Do certain seat brands hurt your body to sit in?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Zonno, Nov 13, 2025.

  1. Zonno

    Zonno Medium Load Member

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    A little while back I posted a thread about my lower back & bottom aching, and I thought it was something wrong with me, but it turns out it’s a Legacy seat that was installed a few months ago. The seat before that one was old and causing me pain to sit in, so the shop replaced it but the aching didn’t go away. So I’d assumed it was an issue with me. But for the past week I’ve been driving another truck and the ache was starting to improve. The seat in that truck wasn’t worn out, but by no means brand new. Yet I could sit for hours just fine. But after driving my truck again the aching is back.

    Has anyone else had a particular seat hurt their body, even though the cushioning wasn’t worn out? I also use a seat cushion which makes a difference but is not 100%. Also no other drivers have driven my truck since the installation, so no idea if it’s just me or if the seat is no good. I don’t know what model or size the seat is; tomorrow I’ll try to take a picture and post it on here.
     
    Flat Earth Trucker Thanks this.
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  3. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    Yes, seat makes a huge difference. I only drove Volvos and all their seats sucked until 2019. Now their seats are really good.
    I managed to find myself a Recaro bus seat, it's amazing.
    images (2).jpeg images.jpeg
     
  4. Blu_Ogre

    Blu_Ogre Road Train Member

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  5. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Between Volvo, Cascadia and ProStar, the Volvo was the worst and the Cascadia the best for my back.

    Older trucks for any of them were the worst, I think because the previous drivers (I'm assuming) had been much heavier than me and left the seats a bit misshaped.

    Some of it could be because of the different suspensions on various trucks. Some ride softer and some harder.

    Also, the adjustments you make (or don't bother to make) to the seat. Do you set it to float, or not to float? Some let you pull the bottom cushion out/forward a bit to support a longer leg. The seat back inclination angle is important. The angle of the bottom cushion can also make a difference, as do the various air adjustments for lumbar support. Some seats have air adjustments for two or three regions of back support.

    And while not exactly seat related, the position of the steering wheel also figures in to finding that perfect driving position for comfort.
    Up, down, forward or back... a quarter inch in any direction can really make a difference.

    If you are just hopping in and driving without learning and using the adjustments available, you are doing yourself a disservice.
     
    Zonno Thanks this.
  6. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    brian991219 and tscottme Thank this.
  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member


    I don't know the brand, but it was the seat in a 2020 and 2021 brand new Freightliner Cascadia. I've Sears Roebuck seat. It had a flat bottom cushion and flat back cushion in a heavy-duy synthetic tweed cover. I never even considered or wanted an aftermarket seat bottom cushion in any Peterbilt, Volvo, Sterling. I HAD to find a seat cushion to keep driving the Freightliner. All truck manufacturers have good, better, best type seat options. I used an aftermarket or home-made lumber cushion in every truck I drove and fanatically focused on sitting straight upright to prevent back pain. Slouching, even a little, all day will wreck your lower back eventually.
     
  8. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Most of the time for my body aches while driving. I can reduce by adjusting the seat. Not so much as to the brand of seat.
    One truck I drove the adjustment of the steering wheel is what reduced my discomfort. Another I stopped using the arm rest on the right arm side.
     
    tscottme Thanks this.
  9. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    I had a legacy seat, it was hard and I never liked it. I only bought it because a got a really good deal on it. It was cheaply made in my opinion, and the fake leather started cracking.
    I bought a Vandetta Seat and I love it! I bought it at Horse and Buggy Accessories and got it at a very good price.
     
  10. Zonno

    Zonno Medium Load Member

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    IMG_0069.jpeg
     

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  11. Zonno

    Zonno Medium Load Member

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