Commercial vehicles have changed a lot over the years, and one of the most beneficial changes, at least from a human health perspective, have revolved around the seat. It used to be that drivers of heavy-duty commercial vehicles would experience painful vibrations across the spine, as well as across other parts of the body, whenever travelling across rough terrain.
Thanks to modern engineering, several seating suspension methods have stepped forward to smooth out the ride and keep the operator's body healthy.
In general, you'll find that seat suspension systems use either mechanical or air suspension. There's no right option between them, but both possess their own unique benefits. Take a quick look at this overview to identify the right kind of seat to meet your needs.
The Benefits of Mechanical Suspension
A mechanical suspension system for your driver's seat very closely resembled the suspension system you're used to seeing under a passenger vehicle. Coil springs and shock absorbers are connected to articulating joints to help provide cushioning across unfriendly terrain.
Mechanical suspension systems can be adjusted according to the needs of the operator, but their central advantage is really their simplicity. This might sound like a disadvantage, but the truth is that mechanical suspension systems are a lot easier to fix than air systems, both in terms of determining the problem and putting it right. Additionally, mechanical suspensions systems are a lot more cost-effective, which is going to be a serious concern if you're outfitting a larger commercial fleet instead of one or two vehicles.
The Benefits of Air Suspension
Air suspension seats are generally significantly more costly than mechanical systems, but many users will tell you that you get what you pay for.
Using a pneumatic system to cushion against shocks and vibrations, air suspension seats can be adjusted more minutely to ensure the best possible fit with both the body size and shape of the operator and the purpose of the vehicle. Making adjustments is easier and more precise because you simply have to vary air pressure, and, unlike springs, the pneumatic system will maintain constant pressure no matter their setting.
You should also find that air suspension seats can handle slightly more weight, but their main advantage is probably that they are simply more comfortable than mechanical systems. This might not be much of an issue if the vehicle is only going to be driven for short periods, but it becomes more important if your vehicles are going to be driven across significant distances.
