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Team drivers: How do you sleep?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Awesome Possum, Oct 25, 2011.

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  1. Oct 25, 2011 #1
    Awesome Possum

    Awesome Possum Light Load Member

    71
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    Aug 15, 2011
    Ft Lauderdale FL
    0
    I'm ready to drop CRST, not because I dislike them, but because I cannot sleep during the day if the truck is moving. This leads to my night runs being cut in two for fatigue breaks. And dangerous nodding off.

    Now I have run solo while waiting to be partnered, I have no issues falling asleep during the day if the truck isn't moving.

    Do any of you have any tricks? Atm, I just use earplugs and keep it as dark as possible, which works solo/stopped, but I nod off maybe 1-3hrs out of my 10.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
     
    Awesome Possum, Oct 25, 2011
    Awesome Possum, Oct 25, 2011
    #1
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  3. Oct 25, 2011 #2
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,153
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    How long had you been running team before you gave up trying to adjust? Were you confident in the other driver's competence? Sleeping in the upper or lower bunk when moving? Upper bunks have nearly twice as much movement.
     
    STexan, Oct 25, 2011
    STexan, Oct 25, 2011
    #2
  4. Oct 25, 2011 #3
    walstib

    walstib Darkstar

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    Sep 25, 2010
    Since you aren't there, your house!
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    From what I've read, I'd be sleeping on my back!!! :biggrin_2559:
     
    walstib, Oct 25, 2011
    walstib, Oct 25, 2011
    #3
  5. Oct 25, 2011 #4
    Elvenhome21

    Elvenhome21 Heavy Load Member

    735
    240
    Nov 17, 2008
    Sheboygan, WI
    0
    biggest thing i did was make sure your shift does over lap with your circadian rhythm. Or figure on breaking around it for 30 min. I had to run the AM shift when i teamed, 3am to 3 pm time zone adjusted for where we were. I knew my rythym was to get very tired between 7:15-8am and about 3pm so i made sure to be on a break/power nap at that time.

    My teamate screwed off a lot during the night when he was supposed to be driving , he'd spend 1-2 hrs in a truck stop seemingly nightly playing video games so I made it a point to run hard durnig the day knowing he was going to slack off at night. But the biggest thing to make up for that was id make him drive iowa/nebraska/E colorado if i could time it out right.
     
    Elvenhome21, Oct 25, 2011
    Elvenhome21, Oct 25, 2011
    #4
  7. Oct 26, 2011 #5
    chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

    5,653
    3,485
    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
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    Stexan is definitely right about the top bunk.

    I used to just take some benadryl about 15 minutes before I went to sleep. I have bad allergies too so this killed two birds with one stone (or 4 benadryl!). Ear plugs are another great thing to have. Also one of those long body pillow keeps you from rocking back and forth. Chuck your factory mattress too. They have springs in them and not only do they bounce more but they amplify road vibration and noise causing your nose to itch! Get a nice memory foam mattress. Make sure its nice and cold back in the sleeper and is totally dark.

    The rest is just countin sheep!
     
    chompi, Oct 26, 2011
    chompi, Oct 26, 2011
    #5
    Elvenhome21 Thanks this.
  8. Oct 26, 2011 #6
    Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

    10,948
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    Dec 15, 2007
    Northern Indiana
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    Only time I ran team, I was always dead tired after driving, and basically passed out in the bunk. Sleep? no problem.....
     
    Lonesome, Oct 26, 2011
    Lonesome, Oct 26, 2011
    #6
  9. Oct 26, 2011 #7
    Awesome Possum

    Awesome Possum Light Load Member

    71
    18
    Aug 15, 2011
    Ft Lauderdale FL
    0
    I'm on my third month, and have been hoping its something I just need to get used to. I'm normally a heavy sleeper v0v

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
     
    Awesome Possum, Oct 26, 2011
    Awesome Possum, Oct 26, 2011
    #7
  10. Oct 26, 2011 #8
    DirtyBob

    DirtyBob Road Train Member

    1,913
    1,628
    Sep 2, 2010
    Indiana
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    I was the same way, passed out quick. If you're running hard and never having to sit around it's easy to sleep, but I see a lot of CRST trucks sitting around so that doesn't help. Sitting around waiting for whatever always messed sleep up for both of us.

    Watching TV always worked well for me to go to sleep.

    Some people can't do it though and you may be one of those people. Running team isn't for most people.
     
    DirtyBob, Oct 26, 2011
    DirtyBob, Oct 26, 2011
    #8
  11. Oct 26, 2011 #9
    Passin Thru

    Passin Thru Road Train Member

    1,918
    565
    Mar 8, 2007
    VA
    0
    We ran swinging bunks at American Farm Lines. Best thing before sliced bread, have no idea what that means.
     
    Passin Thru, Oct 26, 2011
    Passin Thru, Oct 26, 2011
    #9
  12. Oct 27, 2011 #10
    Awesome Possum

    Awesome Possum Light Load Member

    71
    18
    Aug 15, 2011
    Ft Lauderdale FL
    0
    We have been ruining 10/10, since neither of us like running at night. After our home time this week, we're going to try 12/12, splitting the night drive between us. Maybe a steady regular sleep schedule will work.

    I finally asked here because I used to sleep any where, any time. If I can sleep the day away on a greyhound, I don't get why I can't sleep during the day in my sleeper.

    As for sitting, we are in caterpillar dedicated, we dont really sit.

    I hope the 12/12 works, but any further suggestions are welcome.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
     
    Awesome Possum, Oct 27, 2011
    Awesome Possum, Oct 27, 2011
    #10
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