Late Nights...Energy question

I told a dispatcher about circadian rythym and he told me that the FMCSA did not care about them. A truck driver is to run loads when ever.

I told him he should try changing his schedule to such ridiculous hours. He said it would be no problem. Yeah, Right.

 

yep!!!! the #### load planners/dispatchers think we can flip the "on-off" switch on our our bodies at will. APPARENTLY so does the FMCSA

 

Read the FMCSA. They address the circadian rythym. The dispatcher did not know the facts.

 

good point! the #### 70 hour rule is a complete contradiction to this though.
GAIN hours back at midnight??
stop at 10-11 AM because you are out of hours, but you are "safe" to drive come midnight once you "gain" 7-8-9-10 hours back?

 

It wouldn't be a problem for him. Because he has no intention of doing it...

Do as I say, not as I do?

I really didn't have much of a problem adjusting to various hours. BACK THEN. Now, along about 9-10PM and it's beddy bye time for me. But then I'm not working and having to do weird hours. Not sure I could handle it anymore.

 

Companies that force this type of running are only interested in the freight.

 

I rarely drive between 11pm and 3am. I told my boss this, and he has been cool with that. In fact, a few of the drivers shut it down during this time. Most of my runs are at least 1200 miles each way (usually over 1500) so there is often room to work around that.

Also, I sleep for 30 minutes during sunrise.

For all other times needing to stay awake.....caffeine and good rockin' 80s hair metal. I'm a pretty good steering wheel drummer when I need to perk up. haha

It was mentioned before....but keep your eyes moving. Don't stare straight ahead at the road. Get a system where you look at your gauges, mirrors, scan the ditches, etc. too. Make the job more interesting. haha

 

Is not that switch "standard issue" when you sign on????......

 

How many of you are prior service?

Did you not have CQ duty or motor-pool guard duty?

I'll bet many of you could have pulled an "all nighter" drinking brews and chasing skirts...and still get up making roll call at 0600....

 

I seem to recall having "the duty" 0800-0800, then working the rest of that day, then chasing skirts that night. Then 2 or 3 hours of rack time, then PT and another glorious day.

What the hell was I thinking???

Maybe that's why I need a CPAP now. lol