How do you handle it?

Firstly I would call the shipper, there's always that chance your load will be ready early.so no go with that, walk into that ta and buy two doses of benedryl. That knocks me right out for a few hours even when I'm not tired. So let's say that didn't work either.

Now I'm dirt cheap OTR. I make my own food and brew my own coffee so when I say this next part, I have to be super tired to follow through with this. I stay away from those stacker "energy" pills but on a tough night I will sure as hell walk into that TA and buy 2 five hour energy shots and two hot/spicy large slim jims. Is It the best for my GERD, hell no but if I sit up straight throughout the shift no worries.

I go through this a lot on my dedicated run. Drive 11, so tired pass right out for a few hours, then I'm up too late and the next relay is heading my way and two hours before it gets here I'm tired as anything again. Melatonin might be a good offset to benedryl but I'm not sure if it's legal to roll with a bottle of it.

 

Brutal dude! Been there done that! Try it sitting in hot ### Laredo with a ####ty opti idle

 

I would elbow myself in the stomach as hard as I could . I would then commence to kicking myself In the butt. Like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.

How could I let Down the SEC!! How could I let down the Crimson Tide!! How could I let down my employer who intrusted me with this high dollar load.

I wasn't prepared. I didn't prepare myself. What was I thinking when I got a Cdl? I should start practicing bagging fries or groceries. I can't let Down this trucking company who allows me to rock and roll across the states In this 62 mph rooster cruiser. Styling and profiling with my chrome mirrors and APU.

Shall I go out like a sucker and go down the road a few miles. Then call the company and say I wasted my day and I need to sleep, and secretly record the hysteria of some poor minimum wage night dispatcher and put it on the you tube. So all the world can see?? Or shall I go out like a champ and swan dive from my top step into a pissy aroma filled truck stop parking lot?? Hmmmmmm

 

I have been in that situation many times. I have a serious sleep disorder that I've had since I was a little boy. I take Seroquel, about 50 mg, and it puts me out like a light for 3+ hours with virtually no side-effects other than needing a solid 30 minutes between waking and driving, and obviously, NEVER drive within 5 hours of taking it.

It's an anti-psychotic and the normal dose is like 750 MG per day, which I can't even imagine functioning on AT ALL, much less driving.

It's an off-label use, and I have to get a note from my DR. everytime I get a physical, but it's been a lifesaver LONG before I started driving.

There are LOTS of times I don't take it, because my rest-times are too unpredictable or short. During those times I close up my curtains and REST (Eyes closed) for a couple of hours. It's not as GOOD as real sleep, but it's been very helpful to me. If I am AT ALL worried about fatigue and I have even 30 minutes of downtime, I REST. I'm not gonna sleep, but genuine REST helps a lot.

And finally, if you're too tired to drive? Pull the F over and sleep. To heck with the schedule. And once you've called in too sleepy to make a drop, they can't fire you for not making it. If you do it all the time, you're going to have issues. But all but the WORST dispatchers know this is going to happen sometimes.

Do the best you can, use the tricks I mentioned, but in the end, better to stop and get yelled at than drive so drowsy you kill someone.

 

Better late then in the ditch or dead.

 

Tell your dispatch Abe's is calling

 

This is when privacy curtains come in handy.Make your trk as dark as possible.Maybe some ear plugs think nothing but relaxing thoughts and slowly drift into a peaceful sleep.If you can't get any sleep I would recommend calling dispatch a few hrs before pick up

 

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Rockstar have some drinks out with 240mg of caffeine per can often on sale 2 fer $4.

Crack one of those open right after you pick up at 10pm and you won't even remember what sleep is.

I will only ever drink them in a situation such as above as I never touch caffeine otherwise. I always keep at least two on the truck for such emergencies.

 

Believe it or not a 45 minute deep coma nap will restore your senses for hours. Get one of those 1 hour oven clocks at the grocery store and set it up on your dash then go back and lie down just before you start seeing leprechauns jumping on your hood. It will be very tough to rise from that slumber but once you do get up and the cobwebs start clearing from your head you feel you could drive straight through.