Best way to not fall a sleep behind the wheel

I only nap at rest stops. Going to a pilot is too tempting to just grab a redbull and keep running XD.

 

Common since goes along ways,you find a truck stop,restarea,anywhere trucks are allowed.

 

Poor babies,lol

 

I would examine the times and circumstances. Are you in the 3rd, or 5th or 10th hour of your shift?Each would require a different answer. Are you falling asleep because you are bored out of your mind, or has it been a mentall/ physically demanding trip. Does it happen after a delicious comfort meal where a nap is the natural body reaction?
Find the cause and develop a stategy to deal with it. This is the only occupation I am aware of that requires 100% concentration while the vehicle is under way. That in itself is fatiguing. Even a brain surgeon can stop for a minute in the middle of an operation. A pilot has a co-pilot.
Guys who have been out here for a long time deal with it 2nd nature. You will to.

 

Obviously those kids leave a lot to be developed lol

If you want to look up the studies there are two reports you can read through. One by a radiology research group in Japan and another by Cardiff university.

The act of chewing increased performance and reaction time in subjects in both studies.

 

I've heard this before and actually know someone that does it and swears by it.

 

Just get a good night rest. IF you not sleeping good maybe something else needs looked at. Their is a big thing in trucking about sleep apnea. I'm just saying when your worried about falling asleep behind the wheel it might be something to look into

 

1. Power nap. Even a 15 minute nap will help.
2. Chew something--gum, sunflower seeds, whatever.
3. Caffeine---Coffee, or those chocolate candies. Drip coffee has more caffeine than espresso
4. Visualization. Imagine you are taking the clothes off a beautiful partner, or are in a fist fight, or anything that stimulates your thoughts.
5. Get out of the truck and walk for a few minutes.
6. Listen to talk radio.
7. Stick your head out the window.
8. Scream, sing, stick a pin in your leg or slap yourself in the face.
9. Call up someone. It can be a complete stranger --- like a help line of some kind.
10. Chat on the CB
11. Keep a naughty magazine handy to look at.
12. Don't let the dispatcher intimidate you. Their life is not on the line.

 

@quatto Has some good ideas but... If ya try #7 just watch if it's raining May end up batting your eyes like a frog in a hail storm lol.