So you want to run at night?!

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by dirtyjerz, Jun 17, 2013.

  1. kwloo

    kwloo Medium Load Member

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    I. Love driving at night and will usually start at 1 or2 in the morning. My biggest complaint is the aftermarket fog or driving lights that are aimed to augment the low beams. Especially on two lane roads. I,d love to shoot them out LOL
     
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  3. Luggnut

    Luggnut Light Load Member

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    In the old days I used to know some guys that carried a bag of marbles to drop out the window when the dimmer switch could not be found.
     
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  4. Luggnut

    Luggnut Light Load Member

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    Jus sayin'......... :)
     
  5. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    Oh yeah, this is really neat. To know that all those people are sound asleep in their beds while you are working. SO YOU DRIVE WITH YOUR JAKES ON, AND USE THE AIR HORN LIBERALLY! (If I can't sleep, ain't NOBODY GONNA SLEEP!):biggrin_2552:

    JK folks, JK!:biggrin_2559:
     
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  6. Sequoia

    Sequoia Road Train Member

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    I find it kind of neat that these people are sound asleep, totally oblivious that I'm rolling through their town and when they wake up in the morning they'll have no idea I was passing through.

    ...unless I hit their mailbox or my tandems don't clear that roundabout they installed downtown because it 'looks nice' and will 'help the flow of traffic' and it leaves 2 tire grooves right through those prize winning azaleas that Mrs. Winterford planted.
     
  7. dirtyjerz

    dirtyjerz glowing beard pouty kid

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    Playing in Traffic
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    My brother in law carries marbles in his pocket when on his street bike for those who tailgate him.
     
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  8. big wheels

    big wheels Medium Load Member

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    florida-USA
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    I dont mind driving at night. As long as you get you sleep in. There isn't a problem.

    I eat up more miles at night time them day time. I zip right through.

    Toll booths no lines, Exit ranps into merging traffic eazy as pie.

    Stop at reststop,truck stop. right in right out.

    In most places traffic so thin. can travle striaght through at a steady pace never touch the break.

    Most of those chicken coops are close down or just roll right through the by pass lane and keep on trucken.


    I go in at night in these small town streets. with these right angle intersections. That have those telephone pole right on the curb. like NY,Nj&Pa just to name a few.

    To be able to swing around those corners. With all that three lefts make one right. Is great.

    Got to say one thang i do is i run with a red light on just out of the way where i cant see where it is. But the light hits the dash,streering wheel & ect.

    This helps with my eyes adjusting from far to close up. keeps me from staring,blurring vison & tried eyes. Just as day time sun would do.

    Anyway Days not bad. Be safe. If your tired,stop sleep far 20,30 mins. Please after your nap. Dont just jump in the driver seat & drive. wake up first, chinese fire drill.
     
  9. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Most of the time it is not really practical to pull over for a nap. It will only make you late for delivery.
    As much as I try to build in enough time for decent breaks and other contingencies, the system always tries just as hard to make me run as hard as possible on every load.

    But that goes for day or night driving.

    Best to make sure you get a good days sleep before heading out at night.
     
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  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    I carried a cup full of BB's in the truck & car.
     
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  11. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Tennessee
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    The only thing I can add is take scheduled breaks. Know when, where and how long before you leave. It should be part of one's trip planning. If you get use to stopping every 2.5-3.5 hours the old bladder gets use to it and very seldom do you have to do emergency bathroom breaks. You'll also see your on time record improve to near perfect unless weather or a breakdown gets you. I see too many drivers that stop casually and trash truck stops. The next thing you know they are in a pickle running ragged to get to their destination. My company scheduled me too tight. :) You are at work. Get your job done and goof off at your destination, not in between.

    There are always them times we arrive at the customer the night before. You sleep all night, wake up and deliver. Then you spend all day chasing the next load that makes you run all that night. Your dispatcher tells you to get you a break in and sleep. But you can't sleep because you just woke up a few hours ago. If you are lucky you might sleep 2-3 hours right before you leave. Those are the nights that are problems. We have other threads you can search for tricks to stay awake. If all else fails a 10-30 minute power nap is usually enough to get you there safely. If you take scheduled breaks you should have the free time to be able to.

    Many times I found myself getting sleepy around 4-5 am. It didn't matter if you were well rested and woke up at 2 am. I called it the witching hour and I'm sure more drivers experience that dilemma as you see many drivers weaving about that time. If you chew on something usually revives you temporarily. I would nibble on ice not to put on the calories. Once the sun came up I was good to go. If all else fails get that power nap in. Don't push yourself past the nodding part no matter what. It's not worth it. If you didn't blow your free time you should have 30 minutes or so to get a nap in. Sometimes you'll have a 10 hour break at your destination before delivery. If you are extremely tired stop early, take your break and get up and finish the last hour or two driving before delivery. It's not the best mileage practice but do what you have to do to get there on time and safely. You can usually catch that time up waiting for the next dispatch. Paper logs help! :)

    If you haul meat you'll run 70% or so at night and push your circadian limit to the max. That's much harder than running regular nights. I loved night time driving with the slack traffic. There is something about seeing that green light on reefers and kicked back cruising listening to the stereo and drinking a good cup of coffee. It's much better than clutching yourself to death in a traffic jam. The sunrises and sunsets are an added bonus.

    I worked with this guy that got a new truck. I get to work at 3am and he was out there adjusting his low beams upwards. I asked him what he was doing. He said he wanted to see better at night. I laughed, that's what your high beams are for. What an idiot. One night my truck was in the shop and he was off so I had to drive his truck. Everyone kept flashing me because they thought I had my high beams on. I felt bad, lol. When you turned the highbeams on they lit up the tree tops. :)
     
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