That's a good question Keith, and I'm sure that this will shed a little light on the situation for you. CV's can get away without a sleeper because their Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is under 10,000 pounds. That means that they are not subject to the DOT's hours of service (HOS) regulations.
If you have a truck with a GVW greater than 10,000 and you have no sleeper, you may be required to show hotel receipts for your DOT mandated off duty time for the last 7 days. You can sleep at home, but you won't be home every night. You cannot legally sleep in your truck if you do not have a DOT approved sleeper.
What is a DOT approved sleeper you may ask????
The answer to that question and even more is available in the most recent copy of the federal motor carriers safety regulations book. They are available from any carrier and in most truck stops. The FMCSR is the rule book for our industry, and all commercial drivers should be familiar with its content.
Best of Luck - I hope this helps!
Scott
