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

Just started a 5am job here, most days see me in bed around 9:30pm and waking up at 3:30am

 

I could never do that, that's almost a night job. Would wreck havoc on my body. I had a job once where they told me to start at 11:30 PM and drive all night and well into the next afternoon. I did it just once. I need money to live like the next guy but I won't kill myself for it either.

 

And that's the thing with a local job. Depending on the company, the runs, and the schedules, you can kill yourself (not literally). Like I posted earlier, I'd be up at 1am or 2 am for a 3am or 4am dock time. I'd get finished with my day around 5pm or 6pm. Commute home and have about an hour or so to eat dinner, get a shower, and pretty much hit the rack so I could do it again the next day. Was I in my own home every night? Yes. Was it quality home time? No.

I went back to running regional. I may only be home on the weekends, but I am far less stressed out during my work week.

 

I wake up at 4:30am, M-f to start at 0600. Usually off by 1700 - 1745. I go to bed by 2030-2130. LTL P/D

 

You train yourself to sleep on command, and stay in routine even on your days off. I awaken everyday at 03:00 and go to bed at 22:30, 7 days a week. I work 5 or 6 days a week, leaving the house at 04:30, home around 19:30. What throws me off is when I have to stay out for a night and sleep in a hotel, it is hard to stay on schedule when I get done at 18:00 and don't have to go home, it throws my routine off a little then it is hard to get to sleep on time and up the next morning.

When I was OTR or working on call and on an irregular schedule I learned to sleep on command, but it did suck never having the same sleep and awake cycle, for me all I have ever needed was 4 hours of sleep, any more and I am just as tired as if I didn't sleep at all, even proved this to my doctor when they required me to take a sleep test.

Everyone is different, if you have trouble sleeping you may need to make your sleep environment more appealing by blacking out windows, noise insulation, etc. I like to have a small fan running year round for white noise and airflow, this helps me greatly. Try sticking to your schedule, even on your days off and see if this helps get your body into a cycle.