Hi,

I just got put on a dedicated run with CR England. I'm home every night. the only thing is I'm new and this run is night driving I only drive for about 4 hours a night but I'm up most of the night. I also have time for a 45 min to 1 1/2 hour nap. However, I still get tired mostly when dawn approaches. Can anyone give me some advice? This was my first week and I worked Mon- Fri. Next week I may be working 6 days. I just need some advice on how to stay awake so I can stay alive if you know what I mean.

Thanks

Well I am night owl myself and do almost all my driving at night, I just prefer it.... Anyways I still get tired myself when that sun starts coming up.... That sun peaks up and your mind will say I should of been asleep...
Far as things you can do? well nothing really can 100% fight it... Basically you need to take a nap then...

Although this is what I do at times... I listen to the comedy channel on sirius... I also listen to Fox news... or the playboy channel lol ... You know something that will stimulate your brain by keeping it interested .....
But ultimately there is nothing really that works 100%, I personally know my limit and will not push it beyond that cause I enjoy life to much...

I suggest you do the same far as not pushing yourself and end up
Some people just can't drive at night and early morn... Biological clock thing I guess... You know I'm sure you heard it before... Truck drivers trying to start something by saying "look at all of those solar powered drivers in the truck stop" I always say better them be there then out here endangering my life, At least they know it and made the right decision... I usually don't get a response from that person but somebody else will say I you there driver.....

So, basically try a few things to keep your mind active but ultimately you need to draw a line and no matter what don't pass that point....

Mike always found eating something crunchy helped keep him awake. Didn't matter what it was - chips, grapes, whatever, but eating kept him awake. I can't do the night thing myself - I'm a morning person. No way I could stay awake all night. I've never done it and I'm 42 so... lol

Good luck!! If necessary, SLEEP!! Better late and alive than the alternative..

Everybody get's tired during night driving. The thing to do is to pull over and to take a nap whatever it takes...Get out of the truck, walk around, kick the tires to get some fresh air.

Make sure that during the day you are getting sufficient sleep, and definately exercise when you have the time.

The better shape you are in the easier it will become.

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Good replies thus far. But if you find yourself on a stretch of hwy that offers no pull-off/parking, then bubblegum is your friend.

Ahh, a run after my own hart. I love to run at night, I usually make my Monday delivery from the house as early as possible, so I can get my next pick up as early as possible, this way I can get off the clock around 4 or 5 oclock. Then I sleep till midnight and off we go, I try to do all my long distance stuff at night, it is the best time to run,, less of everything out there 4 wheelers police scales, but some are open but not nearly as many, it is definately the safer time to run, especially with the talent pool on the road now,.. You will find most of the drivers running graveyard are vertrans with alot of years under their belts, and it shows with the quality of travel you will have at night..
Try to sleep as much during the day as You can, at first it is hard but will become easier with time, make sure You are hydrated drink water or gatoraid and plenty of it, dehydration even in it's mildest form will make you 10 times more tired than if hydryated properly, Coffee well, it has its ups but really won't do much, caffeine content is low and if You drink too much you will get tired and dehydrated from peeing too much,, But if You enjoy it here is what I do.. I always have a good size coffee at the start of my night, then and this is up to You but you asked what people are doing and this is my system, I take 3 excedrine migrane it has asprin which I need anyway we all do, it has acettominophin, and it has caffene, I take these with my coffe, then about 2 hours latter I will have a sobe adrenilian rush, this a drink with all the silly herbal engery stuff, gurana , I like the taste of it, and it gives me a boost for a few hours,, I also use 5 hour energy if I am feeling like I am not up to par on a particular night, I like it and I think it works good but some other people will say it is junk, it's all up to the individual. I also use black Jacks which is another herbal deal, it is a capsule and you see it at truck stops and convient stores.. Again individual taste but it works for me. The number one thing to remember is when You get to that point when You are starting to catch yourself, thats it You are all done, pull over and sleep for at least 20 minutes, I find that 20 minutes can reset You for a good few hours... But never try to break through the dozys I can guarantee You a ride in the ditch..
I am a night owl, always have been, My first job out of high school was 11 to 7,, on the weekends I am tired all day then around 11 pm I am running around doing chores and what not. Thank god the wal-mart super center is 24 hours....
Good luck to You and if I see any england trucks at night I will shout out a hello. I run all over, east of the miss, mostly stuff like louisville to jersy, C.T. to N.C. Cannonsburg to bangor N.H. to buffalo.. etc..
Any questions just ask..

This seems like a good place for my question, would you guys please read my thread in this forum . ( Great expectations ) and let me know what you think. I still cannot understand why that would not work for the most part . Thank you in advance Hootiehoo

I have always wanted to drive a truck, and am in the final phases of deciding to do so but my question is this. Is there any way for the most part to do this job in the daytime. I don't mind the hours and hard work but can you do most , say 75% of your sleeping at night . I am sure that I can be more productive, even though may run into more traffic. I have never had much success at working the midnight shift. Lets just say a typical day 5 am to 8 or 9 pm. please let me know your opinions, Thanks Hootiehoo

Sure you can. There are tons of trucking jobs that are mostly daytime. If you drive OTR, though, you're probably going to run into nighttime driving unless you own your own truck. You'll have to look around and hopefully find a dedicated run or a local job (which pays less but it's usually days OR nights)

Thanks to all for taking out from your busy schedules to reply. The company has a fatigue manager and sleep management classes. I just thought I'd ask some experienced drivers what they do and compare it to what the company teaches. This run is very easy though. It is for 5 or six nights. Picking up in New York, NY at about 9pm (I leave my house at about 7 w/truck & trailer) and delivering in Allentown, PA. I then wait in Allentown until 3:45-5 AM and then go back to New York w/load. When I'm all done I drive home. This is a DHL run so we are not allowed to B late. We get 2 hours and 15 mins to make each trip. I can do it in under two hours. I just started this run and I have only drove for a few days. So far it's mostly the second trip that I struggle with even if I take a nap. I have time for a nap and I must do so as much as possible unless I'm tied up w/fueling or paperwork. It seems like I'll be able to nap on most nights. This is a day cab so the quality of the nap is not that great but I heard some drivers get some wood, foam n stuff from home depot and make a bed across the two seats lol. I'm a newbie and this is my first solo run. I lucked out because most of my peers at England went OTR. I'm just trying to avoid accidents, moving violations, and being late so that I can stay on this run. It's a good start I think and I can stay here until I'm confident that I can work somewhere else with better pay. The pay is not bad though I get a flat rate of 850 for 5 nights and 950 for 6. As far as I'm concerned this is a very big blessing from the good Lord up above. I was looking at doing 48 states and getting home every 4 weeks or so.