How to combat sudden sleepiness while driving

The little toothpicks with floss on the end perk me back up without eating junk food. I don't know why but they always do the trick.

 

Use your 30 to lay down. Even if you don't fall asleep it will help. Just stay in bed and keep your eyes closed and not on your phone.

 

I try to drive no more than six hours straight unless I will be late otherwise.

During my 30, I get out, stretch my legs.

That's normally enough for me. But, if not, I will change radio stations looking for high energy music.

If I am still feeling the onset of fatigue, I take a 5-hour energy.

If even that doesn't help, I have one last ditch solution that usually works. I start listening to an audiobook. For some reason even when everything else fails, just having an audio book playing will keep me awake and alert.

On three occasions in two years, none of that has helped. I pulled over at the first safe place, and took a nap, or shut down early.

 

I stop and piss and get out of the truck every 2 hours or so.

I never get tired really anymore.

 

Chewing gum...Mentos in the blue bottle. Works pretty much instantly for me. This is just temporary though. I've chewed gum until my jaw hurt. Also, Excedrin migraine works for me. It has 65mg Caffeine. Never tried Caffeine pills and have tried the stay awake bottles but found they don't last. Also think it was a little bit of the placebo effect going on with those. Though, as everyone has already said, nothing will rejuvenate you as well as sleep will.

 

@ruudhompsor I really only had a problem personally on runs that started at like 8pm and went through the night. I think coffee helped ofcourse but I also am a talk radio Junkie. Listening to music to me eventually just fades into the background making me tired. Try talk radio even if you find it boring because you’ll somewhat feel engaged in the conversation

 

I asked the O/O I drove for back in the early 90s the same question. He told me to stick my tongue out and hit the bottom of my jaw with my fist. He said "That'll wake you up.".



Seriously, though, over time, you will find your rhythm, but the nap thing is a good idea and I'll stop and lay down for 30 minutes or so and it does wonders. As others have said, don't nap for much longer than that or you'll end up just as sleepy as you were before.
Sunflower seeds work well, too. They keep your face doing something.

 

the fmcsa has determined taking a nap at hour 7 is extremely dangerous! they conferred with professionals in sleep medicine and determined you are far safer pushing thru till you reach your 11 hours.

this is so important they have put forth an ELD mandate to ensure you DO NOT take a nap when you are drowsy,thus safeguarding the safety of others.

praise be to the FMCSA!!!