Sleeping.

Well the problem for many truck drivers is that they want to get the load from A to B and will run, sleep and run...etc. So as such their 'day' gets out of whack. I think many people get used to it. However, there are times during the night that it becomes very dangerous to drive (between 3-5? anyone back me up on this...some early time in the AM).

If you arent used to it, then yeah it will mess you up, but truck drivers arent the only ones that have to work days and nights...etc.

I myself have an almost set schedule. The guys bringing me my freight drive at night and get to me in the early - mid morning hours. I then drive and get back in the afternoon. However when the weather turns to crap in the winter, I might get my load at 10pm at night and have to drive all night long...which is rough because i was up all day waiting for the load. When I find out that the roads are open and they are x hours away, I try to get as much rest as I can before heading out. Then I do my run and sleep somewhere on the way back. Actually I remember at least once last winter, taking a nap as I was doing the route even before I got to another driver to get him his freight. I felt bad because I wanted him to get on the road, but I was having a heck of a time, so I just parked it about 2 hours into my run and took a quick nap.

Plus, its not that drivers just drive straight either. There are lots of pull off areas up here in Wyoming and I see them filled with trucks quite a bit. People pulling in for a quick nap. Usually if you are tired because of a messed up schedule, its nothing that a 2-3 hour nap wont fix.

 

To sleep during the day, I used those silly little eye covers, worked good nuff to get me through..

 

It is NOT easy. I drove over 12 years and had to get used to the unusual sleep patterns. Fact is, the human mind/body CAN and will get used to anything really. You have to FORCE yourself into the mindset. Politicians do NOT give a #### about you or how you do it...as long as no one dies. It is a MIRACLE that so many more do not die from truckers, period...do they care? NOPE, until someone dies and they can get something out of it. Sir...you, as a trucker, are on your own. Sad to say...but this is the truth. This is one cold, hard world and truckers are DEEP in it..........

 

Actually, a team brings me my freight overnight and the guy whos turn it was to sleep last week on the way back, during the day...mentioned that he uses those things...really keeps the light out.

One thing Im thinking of is making another type of sleeper curtain for the trucks...something more breathable than the imitation leather stuff that is used. Would be helpful for getting air to move around a bit more and such if another type of fabric was used.

 

Time and hence the miles seem to go by faster at night. Plus it is a much calmer ride since there are very few if any vehicles to contend with.

LOL, that is why you use I-294 to bypass the city not 90/94 through downtown.

 

While I am no truck driver, I used to deliver pizza and work Target overnight. I hated Target overnight as I was on medications that required daytime activity hence my lack of sleep. However delivering pizza was a whole different story. I usually wanted the closing shift (5pm-2AM) for there was no traffic, more parties and better tips. I could do 4-5 deliveries in one hour compared to 3 in daytime. I made more money and was happier. In conclusion, the more money per night motivated my body adjustment but its no easy thing.

Hunter

 

McLane is one of them. I used to get deliveries while working graveyard at 7-11.

Hunter

 

The WalMart driver that was in the fatal accident that led to the foundation of PATT had a legal log book . He ended a weekend off by shopping all day with his wife then went on duty and tried to run all night . Some people have no problem being awake and alert all night . For others it's a problem . Those with the problem should find a job that doesn't require it . Let an employer know upfront in an interview .

 

I'm one of the blessed. I *prefer* to drive at night, but the shipping schedules I've hit so far lean toward day driving (pickup/deliver in daylight hours - even if you are days away, it makes no sense to night drive). But I can shift at the drop of a hat

The military was good for something, after all.

As for Wyoming - I love it. Used a pull-out yesterday, up north of Casper. Grabbed 45 minutes of sleep that let me keep going safely until my hours ran out down at Wheatland. (That's the first nap I've taken in almost 2 months)

As for dangerous time of day/night - it's not the time of day or night that's bad, it's the segment of your wake/sleep cycle that's bad. Going from memory, you are at a low point in wakefulness about 10 hours after you wake from a long sleep. During the day it's less apparent because you have more to stimulate your brain. At 3 or 4 in the morning, it's dark, and all you have for stimulus is those white lines..