How do you stay awake?

Some places have "double caffeine" coffee, but that usually gives me a gut ache (which may or may not keep you up), chocolate, eating apples, jelly beans, or a window open when it's cold. Stop and do a couple of laps around the truck. I tried 5 hour energy junk, and it worked, but that's nasty stuff. After using it for a while, my fingers on my left hand began to go numb, so I stopped using it and fingers are fine. Best thing, like pattyj sez, a power nap does wonders, but if you are overly tired, nothing but a good rest until you wake up with no alarm is best.

 

sucking on ice( or chewing them) worked for me.unfortunately, ice doesnt last that long. if that didnt work, i take a few hours nap. good thing for me,i dont drive overnite anymore

 

See this is my problem, I listen to that kind of metal normally.

I've found that bubbly pop music aggravates me so much it's impossible to get sleepy. It works so well I cut my coffee intake down to a cup a night.

Also if I have the dog with me, take a few laps around a rest area. Or jump rope for 5 minutes.

 

Little puff on the ol' crackpipe really gets the blood flowing.


Actually I won't do much to try and force myself to stay awake. I'll stop, get out and walk around for a bit and grab a drink, but if that doesn't help, I'm done.

 

Comedy works wonders for me, nothing quite like laughing out loud to wake yourself up.

 

I knew someone was going to say something like that.

 

Sleep is the only safe way to fix tired. No load is worth dying for.

 

Hey truckon, call your dispatcher. That's usually good for a laugh.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4478739]Hey truckon, call your dispatcher. That's usually good for a laugh.[/QUOTE]


well he used to be his own dispatcher....lol dont know if he still is or not

 

That depends on what "one of those nights" describes.
If it's being anxious to be out on the road, driving, --- a driver may not feel much, if any, effect.
If it's because of disturbing noise outside the Big truck, --- a driver could feel tired in the morning
but still able to keep their eyes open. Or, they could feel sleepy, but not so much that they're noddin'
off at the wheel. In cases like that, it may be wise for the driver to take it a tad easier, --- not run
with the Big dawgs if they're drivin' a fast Big truck, and, if helpful, take extra time to stop and refresh
with a brisk walk. Coffee might help.
But if nothing seems to keep a driver alert, --- it's time to call it a day. Or at least long enough to get
enough rest to be alert while drivin'.

There's bein' tired, --- and there's bein' sleepy, --- but combine either of those with fatigue, ---
especially if there's also stress involved, is never a good thing. Part of the experience involved in
Big truck truck drivin' is learning how to recognize the signs that you're reaching a point that could
put said driver and those around the driver at risk. For me it was gettin' fidgety. At that point, I'd
try to run through a rest area, or off ramp, --- then back on the main highway, --- just to shift gears.
If I shifted sloppily, I knew it was about enough and I'd pull over at the first opportunity to rest.

Another thing to consider is attitude.
A bad attitude can cause tiredness and fatigue, or at least add to it.
Bein' depressed, --- same thing

For most drivers, the more time spent behind the wheel drivin' and behind the wheel in the bunk restin'
the more they're able to handle it without bein' too tired to drive, come what may. They learn how
to deal with it. Just another day.

As Clint Eastwood said in Dirty Harry, "A mans gotta know his limitations".
Remember, it's much better to be safe than sorry.
Do the right thing ---
Even when nobody is watching.