In this interview, Vivian sheds light on how DAF’s engineers and designers collaborate with drivers, DAF’s preferred choice of materials for upholstery, plus onboard toilet facilities, as well other design considerations like sound-proofing and seat positioning among things.

How drivers are part of the design process

To begin with, we quizzed Vivian on how DAF goes about designing its lorry cabs.

According Vivian, the design process begins by involving the drivers themselves.

“Selected drivers are invited to contribute to the design by doing interviews with them. Engineers and designers do drive-alongs on a typical working day, and most importantly, we have workshops and design reviews with them on new designs and innovations,” said the DAF representative.

During this co-creation process, drivers also have a say in what features they want or need in their cabins. “They are particularly helpful in defining priorities on items that seem contradicting,” Vivian noted. She added that it’s about making choices together to ensure that the final product aligns with the real-world needs of drivers.

“For instance, do you want a completely flat floor and 4 steps, or do you prefer a very small engine tunnel and only 3 steps? Instead of deciding for them, we decide with them in this co-creation process, so that we make the best choices.”

Photo: DAF Trucks press materials

Choosing materials

We also asked Vivian about what DAF considers when selecting what materials to use in its cabins, notably the upholstery.

When it comes to those materials, Vivian said DAF places an emphasis on quality and longevity. “Quality of materials is a property that has to stay good over time,” she emphasised. The DAF representative also explained that DAF uses darker materials for frequently touched items like controls and seats to maintain a fresh appearance. This, said Vivian, also helps with the resale value of a DAF truck.

To balance functionality with aesthetics, Vivian stressed that DAF is aiming to create a spacious and inviting atmosphere. This means that not everything can be coloured black:

“But making everything dark [in reference to the frequently touched items mentioned earlier] might also look gloomy when spending much time in there. We try to make it spacious with warm inviting colors and soft materials where it is possible, but dark and robust when it is needed,” said Vivian.

Additionally, Vivian said DAF offers cleanable wall trim material for heavy-duty applications.

Regarding sound proofing, the Dutch manufacturer has found that fabric walltrim material works best.

“The New Generation DAF is very silent when driving, and some of the solutions that contributed to this are the material of the walltrim. The mattress and curtains also had a positive sound deafening effect on the interior at standstill,” said Vivian.

Could European trucks have proper toilets onboard in the future?

There has been talk as to whether future European truck designs should incorporate proper toilets for drivers.

We asked Vivian about how much larger trucks would need to be to accomodate this, but the DAF representative was keen to address the matter tactfully – choosing instead to focus on the need for better roadside facilities: