Photo source: Lamax – manufacturer of bus sleeping cabins
Exactly five and a half months separate us from the historic change in regulations. From July 1, 2026, trucks with a GVW between 2.5 and 3.5 tons – i.e. popular “buses” – will be subject to the obligation to use tachographs in international transport. This brings us to today’s premiere, presented by Lamax.
The Polish manufacturer of sleeping cabins for light trucks today showed a body called Lamax Travel Cab XS. This is a cabin created especially for the Piaggio Porter NP6, a miniature delivery vehicle of Italian-Chinese origin, equipped with a cabin only 1.64 meters wide. This vehicle was designed with city centers in mind, for example in the municipal industry, but as a result of a change in tachograph regulations, it was decided to adapt it also to international routes. The Porter NP6 model is able to fit into a 2.5-ton GVM, retains about a ton of load capacity, and also serves as a chassis for bodies.
In the November article, I already showed the first copy of such a Piaggio with a structure for five Euro pallets and a roof sleeping cabin, i.e. the so-called “hen house” (see here: 2.49-ton Piaggio with a “hen house” already on the roads – what parameters can we find here?). I mentioned then that due to the very narrow structure of the vehicle, a very small bed had to be installed, with a mattress only 1.72 meters long. And this is the problem that Lamax Travel Cab XS is supposed to solve, thanks to a very unusual solution, clearly visible in the photos below.
The new cabin does not have a roof, but is mounted behind the seats, reducing the potential cargo space from five to four Euro pallets. The photos also clearly show that the body is much wider than the factory one, although it was still not enough to accommodate a full-size sleeping place. Therefore, Lamax decided to create a system for extending the cabin to the right side, which the driver can use when stationary. The use of this system increases the mattress to 197 centimeters in length and 64 centimeters in width, so it will allow many drivers to straighten up. In addition, placing the bedroom at the back also allows for large storage spaces, which are located under the mattress, in the lower part of the cabins.
The new cabin has been introduced to the offer and orders can be placed for it. I’m very curious whether it will be accepted on the European market or whether it will be considered an exaggeration. It must be emphasized that even with such an extension, the Piaggio Porter NP6 remains very far from the definition of a long-distance vehicle. We still have an extremely narrow cab, a 1.5-liter non-turbocharged petrol engine, a 5-speed gearbox and no factory cruise control, even as an option. It’s really hard to imagine changing to a Porter from “Masterka” or “Dajlak”.
Extension hidden, mattress folded:
Extension outwards, mattress unfolded:
Storage space under the mattress:
Bedroom seen from the front of the cabin:
On the other hand, apart from the validity of creating such vehicles based on Piaggio, it is difficult to underestimate the ingenuity of Lamax. In fact, it can even be pointed out as an interesting inspiration for the industry. The idea of enlarging cabins during breaks could also be used in larger and heavier vehicles, not necessarily to make the driver fit in the bed, but also to provide him with more space and better conditions for rest. This may bring to mind the Iveco Trans Saharian prototype from 1980, based on the Turbo model, in which the roof could be extended when stationary. Thanks to this, the truck’s cabin could accommodate not only a bed, but also a washbasin and a well-equipped kitchen. I described this prototype in the following article: Truck cabins could be slidable – the Iveco Trans Saharian prototype from 1980
Finally, I would like to remind you that from July 1, 2026, the latest generation digital tachographs, the so-called “Smart Tacho 2”, will be required in trucks with a GVW above 2.5 tons that perform international, commercial transport of goods in European Union countries, as well as in Norway, Switzerland and Great Britain. This will cover both new and used vehicles. Transport for your own needs will be completely exempt from this requirement. I would also like to emphasize that the introduction of tachographs will not go hand in hand with the introduction of mandatory speed limiters. Buses with a GVW above 2.5 tons will therefore be subject to the same working time registration as full-fledged trucks, but they will be able to drive much faster, comparable to passenger cars. It may turn out that speed will now be the key on expressways. However, if someone would like to avoid both the tachograph and Piaggio, there is only one alternative on the market so far. This is the no longer produced Fiat Doblo Work-Up, described in the following article: Fiat Doblo Work Up as an international bus – another reaction to tachographs
The above-mentioned Iveco Trans Saharian:
