Staying Awake?

If dispatch gives you more time up front all the time, would you not be waiting for loads alot more often.

I would want dispatch to KEEP me BUSY.

IF I need more time to stay safe, I would treasure a dispatcher that understands.

 

I stay away from sugar.

I mostly eat oatmeal for breakfast for slow burning carbs. I used to cook it and when I did, I had to add brown sugar to be able to eat it. I realized that realized the sugar crash was making me drowsy mid morning even if I got a good nights rest. So I started soaking oatmeal in skim milk in the frig over night. It softens up and I eat it just like that. Plain and raw. I don't get drowsy mid morning any more. If I drink to many sodas with high fructose corn syrup, I will get drowsy after sugar crash.

 

I used to keep a few 9v batteries laying around. Touch your tongue to one of those will pop the eyes open!

Really
Stop and take a break around sunrise. It's the most dangerous time for getting sleepy.
Stop and take a walk around the truck. getting the blood circulation going will help.
Wipe your face with a wet cloth or paper towel.
If your getting sleepy and the am/fm is on turn it off. If it's off, turn it on. Same with windows up or down. Anything to change things, make your environment different.

 

I have, but it was 24hrs of a snowstorm helping the locals. And before you say it, every time I tried to sleep, someone was knocking on my door for help. They tried to dispatch me that night and I declined for safety/rest.

 

Well I've had a few jobs with different dispatch styles. I preferred to not "push hard" but try and find a steady reasonable pace. Every so often I would get a hard dispatch but I could do those once in a while but didn't want to do hard runs all the time doing my 11 with nearly non-stop driving. My last job did that all the time and it burned me out.

I know many people want to be pushing against their 70 as much as possible but I'd rather slow down a bit if it allows me some leeway time for naps, walking/exercise, or dealing with conditions like weather and construction.


As for cab entertainment I have my XM Radio plus my MP3 player. I listen to a lot of talk radio including Coast to Coast AM.

Also I'm not a country music guy either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ6Y_jErC9c

 

I am seriously goofed up for real, you know upstairs. There are more than a few drivers out there like me you know. My best driving time is from about ten at night till about the same time next morning. As soon as I start to feel tired the sun comes out and for some reason the sunrise and the sun or daylight coming on instantly rejuvinates me. I consume my weight in sugar every week (135lbs sugar) and drink massive amounts of cafein in all its forms around the clock. I drink it to wake up, drink it to keep my mind occupied and happy while driving, drink it to sleep, wake up and drain the lizard, drink it to relax and go back to sleep. I also smoke about 2-3packs a day as well, im trying to cut back but it aint easy. Music any good country or heavy metal playing on the local radio stations which I am constantly searching threw is great.

 

And here I was wondering if I'd "fit in".... you & I could be related... caffeine & nicotine all the way... if I'm awake there's coffee on... don't matter what time.

& I've always preferred driving at night... traffic's lighter.

 

Blue lights are the worst on the eyes!! They need to have a dimmer for sure!

 

i run linehaul at night, and have no chance for sleep other than streched across a couple of bench seats in a beat up international day cab. anything longer than 15 min like that, is a waste, as it just makes your back messed up. 3 15 minute naps are your friend, as even though it doesn't sound like enough, it is enough to keep you going with your eyes open.

coffee puts me to sleep, its too warm, and comforting. you need to be uncomfortable to be able to stay alert from 8pm to 9am. keep the heat off, and dress a little to light to stay too warm. enough to stay comfortable, but not enough to bring your body tempature up to where you feel like you are wrapped up in a blanket in bed.

talking on the phone puts me to sleep, i try and keep it down after 10 pm. your energy should be going towards keeping your eyes open and your truck rolling. i have another friend that runs linehaul at night, i bowl with him, he loves to talk on the phone. its different for everyone. when anyone calls at night, after 10 min, people can tell, because i seriously can't even keep a conversation going it wears me out so fast.

5 hour energy shots are your friend, they will help, although maybe not in the recommended doses. take a few if you are tired, it's not going to hurt, its just a bunch of vitamin b. energy drinks are expensive and full of lousy crap, but i have spent many a night depending on them to get me from buffalo to albany and back. just don't stop drinking them until you are done, that is the trick to keep from coming down off of them. i usually stop by dollar general if i am feeling tired before work, and pick up a couple of 4 packs of monster. much cheaper than the nys thruway service plaza's. 12 bucks worth of energy drinks WILL keep you up all night.

i carry cheap electrical tape with me, anything that the dimmer adjustment doesn't bring down in brightness, i tape over it. panasonic cd players are horrible for this. the factory international players put off a green light that dims down, but the panasonic puts off this irritating neon blue light that will mess your eyes up at night.

drink too much liquid, if you are knee knocking going down the road, you will make excellent time, plus, it will give you an excuse to pull over and water the tire every hour or so. getting out of the truck moving around is one of the best things you can do.

music is good, whatever you like. during the day i usually hate heavy metal, but at night its my best friend. Anthrax and Helmet will help keep you up when you are getting bored running back thru the castles.

 

90% of what I listen to is Country or Classic rock, but I like all kinds of music...I've been to roughly 70 concerts all types of music, been to Ozzfest 3 times...




American Trucker