Truck drivers work a lot of overtime. It might be difficult to stay awake at times. Their journeys occasionally entail a nighttime run. It’s a little more difficult to remain awake while driving at night in a truck. For your safety and the protection of others on the road, you must make every effort to prevent falling asleep behind the wheel. In this guide, I will discuss how do truck drivers stay awake.
How do Truck Drivers Stay Awake
The midnight truck driver must maintain his attention on the road to stay awake. One of the pitfalls of driving a truck at night is being engrossed in the low lights and miles of the road coming at you through the glass. Without the noise and distractions that come with daylight driving, night truckers know how easy it is to fall asleep.
Not all night-driving suggestions include activities you can do while on the road. You could do a few things by getting behind the wheel to ensure you’re prepared for the long night ahead.
- Enough time for rest. Before you get behind the wheel, you need to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Whether you’re having difficulties sleeping, limit coffee before bedtime and look into melatonin tablets.
- A well-balanced diet is essential for general health.
- Stay away from drowsy medications. Antihistamines and several over-the-counter medications can cause drowsiness.
Waking Tips for Truck Drivers
Drivers often have to work 10-12 hour shifts to deliver goods on time. Many transport companies have a mandatory rule that drivers must sleep at least 10 hours between shifts. There are various strategies that drivers may employ to keep aware and safe on the road to get adequate sleep.
Stick to a stable sleep schedule
A truck driver needs to get enough sleep and maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Rather than sleeping all night, new drivers may strive to drive greater distances and only stop to rest for shorter amounts of time. This is a risky option since you will never be able to fully relax and, as a result, jeopardize other road users.
Eat lightly and often
We all know how exhausting it can be to eat a hearty meal. Splitting tables might be tough since you don’t want to make too many pauses along the route. This diet may seem difficult to follow, but it can change the world for the better.
Keep yourself hydrated
Staying hydrated is important for various reasons, but it also helps us stay alert. Other beverages, such as juices or juice drinks, should be avoided since the added sugar might dehydrate you or cause your blood sugar to decrease after you consume them.
Make sure you do exercise from time to time
Because time is important in the trucking profession, you may not believe you have time to exercise. Even if it’s simply a short sprint to stop a truck, doing at least 10-15 minutes of daily activity will help you stay aware on the road.
Exercise for 30-45 minutes per day is good, but the essential thing is that you move and raise your heart rate. Exercise causes your brain to generate more endorphins and energy-producing chemicals, which speed you up.
Use caffeine in moderation
- Of course, a 5-hour energy drink or a Monster will quickly raise your “alertness” level.
- Limit your addiction to caffeine as it can also affect your sleep. If you need a little respite, stick with regular coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum amount of sleep a truck driver should get?
Under FMCSA Hours of Service requirements, a truck driver can drive up to 11 hours each day. This implies that drivers can eat, rest, shower, or sleep away the rest of the day.
According to the CDC, adults between the ages of 18 and 60 require at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Why do truck drivers give up?
Burnout affects the personal life, health and performance of drivers. Research on the relationship between burnout and truck turnover generally looks at three aspects of burnout: excessive exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and inefficiency.
Is driving a truck a stressful job?
That’s not surprising, given that most people who drive trucks work on them. That’s the majority of truckers and hauliers in the U.S. and Europe, and they’re the largest industry in many countries, such as the U.K., Canada, and Mexico.
Is driving a truck an endless job?
Truck driving is not a “dead-end” unless the driver wants or allows it. Driving a truck is not a well-tolerated skill set, except for work in the dispatching, hiring, security, terminal management, or other direct driving positions.
What are pickups?
Today, marijuana is the most common drug used by truckers while driving. The second most-often used chemical is amphetamines, sometimes known as “speeds.” Thirty-five thousand four hundred twenty-one drivers, or 0.65 percent, failed a drug test because they had amphetamine in their system.
Conclusion
When you need to sleep, you sleep. Sometimes the truck job required driving on the last night of sleep wasn’t all that great. There is no point in being healthy if you need a little more mind and body from time to time.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
