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Having unveiled its alternative cab interior design for long-haul trucks
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two years ago, the German MOTIS consortium is one step closer to offering it as a regular production option. CM has a look inside.
Words: Brian Weathertey
Commercial Motor first became aware of the Modular Truck Interior System project — or MOTIS as it has become known — at the 2006 IAA Hannover Truck Show. Created by a consortium of German automotive suppliers with extensive experience in vehicle interior design, particularly the caravan and mobile home sector, the purpose of MOTIS was "to create a completely new approach to designing the living and working space for truck cabins".
The consortium's designers had picked up on the fact that long-distance FIGV drivers, particularly those travelling throughout Europe, were finding it increasingly difficult to find decent tnickstops with proper facilities.
Or, as the MOTIS team put it: "The situation at
For today's news visit: www.roadtransport.com most rest stops is completely unsatisfactory for stressed truckers. Sanitary facilities such as toilets and washrooms are often dirty and unhygienic. In Eastern Europe, they are few and far between and don't meet driver's basic needs. Washing, showering and personal hygiene are problematic issues for truckers."
Live-in cabin
The MOTIS consortium's answer was to offer longdistance drivers a full range of truckstop facilities such as a decent washbasin, toilet and even a shower, as well as a full cooking layout, but all contained inside their cab.
The initial design studies (based around a Mercedes Actros sleeper cab) certainly looked intriguing enough for us to want to find out more. However, following the 2006 IAA Show, it all went rather quiet as far as CM was concerned.
Although we heard the odd bit of news about MOTIS, little more was said of the project at least on this side of the Channel. However, the consortium certainly hasn't been sitting around idle for the past 24 months. Last year, it conducted trials of left-hand-drive trucks equipped with prototype versions of the alternative modular interior with German fleets.
Warm reception
According to MOTIS, the feedback has been very positive. "After a presentation of the test truck to the [German] media in November 2007, MOTIS got a big response from carriers, fleet and leasing companies and truck manufacturers.
"They are all enthusiastic about MOTIS and want to install it for their drivers, who are eager to enjoy the benefits of the live-in cabin for truckers."
Moreover, at last month's 2008 IAA Show, consortium managing director Professor Johann Tomforde told us that not only can you now get a MOTIS interior installed in your truck at the company's Pforzheim base, but that in 2009, both Mercedes and MAN are looking at offering it as an 'off-line' option, but still installed at their respective truck plants at WOrth and Munich.
Universal appeal
Don't go thinking MOTIS is only for German trucks. MOTIS insists: "The current state-of-the-art cabin modules can be used for all popular long-distance trucks without modifying the body structure. Series production will start later this year."
CM has already expressed a desire to conduct an overnight test in a MOTIS cab, and we await our invite from Pforzheim with eager anticipation.
On these pages, you can see for yourself what's possible with MOTIS. In short, it perfectly possible to have a truck cab you'd seldom need to leave — and therein lies the rub. Were there enough good-quality truckstops, then we probably wouldn't need MOTIS. But there aren't, so we do.
It might not be a cure for the disease, but for longdistance drivers looking for a decent place to drive, rest and dine, it undoubtedly goes a long way to alleviating the symptoms. •
• To see the MOTIS unit in action, check out the RTTV video webcast from day one of the IAA Show by visiting www.roadtransport.comtiaa.htm