How do you guys fight off fatigue during a 10 hour day in an end dump

Routine is everything. Energy drinks are just another bad habit to break. Radio is great. If you have to listen to someone/thing you hate. Will keep you up. Eat. Not plate size chicken fried steak for most. Sure way to nod off. Drink a lot of water. Hard to sleep if you have to pee a lot. And don't be afraid to pull over and take required 30 min break. Or 10 minute nap. Whatever works for you. I work 12 a day normally. Couple of nights when opposite driver is off will work 14 if I feel like it. Maybe get 6 loads and then next day if tired quit after 4 and 9-10 hrs. But never forget that NOTHING is worth getting killed or killing someone else over. At least not in the box of that truck. You will figure out what is best for your body.

 

One of the benefits of non forced dispatch and paper logs is that you can listen to your body and decide that yes today I feel strong, tomorrow is not so good and so forth.
Last time I pushed thru the night some measly 60 miles were an eternity to me.
I'd give money back for that load just to take a nap.
Cold air, blasting music, coffee can help for a little while but of it happens every other night then its too much risk.
I spoke to a driver who fell asleep when driving, he said since then appointment or not, he takes first exit and takes a nap on the off ramp

 

Get a CB radio and talk to the other drivers your rolling down the hwy with. Works well with me before you know it your out of hrs.

 

7 hours of sleep every night......

 

Eating sunflower seeds and drinking water works wonders for me. It's a pain cleaning up after them though.

 

Music and monster drink keeps me going when things get blurry (not really but you know it keeps me up when I think I need a nap) on the road.

 

You should get them preshelled. I get mine from nuts in bulk (not trying to advertise, just trying to help someone out.)

Their product quality is super high, and the price ain't bad.

I eat about half a pound or more of either sunflower seeds (unsalted), pumpkin seeds (raw, unsalted), Peanuts (roasted, unsalted) I've really picked up a taste for raw flax and chia seeds.

This idea all came from me doing an extremely physically demanding job, and being unsatisfied with eating soggy turkey sandwiches. This is quick, easy, and provides really awesome long lasting energy, plus I get to eat several dozen handfuls throughout the day, which my GP says is good for metabolism. Lot of protein, healthy fats, and amino acids.

BTW, when you store those properly, they last for months. No refrigeration required, whatsoever, typically.

Anyhow, yeah. Listen to the radio, ####-chat on the CB, get out and walk when you're dog tired. Do something to get your heart rate up. If it doesn't work, try to sustain a high heart rate for a few minutes; do some jumping jacks (though, not while on the phone with night dispatch complaining about fatigue.) Get plenty of restful sleep, stay hydrated, keep away from excessive caffine.

And I'm gonna get hate for this, but if you're a larger fellow, considering a sleep test for Apnea might not be the worst thing ever.

 

Listening to the cb is good if you feel like listening to racist arguments and fist fights that will never happen. Lol. But I guess it's all in good trucker fun. Lol

 

Energy drinks are trouble for me as I am a little on the hyper side already. Think of someone you would like to give a piece of your mind to and get off a good vent. You might look a little foolish to others on the road, but put on your Bluetooth and take your mind off the fatigue.