What is Tramping and Trunking in HGVs?

GRC has many trucks for sale in the UK, including HGVs – essential for the movement of cargo. The world of shipping using HGVs is very interesting and, once you dig even just below the surface, you’ll see that there is more to it than just climbing into a cab and moving shipments from A to B (or maybe even to C as well).

For a start there is the lingo – all those shorthand words and phrases used around the industry, which have specific meaning to those working within it – but which might seem impenetrable to outsiders. Don’t panic! We’re here, in this latest edition of our blog, to explain some of these words – well, two of the most unusual, anyway.

Tramping and Trunking

What is Trunking?

Trunking can be thought of as a relatively short form of driving.

It is a shorter and often more regular form of cargo movement. It means often using familiar routes such as motorways and dual carriageways to do the job – and then going home at the end of it (in the evenings and at weekends, or whenever drop and return is done, and the job is actually complete). Trunking could be roughly in line with a regular working day though it could entail a long shift – all within legal limits, of course – but the driver will ‘clock off’ and head home at the end of it.

The term ‘trunking’ is used due to the fact that dual carriageways and motorways are, in the UK, generally known as ‘trunk roads’. Night trunking is common and, as the name suggests, entails travelling these routes at night. This can often mean a less intense or interrupted driving situation, with roads less busy. The driver would still return home at the end of their ‘shift’. In general, there are container lorries moving goods somewhere on UK roads 24 hours a day.

What is Tramping?

Tramping is a much more involved form of cargo driving.

It involves travelling longer distances and therefore longer periods of time – including more time away from home for the driver. A typical journey to destination and back could take a few days (perhaps moving a shipment across Europe). The driver will, in essence, live in their cab – driving for a certain number of hours and then sleeping in there too. It is a very solitary way of living and, though it pays very well, it would not suit every driver.

Tramping tends to involve larger, heavier, vehicles as they can carry more goods. Drivers also need to be au fait with the driving laws of the countries they travel through.

At GRC, we stock many used trucks for sale, with some more suitable for tramping and some more suitable for trunking. You can browse our website to find a truck to suit you and your business needs. Feel free to contact us to discuss further. We would be very happy to help, and make sure that you get exactly the right truck.