Open letter about wakefulness

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by SteveBausch, Nov 21, 2018.

  1. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    Oct 15, 2014
    Indianapolis, Indiana
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    I sent this email to the owner of fleet (contracted to FedEx Ground). Indy to Columbus Ohio isn’t that hard, usually, but I failed, badly, recently, and FedEx has way$ to minimize service failures. Run starts at 21:00 or so, after 3 hours of local P&D. Back to Indy around 5 am.

    So, here’s the letter. Looking forward to feedback.

    “Brett,

    I'm doing a bit of research on wakefulness.

    I wish wakefulness was simply a matter of coffee and determination, but our phones play a part, and headlights play a part, also.

    What I have found out:

    Melatonin is part of the body's sleep pattern regulation. Reddish light is like a sunset, stimulating melatonin production, making us drowsy.

    The Volvo's headlights are dim and reddish. Google turns up truckers complaining about dim Volvo headlights.
    https://www.google.com/search?clien........0....1.........0i71j0i8i7i30.zy1l2aaP-dM

    Our phones have near-perfect "daylight" screens. Apple has a Night Shift setting, to avoid screen-induced insomnia.

    Q&A: Why Is Blue Light before Bedtime Bad for Sleep?

    So....

    I've set up a custom Night Shift cycle on my phone, to prevent blue light-induced insomnia (reddish screen when I should be sleeping, getting ready to sleep). Using it as I write this.

    I will investigate melatonin dietary supplements, taken before I go to bed, to encourage sleep.

    And, I would be extremely grateful if the Volvo's headlights got new bulbs, 5000K-6500K bulbs, new headlight buckets etc. I know new headlight buckets are costly, but my buddy the heavy truck mechanic remembers replacing lots of them, some time back, when Quickway (Kroger) ran Volvos.

    I will investigate aftermarket driving lamps with 5000K-6500K spectrum. Might be cheaper than new headlight buckets.

    One last detail is the charging system voltage. Dash indicates less than 14 volts, should be 14.5 volts. Usually it shows 13.9 volts.

    I Thank you for reading this.
    Steve



    Okay, let The Feedback commence!
     
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  3. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    . . . *opens popcorn * . . . *stumbles to microwave* . . .
     
  4. laaylor

    laaylor Road Train Member

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    Lol!
     
  5. Socal Xpress

    Socal Xpress Road Train Member

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    X1 has that market cornered @SteveBausch you need another shtick.
     
  6. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Aug 21, 2011
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    I just go to sleep when I'm tired.
     
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  7. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    So how did you “fail badly” that you’re worried about keeping your job? I can appreciate the effort you’ve put into finding examples to back up your claims, but there are lots and lots of drivers that drive all night without issue. Myself? I liked red lights when I had to run all night long, helped me stay awake and my eyes didn’t hurt. And having the night shift on your phone makes it easier to text and drive in the dark because you don’t burn your retinas with a bright screen.

    AF7F7C44-9E56-4480-80F8-A2177B5C2744.jpeg
     
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  8. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Burnsville, MN
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    If you can't run at night then find a lob where you can run during the day.

    I hate running late at night. I get too tired, no matter when I slept or how much. So I plan my loads to let me run during my own preferred hours.
    If a pplan comes in that gets outside that window, I turn it down.

    My job does not control me, I control my job.
     
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  9. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    No idea what you’re talking about.

    Ran 8 years of night shift

    Coffee, CB, XM, night owl buddies . . . .

    And the odd nap, of which the company encouraged - vs. picking their customers freight out of the ditch.

    Never questioned the headlights, so long as they both worked.
     
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  10. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Quit picking on my . .

    (182 paragraphs later)

    Buddy.
     
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  11. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    i cannot recall any driving job i had daylight only driving.

    his letter to his boss is useless. i think if anything at all, the company will do one of 2 things......

    install a driver cam, and if he nods off, fire him for not getting his proper rest..

    or just fire him period.
     
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