Falling Asleep
 

I have finally got my Class 1 license and recently have been exploring the various jobs available. I was considering a run that I'm gone for 6-7 days and then off 2. What concerns me is that with the trucker's life style of on again off again driving what do you do if you're feeling drowsy while driving and do you take any sleep aids during bunk time?

Appreciate your answers.

Never, ever, take sleep aids while driving.

If you start to feel drowsy while driving, stop and take a break. If a walk does not do the trick then take a nap.

Also opening a window, avoiding big meals, turning up the radio, finding something on the radio that really holds your intrest, etc can help keep you alert and make the miles fly by.

The best thing to do if getting drowsey is to pull the hell over and sleep.

Unfortunately, in my present situation this practical advice is, for various reasons, difficult to follow.

What i've experimented with is/are follows:

NOTE: None of these things really works but they will buy you time in an emergency situation:

1) Sprint/run 100m. This is about the distance from one end of a truckstop/rest area to the other.

If possible run/sprint 1/4 mile.
This usually buys me about 15 minutes of awakeness.

2) smack yourself in the balls. (women might want to try smacking yourself in the chest) This only gives me a few minutes of awakeness and then i'm sleepy again---and sore. You probably only want to try this in severe emergencies like if someone's dying and they don't have much time and you'll never see them again etc.

3) Sing/scream with radio; Turn it up all the way. And roll the windows down all the way too because the blast of air helps.

Become robert plant, stevie nicks, steve perry etc. because your life depends on it!

4) the water on face trick does not seem to work with me.

Really the best and only way to cure sleepiness is sleep.

I would tell you more, but i'm actually sleepy right now.

VAN HALEN SUCKS.

Re: Falling Asleep
 

As for sleep aids.... I believe you mentioned "during bunk time." When starting out, if driving team or just bothered by the sound of an idling truck if solo, a simple Tylenol PM seems to help you sleep.

As for getting drowsy while driving.... the BEST answer is to pull over and take a 20-45 minute power nap. This usually works for ME, but not all drivers can do it successfully.

Second best for me, is a single caffeine pill. NOT a serious drug here.... just equivalent to a big cup of coffee, works faster, and doesn't make you have to stop and pee!

Also, I keep a small cooler of beer - I mean Dr. Peppers on ice next to my seat. When I get a little drowsy, I take one out, wipe the cold water off the bottle and wipe it on my face. Then I take a swig or two, and put it back. Repeat as necessary. If you have to repeat more than twice.... pull over and take the NAP!!

If all else fails, I pull into a truckstop and try to park in the most difficult space left! After about 20 mins of this futile attempt.... I pull back out onto the road, mad as HECK at myself for being such a rookie!

This usually gets my adrenaline running, and I'm now WIDE awake! :lol:

:lol:


I thought it was hilarious that they (I really mean DLR) couldn't get their crap together to play at the Rock'Roll Hall of Fame, instead of saying yeah..... we suck, Eddie has to go into rehab (seems to be the good excuse these days). Then to top it off Sammy and Michael Anthony accept the award and they aren't welcome in the Van Halen that was going to play the hall of fame induction in the first place.

ps. Van Roth was terrible, Van Hagger was tolerable.

van halen suck after that whiny singer hagar got in there.
instead of beating your meat go to the pharmacy and get some 24 hour sudafed. in an emergency take one at midnite and it will dry you right up

Re: Falling Asleep
 

They don't work for me. :x

As for the stopping to pee, a co worker of mine told me the other day when hes tired he drinks a lot of water so THAT he has to pee a lot, the stopped to drain to lizard helps keep him awake.

Oh..one thing that helps me sometimes is munching on baby carrots.
I also have a cd that I ONLY listen to when I start getting sleepy, does the trick everytime, I'm good to go with that for an hour or 2.

For me, I sip on an energy drink very sparingly. When at a rest area, I'll take 5 minutes to do some stretches to loosen my back and hamstrings.

I've found chewing gum or beef jerky will help, too.

Another idea, keep your the air on lightly and slightly cool. Helps keep the cab oxygenated if there's circulation.

Another thing I do but wouldn't recommend, change your posture. I'll sit half-indian style with my left leg up on the seat and the knee on the sill of the door.

I agree with the singing thing too. That definitely works.

Sometimes the bottom of our cycle happens at weird times, like in the middle of the afternoon, and sometimes there's nothing you can do but pull over and take a nap as the others suggest. Stay safe out there!