So, Just how tired are you ?

The problem is that companies say "We have drivers do this all the time"........."You have enough hours"........"this is a hot load for a great customer"......."This doesn't happen often,can you do us a favour".

Drivers become tired because they let someone else manage their time.

The only reason why a driver becomes tired is because they cannot say "no" to their company.

Start out as you plan to go on..................take care of yourself.

 

To be real honest, there were two reasons in what I'll call the "first half" of my driving career that I would get tired. (I drove for eight years, took about 3 1/2 off, now have been back for almost six).

The first was partially due to what Down the road noted, that being the inability to say "no" to my company. But in my case, the second reason was a severe case of (then) undiagnosed Sleep Apnea. It was only after I returned to trucking in 2007 and was tested did I discover how severe my case was. The credibility of the testing done by any given company is up for debate in other threads here on TTR. I went through Schneider, which I still feel has one of the most straight-forward and honest programs.

Since I began using CPAP, it's been a different world to me. Very, very seldom do I feel truly sleepy on the road these days.

But our illustrious government will continue to pigeonhole the entire truck driving population into a nice, neat little box, believing that these new rules coming July 1st will be another step toward their vision of a perfect world. In doing so, they will force the truly professional drivers (note how that is phrased) to fight drowsiness unnecessarily by forcing rest periods at unnatural intervals.

Good luck to you.

 

When I was still a driver there was absolutely no enforcement of any laws regarding hours worked.
I can say I was tired most of the time.
If I was delayed at a shipper it was a relief as it allowed some time to rest.
I did stupid things that ruined my health because it was allowed.
I however am convinced that the way hours are set out in the US is far from perfect and counter productive a lot of the time.
I think a seasoned driver can safely drive 15 to 16 hours a day.
I would hate to be out for weeks at a time and only be allowed 11h a day.

 

I havent felt fatigued OTR since I stopped driving team. Back then you'd constantly be woken up by bumps/jerks & team drivers that had questions all the time. I have no problems driving 13.5 hours/day as long as I get an uninterrupted 6-7 hours sleep.

When I worked the ND oilfield, my company expected 18-20 hour days. A few days of that was fine, but over time fatigue builds up and I'd have to say "NO, I'm taking 12 off today..."

 

not tired anymore. learned to say no a long time ago.

and the 14 hour rule has stopped the 24 hr/day driving. short haul,nap and drive,nap and drive.

I even state at job interviews the parameters under which I will not work.

gets me some unusual looks at times.

 

The real issue with Driver Fatigue (DF) has to do with constant changes in sleep patterns. Normally we would be awake in the daytime and sleep at night, but as truckers we often need to drive nights one day and nights on the next.

Like the last 3 days for me, following a 34 hour reset which put me back into a night time sleep pattern I had trouble falling asleep and only got an hour of sleep before picking up a load last night at 10:00 pm. Drove until 11:00 this morning, with an hour sleep stop at about 3:30 am because I was starting to get to the point that driving would become unsafe. I'll be sleeping during the day, then back behind the wheel at about 9:30 pm today. I'll need to stop earlier in the am so I can get my 10 hour rest period in and make delivery tomorrow night at 6:00 pm. After all that I'm sure I'll hit the sleeper berth hard for night time sleep, unless I get another immediate dispatch.

I spent 30 years in international trade. "Jet Lag" is a common problem for those of us that would go for one to three week business trips from country to country in the Far East. Heading west was relatively easy, business meetings in the morning (their time) I'd be alert, but then "hit the wall" in the afternoon.... by the end of the first week I was on schedule to the local time... but often that meant my trip was over and I'd fly back to the States and get wiped out for up to a week. It gets harder as you get older.

Some facts about sleep (from my Psych degree study):

- Sleep deprivation is a dangerous thing. The American Psychological Association banned sleep deprivation studies in the '60's after clinical signs of psychosis were found in sleep deprivation subjects. This is why it is a powerful thing for "enhanced interrogation" (torture). Sleep deprivation interrupts necessary REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep that is associated with dreaming.

- Sleep occurs in 90 minute cycles. In each cycle you begin with "shallow" sleep and then progress to REM sleep that is very deep and full of dreams, finishing with an even deeper sleep, then a short phase of REM before "surfacing" to shallow sleep again (where you are somewhat aware of your surroundings). It is important that if you choose to get in the Sleeper Berth go to sleep when you are sleepy. If you wait 15-30 minutes, then your cycle of sleepiness will be gone and you will have a tough time getting to sleep. Everyone has a cycle to their sleep. Be aware of your "sleep readiness" and try to sleep when you are ready. If you need a sleep break try to make it a 90-100 minute break. This way you are more likely to complete a cycle of sleep, with deep REM sleep. If you take a shorter break then you may wake up in the middle of deepest sleep, and you aren't rested and will find it much harder to stay awake.

- REM sleep (dreaming) is necessary for satisfying sleep.

Whenever possible if I'm fatigued when I'm driving I'll try to immediately find the best available place to pull over and get into the sleeper berth right away, with an alarm scheduled 100 minutes later. Sometimes schedule doesn't allow for that 100 minute window of sleep, but I find I'm much more rested, alert, and ready to drive if I give myself that 100 minute window.

 

Who keeps waking me up,I'm trying to drive over here,ya know!!

 

I'm dog tired right now and off work. I don't get tired on the road much to be honest at least not while driving. Now after I park eat shower etc. Yea I'm dog tired go to sleep wake up 10 hours later and I'm a little sleepy but after a cold shot of morning air and a pti I'm wide awake grab a cup of coffee and hit the road. Learning to say no is what you have to do as a driver. In ANY situation. As I'm sure you will find out after starting your career the HOS are kinda like a game. I've had days when I could've driven 20 hours before and then there days like today where I'm about to fall asleep. Know your limits it doesn't just have to do with fatigue either. If your head isn't in that truck and focusing on driving that truck and being safe you have no more business being behind the wheel than a driver that just ran out of hours on his 2nd book.

 

It was that pronounced, hmm? I really need to get that test. I know I have SA, no question at all. I haven't gotten tested because I am up 4 or 5 times a night to pee and the the thought of getting unhooked from the wires time & time again is a little embarrassing.