On how to deal with sleepiness

In all honesty you don't deal with sleepiness, it deals with you. Your sleepy to the point of losing awareness you should get off the road. I know this comment is not a politically correct comment and it smacks of you don't tell a grown man what to do. However it is not a sign of weakness to admit your not a machine and you need to rest.

 

I used to keep the cab as cold as possible, snack on carrots or celery (they're noisy and take a bit of effort to chew), sing, get out and take a couple laps around the truck.

One time when I really, REALLY had to be there, I drove the last hour poking my thigh with a push pin. Just a little, not sinking it up to the handle. I will never do that again, though.

Pulled over in a day cab at 2am for a cat nap once, woke up at 830am with a mark on my forehead from the steering wheel, and a puddle of drool on the floorboard between my feet. All interested parties to the load were angry with me, but they got over it. And I'd do it again tomorrow if I had to.

You're no good to anyone if you AND the load don't arrive in good condition.

 

Take a nap. Nothing beats sleep for combating sleepiness.
The only thing I've tried that didn't have a quick "crash" after a brief "lift" was smoking. Some effect was probably from whatever is in the smoke and the rest of the effect was the near immediate headache after puffing on a cig.

 

Audio book

 

Same thing works for me. You'd be surprised what a 20-30 min nap will do if you're feellin tired

 

I only accept load assignments that match my personal sleep / wake cycle.

 

I used to smoke when I got sleepy. It worked. Haven't smoked since I went local. If you just cant fight the sleepy bug best to pull over and take a power nap.

 

When I worked on dairy farms in the past I learned to rely heavily on naps (and I was one who hated naps) to recharge between morning and evening chores. I, and my wife, learned quickly how not cool napping longer than 20-30 minutes was lol. “Zombie-like state of grogginess” is spot on.

 

Get in the bunk & take a nap.