Will you go without sleep in this job?

Unless its the last 50 miles or so when I'm sleepy I stop even then if I'm too sleepy, screw them.
10 years ago I was with Hill Brothers on an Albertsons grocery account, usually 800 mile round trips. Some days I went in at 10am then 2 days later it was 10pm they didn't give a #### about our sleep schedules, more times than Id like to admit after a change from day to night runs I drove so sleepy that my vision would blur at times... I finally decided that I don't give a #### if the freight is late or not all I wanted to do was get it there.

Same way with the company I've been with for 8 years, very rarely I'm late but if I tell them I was just too tired to get it there on time, they're not happy... same as with Hill, I ask them if they would rather push me too hard and have the freight wind up in a ditch or just be a couple hours late.

Grow a pair and stand up for yourself. Would you rather stop and sleep or sleep and stop?...no freight or appt has the worth of a life.

I know how I do it.

 

You just proved what I'm talking about in your very first sentence.

...." Unless its the last 50 miles or so when I'm sleepy "....

50 miles is a hell of a far way to go when you're sleepy.

 

You feel free to believe what you want, but I'm the only certified expert on my life, since I'm the one who is living it. I don't drive sleepy when I consider it a risk. Ever. Just because you choose not to believe me doesn't mean it's not true.

There have been plenty of times where I drank an energy shot to give me a little extra boost, sure. But if I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open, drifting into other lanes, or can't concentrate on what I'm doing, I stop. Like I said before - there is nothing in this truck worth dying or killing over, and that will never change. If the company I'm working for doesn't like it, there are many other companies out there.

Fortunately, Maverick gives its drivers full authority to determine if we're safe to drive. If they can, they'll change delivery appointments or repower the load, but if I send that Qualcomm message that I'm done for the day, I have never once been questioned about it. And no one forces me to do anything... For one thing, the safety department and the owner would be all over any FM who told a driver to keep going when they didn't feel safe to do so.

As my first FM told me... "The driver is the captain of the ship, you are the only one who can turn the key. It is your decision. Make it a smart one."

 

Alright Mr Super Trucker with your whole one year of experience!
I'm sorry, I believe you. I believe you have never drove sleepy, even for just a few miles. I believe ya! Suuuuure.

I'm talking to the first and only perfect driver!

 

If you had to drink an energy drink or take a 5 Hour shot, then you drove sleepy.

 

Believe what you want to believe dude. I have no respect for people like you that have think they are better than everyone else, and people like you aren't worth arguing with.

You do not know me. You have never met me. Therefore, you do not know the details of my life and how I perform my job. So anything you say in that regard is meaningless, and you only make yourself look like an idiot by trying to act like you know every detail of my life.

You go right ahead and keep on driving sleepy. I sincerely hope that the family you kill isn't mine.

 

Of course, everyone has driven sleepy at one time or another; bound to happen when you drive for a living. No argument from me on that one. The point the OP is wanting to know about is how much sleep must a driver get & the answer is, it varies, some need more than others. Some of us, for some unknown reason, only need 6 hours & some must have 8 or more. No argument from me either way, that's just the hand life dealt.

 

I think the OP must be talking about an OTR job. As others have said, it is about clock management. 10 hours per day break is enough. You will also likely get other downtime along the way.

One thing I like about my OTR job, if I feel tired, I can shut down for a 25 to 45 min. nap during the day, longer if I really feel like I need it. I don't usually need more than about a 25 min. power nap. Take a nap after lunch or whatnot. I could not do that at my old desk job.

 

That's all I'm sayin. Everyone has, except for Mr CaptainX3. He's never made a mistake in judgment.

 

To the OP, if you are running OTR, getting enough sleep should not be hard with ten hours a day of downtime. If you are stuck at a shipper or receiver, go in the bunk and relax. Now, if you are running local and home daily, you will be deprived of sleep. You go work a 12 to 14 hour day, come home and now ya gotta cut the grass, or your other half wants to go out to eat. Next thing ya know its 4 hours until ya have to be at work again for another 12 to 14 hours. Local work..... Its great if you manage your time, but can be very, very tough if you are not careful....