 2 CB or 2 way radios for communicating with their civilian and sometimes Police escorts they might have that gear installed as well. The inside of their rigs can be more in tune to that of an airliner's cockpit. These guys and gals will spend more on the upkeep of their rigs every year trying to prevent breakdowns than some DRs or lawyers earn.