For the regional truckers who work local and start real early. What time do you sleep

Get a "Screaming Meanie" alarm clock. Get the one that requires two hands to turn it off.
The website is screamingmeanie.

 

Takes time to adjust. You can't change your sleep patterns overnight. I've been running local for the last 3 1/2 years, working twelve hour shifts starting at 900 pm. It took me a year to get used to it.

For waking up, (I am also a deep sleeper), I use the alarm on my phone. My biggest problem was turning it off when the alarm went. So I downloaded an app that requires a math problem to turn the alarm off. It pisses me off, but works well.

One other thing, stay away from the energy drinks. They work for a while, but eventually you build a tolerance and need more than one, and the crash sucks. Drink water, lots of water. Its healthier, and you'll be making pit stops, which keep you awake

 

Your first day when you'll have to force yourself out of bed at 4 AM after just 6 hours of sleep will be very rough. However at the end of the day after working you'll be so tired you'll have no problem going to bed at 8PM which will kick you into the cycle.

 

When I was local I had to be in bed by 6:30pm to get up at 1:00am. That was a tough shift because I wouldn't get home until 5:00pm.

 

Loves is turning into the new mcdonalds. Soon there will be one on every corner. I think I saw one being built in Williams Arizona west of flagstaff when I was through there a few weeks ago.

 

just got of a really long 14 hour (overnight) shift and ran across your post, here's how i do it. 1. get a very loving wife that wants something that's really expensive. 2. tell her that if you oversleep then you'll miss out on the extra hours and extra pay. problem solved. the job will make you tired, and your wife's desire to get the thing she want's will get you outa bed. seems to be working fine in our house. good luck.

 

When I need to get up earlier then I use two alarm clocks. My alarm clock on my phone which I set to wake me up playing a song I like and I use a regular alarm clock as well. Both are set out of reaching distance from my bed so I have to get out of bed to turn them off. That has worked miracles for getting me up in the morning when I'm...less then amused at getting up.

 

I just sleep on the weekends and a hour at night with head in arms folded on the steering wheel,and reaching for the brake vavles when I have a scary dream about free rolling backwards down the on-ramp,just to wake up and relize its the other trucks moving and not me...

 

My typical day starts between 3am and 4 am, I'm in bed between 7:30 and 8:30 work nights, get up 45 minutes before I start, have a 15 minute commute to work. Generally will catch a nap at some point during the day. In some cases, if I need sleep help, I'll take a Benadryl or Nyquil as soon as I get home so it kicks in. But, I generally survive on 6 hrs of sleep per night anyhow.