Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

It seems like there are a lot of people on this thread with a lot of knowledge and great advice and I am hoping someone can help me. I am struggling with getting enough sleep to drive safely. When I get a run that requires me to drive all night, I simply can't fall asleep during the day. I am somehow able to "tough it out" and finish the run overnight, but I feel like I am pushing the boundaries of driving safely and I am fearful that my "tough it out" attitude will eventually backfire. If this was working overnight in a restaurant or home construction or something, that would be one thing, but this is driving a big rig and we all know the consequences of making a mistake while driving a truck are much worse than nearly everything else. Anyway, does anyone have any advice on how to sleep during the day when you have already slept the night before?

 

Try some melatonin. It's an over the counter supplement that helps you fall asleep, but doesn't zonk you out like actual sleeping tablets. Having said that I still struggle with changing sleep patterns so wind up having to tough it out as you say. That's when Rockstar 240mg caffeine drinks come into play.

 

Are you with Western Express? Well if that was me. I'd be looking at another company if they can't set you up on proper hours. No job is worth it if you can't do it safety.

 

I will definitely give that a try, thank you.

 

No I'm not with Western. I've recently considered doing flatbed with them, but I've only been driving about 4 months and I wanted to stay at my first job at least a year, if possible. I've asked to be put on all night runs, so I wouldn't have to constantly change sleep patterns, but I was told that changing sleep patterns is "part of being a trucker," and to deal with it. I asked about the safety/fatigue issues that were discussed in orientation and I was told "that was just for show." I had the distinct feeling that asking questions and pointing out hypocrisy was not exactly welcomed, so I've tried to "tough it out," like I've mentioned, while looking for a way to sleep during the day.

 

That's ridiculous on their part. Is it a Mega company? Well wish ya all the best of luck in any case.

 

Yes, changing sleep patterns sucks. It is part of the job though. Yesterday morning I had to stop twice in less than two hours. 30 minute nap the first time and 1hr nap the second time. If I'm late, oh well. It beats being hurt, dead, or killing someone else.

 

No such thing as "proper hours" in OTR trucking, your schedule is decided by the load and the shippers and receivers you have to deal with. You would need a dedicated account/route or hourly paid local work to get set working hours.

 

Must take a lot of discipline then. I don't know how you all do it.

 

Redtwins sugguestion of melatonin is a good one. Ive never tried it though. Ive heard a lot of sleep walking accounts from ambien, some 1st person.

Best advice once you know you gotta run nights plan your trip. Then quiet your mind, black out the sleeper, ear plugs and or fan for white noise. I like it cold and to be able to wrap up. My wife swears by essential oils. Lavender is good for sleep. Create a routine before sleep and do it all the time. Stay off phone, qc, and away from blue light as they wake you up. If not sleepy try to mentally or physically exert some energy then try again.

When ya gotta power through a night caffene helps if your not guzzeling it like crazy every day. Talk radio is more engaging than music, make the truck super cold, open windows, try to avoid 3 to 6 am as thats when your probably most sleepy. Gum, mints, sunflower seeds in shell help occupy you.

MOST IMPORTANT. Stop when you need to. 5 to 10 minutes of walkkng round truck stop cleaning ur windows etc does wonders.

If you decide that you simply must stop and its going to make the load late, id send a detailed message to dispatch, noting things like how long u sat before being dispatched, how long uve been up and that ur stoppng for safety reasons. May or may not help you at your current job, but keeping a pic of those messages will help when you apply to a more reasonable carrier.

And lastly, accept this is part of the lifestyle. Id also try to talk to other drivers for your company and see if you can figure out any patterns at all to how when loads are dispatched.

Best of luck!