Working under the Stars

Not even that. The people in my barn are strung out about the reset not interfering with the ability to make my bids gate time. If I run a volume and my reset doesn’t end until 2100, my 2115 gate will be missed.

 

Night linehaul has never been a issue for me, family has always supported me and I still made it to alot of functions anyway. At night when running, coffee and water has always worked for me for staying up, get out of the truck every so often and walk around during trip helps alot too, regardless if it's a out of town layover or I make it home, I always have to unwind after work, a couple beers and catch up on some news or something and I am good, I can sleep like a baby during the day, for weekends when I get home Saturday I stay up intentionally during the day and my sleep schedule swaps to nights, it does make the following Monday hell and always has, but I don't want to piss away my days off on the weekends by sleeping all day.

 

The way I flip my schedule for weekends is to take a nap on Saturday morning when I get back. I shoot for 3 hours. I can function fine all day and yet I'm plenty tired by 11pm for a normal bedtime. Then I feel like a regular person all day Sunday and go to bed at night again with my wife.

The way I prepare for Monday night back is to shoot for a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I get everything done I need to do by the early afternoon and try to crash from 2-5 in the dark bedroom and wake up like it's a normal weekday evening before work. This helps me to set myself up pretty well for running all night. I've had to stay up all day on Mondays occasionally, but I try to avoid it.

 

Drove feeder for UPS in the 70s/80s. I’d get up about 9:30 Monday morning and start my shift at 8 pm. Home in bed by 6:30 if everything went right.

Saturday morning I would sleep for about 3 hours then switched to daytime living on the weekends.

A few years later I got a better run, home by 3:30 am. Slept much better. Usually up at 11 and began shift at 5:15.

Just before daylight was always the roughest to stay awake. Sleepiness went away after the sun came up.

 

1997 - 2002 : 1am start time
2002 - present : 5 ~ 7pm start time

How do I like it? I’m sitting at the drivers desk as I’m typing this and Im starting to nod off.
I can’t wait to retire.

 

19 years night linehaul for me. Would never do city. I would kill someone. Had it’s ups and downs, you know your body, listen to it. If your tired, stop and sleep. As others mentioned, do your best not to get out of schedule on your off days too much. It really messes you up.

 

My schedule exactly. Sure does feel good to feel like a normal person for a day and a half lol.

 

The first few weeks are rough but for me after a year I wouldn't have it any other way.

I've found that the melatonin gummies you can get at wallyworld work wonders to help you unwind and fall asleep.

 

Melatonin was the ticket for me. 50mgs and I’m out like a light