Zombie Night Shift Survival

I LOVE driving at night. my shift can start at or about 8 PM, and go thru to about 5 AM...

it's the ONLY driving (as a job) i want to ever do. scale house closed, not as much traffic, easier to get thru construction zones.

when i need a fresh cup of coffee, i either pull into the truck stop, or a 24 hr service station (where trucks are parking as well), run inside, get what i need, and boogy down the road. at the time i might arrive at those places, parking at the fuel island (i pull up to the line by the way), is no big deal.

yes, the downsides are the oncoming headlights, and glare, but nearly all my driving is on the highway, what little driving i do on back roads, is not a real big deal as far as the glare goes.

i do not nap, the quicker i get done, the more my paycheck reflects that, as opposed to taking my sweet time and napping.

 

@Dave_in_AZ - the power cat naps work well, but my issue was finding a spot at that hour, depending on region.

Worst feeling ever - being at the ‘slap myself every 30 seconds, need to pull over” and seeing the sign . . .

“Next exit 26 miles “

 

in this area, many times during the year, one organization or another has the state police/DOT allow them to use the scale houses as coffee stops. sometimes cookies, or donuts... it is free, but a donation is appreciated.

 

There’s a wealth of good spots found by peeling off the highway into a business loop.

Did you listen to the masters speeches on driving at night? Sigh. So helpful behind an 8-5 desk with a coffee pot nearby.

 

My untrusting self would drive on by - expecting to see the headmaster handing out cookies with a cane behind his back . . .

 

Actually, a bit of “air drums improvisation “ often helped - but I needed a little faster backing track than Mazzy Star provided.

I’m talking more like “Holy Wars - Megadeth”.

 

I been on 8pm to 6am linehaul run 22 years.
Black coffee and eat very little. A sandwich and a apple. Music on all night.
I dont get tired at night, I’m not really normal anymore.
Usually have a hour nap at midnight or at least rest my eyes.
It’s not for everybody, sure as heck not young guys