Truck Mattresses: Finding the Best Rest for your Body


Spending so much time in the sleeper of your cab – which becomes a second home for long-haul truckers – requires as many elements of comfort as possible.

That includes a great mattress. After all, if you don’t want to sleep on a saggy, uncomfortable mattress at home, why would you want to sleep on one on the road?

In the same way home mattresses are improving and changing, so are the mattresses for the cab of your truck, and we’ve put together some of the best selections in a range of different prices, so you have plenty of options to choose from.

If you prefer cloud-like comfort, you can find it. There are also memory foam versions, traditional mattresses and beds with cooling gel to keep you comfortable all night long. There are also inflatable truck beds, but unless you are purchasing a top-of-the-line version, this is best left for camping trips, and not nights where rest is imperative if you’re going to be your best.

There are a wide range of mattress options, including:

  • Sleep Dog Mattresses, made in North Carolina in two different styles. The seven-inch mattress includes cooling technology, while the 9-inch mattress is memory foam with a plush pillow top for added comfort. Check out the website (www.sleepdogmattress.com) to learn more.
  • Mattress Insider, which features a wide range of mattress styles in several different styles. Options range from comfort foam to pocketed coils to gel foam with an organic cotton top. Explore more options on the website (https://www.mattressinsider.com/) to find the mattress of your dreams.
  • Raney’s Truck Mattresses offer a wide range of sizes to fit virtually any tractor-trailer, whether yours is a Kenworth, a Peterbilt, a Freightliner, or another brand. Memory foam options include a cooling gel – a high-end selection – that prevents overheating while sleeping. There are also mattresses to suit virtually any budget. Check out Raney’s selections here.
  • The Minimizer claims to offer a mattress so comfortable that drivers prefer to sleep in their truck even when they are at home, but that’s a different situation, we think. Still, the Long Haul Series mattress has earned 4.5 stars, and is made of 100 percent organic latex that both supports and contours the body. One side is firmer than the other, so you can play Goldilocks and find the firmness levels that are just right for you. The Minimizer is also antibacterial and hypoallergenic, and there’s a YouTube video featuring a doctor recommending this plush bed. Sleep, says Austin-based wellness expert Dr. Kelly Nesvold, rejuvenates drivers for the next day’s run, and poor sleep makes drivers a danger on the road. Not having a quality night’s sleep is going to “impact their ability to react to things that come about when they’re out on the road,” and it won’t help provide the necessary spinal decompression necessary after a hard day’s work. Find out more here.
  • The North America Mattress Corp. has mattresses to suit a wide range of different needs. The truck collection has cool gel memory foam as a feature on most mattresses, and some have both soft and firm sides, so you can switch up your mattress to meet your needs. There are also mattresses designed with the larger truck driver in mind, so there is genuinely something for everybody – and every type of body. Find out more about this Amazon-based site here.
  • Estee Bedding Company offers a mattress size for virtually every cab, and the company has been making them for 45 years. The family-owned company is the largest truck bedding manufacturer in the United States, so if you want one of these beauties – and want to support American-made products – check out the various offerings, which range from 6.5 to 9 inches in thickness and each with layers of foam and coil support, here.

When buying a mattress, what should I consider?

There are so many different mattress options and materials that the process of purchasing a new mattress for your truck can be as daunting as buying one for your home. And that, we all know, is extremely stressful, because you are stuck with your purchase for eight years – eight long years if you end up hating it.

For your truck, you want to take the same care and attention.

Here are some things to think about – but remember, price isn’t everything. You’ll be sleeping on this mattress night after night for a long time, and without a good night’s sleep, you can’t perform well on the road. (Sleep experts say that not only does a lack of sleep slow reaction times on the road, it also triggers health problems, usually because we eat more when we are trying to stay alert, a potential precursor to obesity and all the problems that come with.)

  • Truck mattresses are usually less expensive than home versions, because they tend to be smaller and thinner. But that simply means that if your budget allows, you can purchase a top-of-the-line truck mattress for less than a home version.
  • Special features often include dual sides – one side firm, the other side less so – so you can get the sleep and support that best suits your body. Gel foam keeps you cool, so even if you’re traveling the Florida Everglades, you’ll still sleep comfy.
  • Ok, but how do you choose? It all depends on how you sleep. If you are a side sleeper, you need a firmer mattress that contours to support pressure points, while back sleepers rest well with full-body support and light contouring to support an overworked spine. If you are a stomach sleeper, you probably want something in between – a firm mattress with contouring to support the upper body. Larger drivers are more likely to be happy with a firmer mattress, but again, choosing one with two options – one per side – helps ensure that you’ll find the right one to fit your needs.
  • Some truck mattresses are made of a single layer of foam, which seems too much like prison to make time off enjoyable. Check out your purchase, and look for quality materials and multiple layers of support to get the most comfortable sleep.
  • Each truck cab may have a different size sleeper compartment, so measure – and measure again – before buying your mattress.