UPS Freight Diary:

To be honest, neither the last place I worked for nor the place I currently work for would have given a crap. Get it there.

I give my current place a pass just because I get ample time off, so I should be pretty well-rested.

 

Only thing I ever heard about from the incident was invoking the 16 on my log And NOT getting back to my domicile on that day.

 

Oh yeah, because you have to end up at your home terminal by the end of the day. Oh well, I'm sure everyone lived.

 

And most importantly of all, you literally lived through it. Fatigue is no joke.

 

The bottom line is that we are being dosed with melatonin throughout our shift because we're running in the dark and that's how our bodies work. It often doesn't even matter how well rested you are; the Sandman (or Freddy Krueger, if you prefer) is trying to get ya anyway. As my Dad would say, "it ain't natural!"

 

Very true. Your going against the grain of your body’s natural make up. I found sleeping 5.5 to 6 hours was optimal. I could make it 530 miles without a nap. Or I’d only take a 15 or less nap. Anything longer wrecks you. When I’d sleep 7 hours or more I’d struggle across have to nap. I would drink mostly coffee. A lot of coffee. Sometimes black only. I don’t drink coffee with regular sugar either I use stevia. Sugar will make you crash and sleepy. Energy drinks would do nothing same result with sugar.

One night my neighbors dog kept me awake during the day I slept maybe 1-2 hours coming off my last shift. I said screw it I’ll take a big nap on the road. Pulled off napped for only 10 min. I was good for another 250 miles and made the run.

 

5-6 hrs of rest a day seems optimal for me. A couple Gatorade zero 20oz and big travel mug of black coffee and I’m good for 550 miles

 

Some of the guys at my old ABF terminal seem like they have been in a microsleep for 10 years.