Tramping splits opinion more than any other kind of Class 1 work. Some drivers will not go back to day work once they have done it. Others try a fortnight and decide it is not for them. Both are fair. Here is what it actually involves so you can judge for yourself.
What tramping means
Tramping means you are away from home overnight, sleeping in the cab, usually out for several nights at a stretch before coming back. You are covering longer distances and multiple drops rather than shuttling the same route.
The money
Tramping generally pays better than equivalent day work. You get your hourly rate, and on top of that a night-out allowance for each night you are away. Because you are not losing time to a daily commute and you are usually running your hours fully, weekly totals tend to be higher than a comparable day job.
Our Class 1 work runs up to £25 per hour depending on the role, with a guaranteed minimum of £1,000 for a five-day week. Tramping roles sit at the stronger end of that once allowances are counted.
Typical patterns
- Out Monday morning, back Friday — the most common pattern and the easiest to plan a life around.
- Four on, three off — popular with drivers who want proper blocks of time at home.
- Rolling patterns with a weekend at home every other week — better money, harder on family life.
Kit worth having
- A decent sleeping bag rather than relying on whatever is in the cab.
- A 12v kettle or flask, and a cool box — eating out every night gets expensive fast and wrecks any savings.
- Power bank and long charging cables.
- Somewhere sensible to keep paperwork so you are not hunting for it at a gate.
Who tramping suits
It suits drivers who like being left to get on with the job, who do not mind their own company, and who would rather have solid blocks of time at home than an evening each night. It does not suit you if you need to be home daily, and there is no shame in that — we have plenty of day and night work across Essex, Suffolk and the ports.
Before you take a tramping job
Ask what the actual pattern is, what the night-out allowance is, whether the truck has a proper bunk and a fridge, and what happens if you get stuck out an extra night. A straight answer to all four tells you a lot about the operator.
“The money is competitive and there are plenty of options, including days, nights and tramping. I'd happily recommend Adam and the BWN team to other HGV drivers.”
Fancy trying tramping, or want to get back into it? Message us and we will tell you exactly what the pattern, rate and allowance are before you commit to anything.