How do you stay awake?

Ran the night shift for 3 decades , usually from mid-night til noon or so. Only did it for 3 to maybe 4 times a week. Like it's been posted you get your clock set for that and it's usually no trouble , but for those nights...I had a couple of tricks like talking on the CB , or listening to late night am radio. later on I had my son put a couple of music soundtracks on CD's for me , love the one from Vanishing Point ( the original 1970 film with Barry Newman & Cleavon Little as Super soul ) then the one from Friend's , a couple of McGuffey Lane albums , and a few of the 70's bubble gum tunes....worked every time. But , once it gets from tired to sleepy......don't ever , ever , try and fool yourself , stop and get some sleep. Better safe than sorry ALWAYS....not a load of anything worth your life or an innocent persons that you may meet.

 

Drink coffee. Don't use sugar or soft drinks because then you're setting yourself up for diabetes and that's no joke. Many truckers are now sitting in wheelchairs with no feet or legs because they guzzled soft drinks and other sugary drinks to stay awake.

 

Some good music, ice cold water, and a can of Copenhagen, maybe call some buddies and tell exaggerated stories... If need be a 30-45 min nap between 430-6 does me wonders... Sleep is overrated...

 

I drink so much pepsi that no caffeine can keep me from getting sleepy, the type of tired wear the eyes just feel heavy, I stop walk around my truck once or twice, then set in my seat, close my eyes for fifteen minutes, then I'm good to go the rest of the day, happens once a week or so, I've never driven to the point where I get sloppy on the road, or tailgate

 

I chew betel nut; can stay awake for days.

 

You hit the nail right on the head! Sleep, but if I have a night that I just seem not to be able to get the rest I need? Then I drive what I safely can, then park it for the rest, now I know that some will use "cough cough" a little friend let's say, but I don't go that route

 

I drove through Detroit on 75 during rush hour. The road rage adrenalin kept me awake all the way back to Indianapolis.

 

Nothing makes me happier than when I hear Gene Tracy on XM.

 

I stop walk around for a bit and then close my eyes for ten minutes or so. Seems to reset my eyes

 

juice Carrots, apples, and parsley.