I arrived for my sleep in the new Volvo VNL after a 15-hour travel day, weary from missed connections and your typical travel-related frustrations. In other words, for a professional driver, just another Monday.

Volvo has produced about 16,000 of its all-new VNL model since production began in January. I’ve begun seeing them on Ontario highways and they’re hard to miss with their imposing stance and bold front-end styling.

But Volvo believes the path to increased fleet sales goes through the driver. The company focused on driver comfort in the design of this truck with the belief that if it built the most comfortable cab and sleeper for drivers, fleets would order this truck as a means of reducing their driver turnover.

Turnover today, said Magnus Koeck, vice-president of strategy, marketing and brand management at Volvo Trucks North America, still stands at about 80% in the U.S. and often exceeds 100% when the freight markets are stronger. He told visiting truck journalists the cost to onboard a new driver is about US$10,000. And so, the company extensively involved drivers in the design of the new VNL.

Trucking editors were given a Volvo VNL860 with 74-inch sleeper for their nights in the truck, the largest truck in the family. It was about 9 p.m. when I was shown to my truck by Chris Stadler, marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America.

The blue dome light cast a comforting glow throughout the bunk area. Stadler gave me a quick overview of the controls, which are the same in the back as they are in the front, making the transition from driving area to living area seamless and intuitive.

A sizeable fridge was stocked with water and Cokes and Volvo provided a basket of snacks to enjoy while winding down with some Netflix. After the walkthrough with Stadler I pulled across the insulated blackout curtains and was impressed there was no light seepage from the front.

I cranked the AC to the lowest available temperature (around 62 F or 16 C) and set up my CPAP machine for sleep apnea treatment – a common condition among professional drivers. I figured the power demands of the CPAP and my ‘I need it colder’ sleeping habits would push Volvo’s new integrated parking cooler to the limit.

The parking cooler replaces the need for conventional auxiliary power unit (APU) and is powered by Volvo’s new 24-volt electrical architecture. It’s also a remarkably quiet system that produces no vibration when compared to idling. And it’s a good answer for drivers who find themselves parked for the night in no-idle zones.

Looking around the sleeper, it was clear Volvo engineers borrowed from the airline industry when trying to create a liveable space within a small footprint. Airline-style sliding window shades keep out ambient light but allow for airflow when the side bunk windows are open.

It was a comfortable 68 F (20 C) outside and I welcomed the fresh air through that side window before bed and why not, the other Volvos lined up alongside me were all silently powered by the parking cooler.

Another airline-inspired feature: if you use the integrated alarm, you can wake to gradually increasing soft light, much like on an overnight trans-Atlantic flight that’s nearing its destination. No space went unused, as Volvo built storage and functionality into every possible nook and cranny.

The cabinet top beside the bed included a no-touch phone charger and the non-slip surface allowed me to store the CPAP there without having to worry – in the event I’m a team driver – about the expensive machine falling to the floor at the first sharp turn or heavy-footed brake application. It’s also more convenient than placing it on the floor when it can be damaged.

Drivers can create a workstation in the bunk where they can comfortably sit and work on their computer or enjoy a meal sitting upright at a dinette table. When finished with the dinette table or workstation, it can be quickly and easily stowed away for bedtime.

A reclining bunk is available so drivers can rest in a chaise lounge-type position while reading or watching TV, but my truck didn’t come with this option. It did, however, come with an exceptionally comfortable mattress. Various mattress options are available and I’m told this was a premium version. In that case, it’s worth every single penny.

It wasn’t long before I succumbed to my fatigue, turned off the TV, and settled in for the night. I slept well. Really well. Better than I’d have anticipated after a long, arduous day and in an unfamiliar environment.

It was about 5:15 a.m. when I felt the gentle shudder of the truck’s engine powering on to replenish the six batteries that powered the parking cooler. Since my alarm was set for 6 a.m. I gradually awoke while appreciating the quietness of the Volvo engine and low-key vibration that was soothing. I could’ve returned to sleep if my schedule allowed.

I was surprised the parking cooler ran as long as it did given the additional demands of the CPAP. Volvo’s attention to insulation in the new VNL surely also contributes to its ability to maintain the temperature at a comfortable level for a full night.

It’s also a secure place to be. There’s a panic alarm for drivers who feel threatened, and with the optional camera mirror system, a concerned driver can turn on the exterior lights and see what surrounds the trucks on the in-cab displays.

A new My Truck app allows drivers to get the truck to a comfortable temperature before they arrive to begin their day, or while they take a break. It also allows them to monitor key items such as engine oil and diesel exhaust fluid levels.

The storage provided throughout the new VNL’s sleeper was thoughtfully laid out. The wardrobe is sufficient to store a trip’s worth of clothes. There’s additional storage underneath the bed and the upper bunk can also house a lot of gear if not needed for sleeping. A telescopic ladder folds conveniently out of the way so the upper bunk isn’t at all intrusive.

Customers can choose a larger fridge than the standard one found in my VNL860, which I found to be more than sufficient.

Device charging options abound. You have ample 120-volt outlets for items like that CPAP machine, as well as an abundance of USB and USB C plugs. The wireless phone charging pad is a nice addition.

But isn’t the sleeper smaller than in the previous VNL? Yes, the 74-inch sleeper is slightly smaller than the previous VNL’s 77-inch max offering. But you’d be hard pressed to noticed. The sleeper is so much better laid out, there’s no compromising living space. If anything, it feels more spacious than the previous design.

Everything is just packaged smarter and more efficiently.

If Volvo’s path to increased market share goes through the driver, then the attention it put into the driver comfort of its new VNL should pay off. Especially as it relates to the living environment. The industry may continue to struggle with driver turnover, but Volvo drivers won’t be leaving their fleet because they found anything lacking in the driver-centric living area of the new VNL.