A No-Nonsense Guide for Real Lorry Drivers

Lorry drivers spend a huge part of their lives in their trucks. For many, the cab isn’t just a workplace — it’s where they rest, recover, and prepare for the next long shift. Yet when it comes to sleep, most manufacturers still take a one-mattress-fits-all approach to the truck cab mattress. Why not try to create the best type of truck mattress that suite you .

That doesn’t make sense.

Truck and lorry drivers come in all shapes and sizes. The role is no longer gender-specific, sleeping positions vary widely, and sleep quality isn’t a luxury — it’s directly linked to health, alertness, and safety on the road.

In a modern truck, almost everything adjusts to fit the driver.
The seat adjusts.
The pedals adjust.
The steering wheel adjusts.
The mirrors adjust.

Yet the truck bunk mattress — the thing you rely on to recover and stay alert — usually doesn’t.

That contradiction sits at the heart of the problem.

The good news is that a custom size truck mattress, cut to fit your cab and specified for your body, is easy to order online and far more affordable than most drivers expect. Modern made-to-measure truck and lorry mattresses are designed for real sleeper cabs — not factory averages.

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Why Factory Truck & Lorry Mattresses Often Fall Short

Most factory-fitted truck bed mattresses are:

• Built to a cost
• Supplied in a single firmness
• Made thin to suit multiple cab layouts
• Produced using low- to medium-density foam

They’re designed to fit the bunk space — not the driver.

That’s why some drivers find their truck mattress too hard, others find it lacks support, and many wake up tired even after a full night’s sleep. Complaints like lower back pain, pressure points, and overheating are common with thin, generic lorry bunk mattresses.

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Choosing the Right Truck Mattress for Your Body Type

There’s no judgement here — just practical guidance. Most drivers will recognise themselves in one of the sections below.

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1️⃣ Smaller / Lighter Build Drivers

If you’re lighter in build, factory truck mattresses often feel excessively firm. Instead of gently supporting you, they push back, creating pressure at the shoulders, hips, and lower back.

Best option: Improve your existing mattress

For many lighter drivers, replacing the whole mattress isn’t necessary. A memory foam truck mattress topper (around 5 cm thick) can dramatically improve comfort by:

• Relieving pressure points
• Softening a truck mattress that feels too hard
• Improving sleep without sacrificing support

Pairing a topper with a moisture-reducing mattress spacer can also improve airflow and reduce heat and condensation inside the cab — a common issue in enclosed sleeper spaces.

Alternative: Replace the mattress (minimum 10 cm thickness)

If the existing mattress is worn or uneven, a replacement truck mattress, cut to size for your bunk, offers a big step up from factory foam without unnecessary bulk.

Why this works:
Lighter drivers benefit most from pressure relief rather than extreme firmness. The right foam allows the body to settle naturally, improving comfort and sleep quality.

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2️⃣ Medium / Average Build Drivers

For average-build drivers, factory mattresses often feel “OK” — but not great. Sleep tends to be broken rather than painful, leading to fatigue over time.

Option 1: Upgrade with a memory foam topper

A quality truck mattress topper can:

• Improve overall comfort
• Reduce pressure build-up
• Extend the life of the existing mattress

This is a cost-effective upgrade if the base mattress is still in reasonable condition.

Option 2: Replace the mattress

(Assuming a minimum mattress thickness of 10 cm)

Many drivers in this category benefit from a custom-cut truck or lorry mattress that balances comfort and support. A medium-firm foam mattress suits most sleeping positions and offers better durability than factory options.

Why this works:
Average-build drivers need balance — enough support to stay level, with enough comfort to avoid pressure points.

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3️⃣ Larger / Heavier Build Drivers

For larger or heavier drivers, the biggest issue with factory mattresses is lack of support. Thin or soft foam compresses too easily, leading to sagging, spinal misalignment, and back pain from the truck mattress.

The key rule: volume = support

The thicker and denser the mattress, the better it will support your body over time.

Best option: High-support replacement mattress

A firm, high-density foam truck mattress provides the structure needed to prevent bottoming out. For bunks with non-standard layouts, a T-shaped truck mattress ensures full support across the entire sleeping surface — not just the centre.

Adding a topper on top of a firm base can then:

• Improve surface comfort
• Reduce pressure points
• Fine-tune firmness without compromising support

Why this works:
Heavier drivers need structure first and comfort second. A firm core supports the spine; the comfort layer improves sleep without sag.

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Custom Truck & Lorry Mattresses: Built for the Driver, Not the Average

A properly specified bespoke truck mattress is the Best Type of Truck Mattress:

• Is cut to fit your exact bunk shape
• Uses foam matched to your body weight and sleeping style
• Improves sleep quality without wasting valuable cab space

Whether you’re upgrading an existing mattress or ordering a custom size lorry mattress from scratch, choosing the right specification is one of the simplest ways to improve comfort, recovery, and long-term wellbeing on the road.

If you’re unsure which option suits you best, we’ll talk it through and recommend what actually works — no jargon, no upselling, just practical advice for real drivers.