I use many of or some variation of the above techniques. No matter when I am dispatched, I am usually good for the first 400 miles. If the pick up is late in the evening, more than a 600 mile run and I have not sleep much that day or delivered late that morning, I will turn the load down.
For me staying awake and alert is a mental game. I always check my route to see where I am going. I note where the major cities are, how many miles of 2 lane, where the 2 lane is located, (usually the last 200 miles) where are the rest areas and truck stops located.
Using my "I'm good for the first 400 miles", I check the map to see where that puts me. My mental goal is to make it to that point. Then I work from there.
When I pick up a load at night, knowing I will be driving well into the light of the next morning, I try and stop and take a nap just before dawn. This is another mental game. If I lay down while it is still dark and awake shortly after day break, I fool myself into thinking I had a night's rest. Okay, so I'm gullible. Hope I don't go blind deluding myself this way!
Last week I had a 832 mile load delivering in Dyersburg, TN. I had 72 miles deadhead to the load that picked up at 19:00. I got to the shipper early. The load was ready and I was on the road at 18:30. My goal was to get south of St. Louis before dawn and take a nap.
I accomplished that and had more than 3 hours to nap with plenty of time to make a 12:15 delivery. Of course my nap was cut short by a QC beep and message inquiring what was wrong and why did I stop. Oh well. Still delivered an hour early.
Getting to the shipper early and if the freight is ready all the better. If the freight isn't ready take a nap at the shipper. Know your route and know your limitations and adjust accordingly.
Eat plenty of spinach and hope for a urine test the next morning.
For me staying awake and alert is a mental game. I always check my route to see where I am going. I note where the major cities are, how many miles of 2 lane, where the 2 lane is located, (usually the last 200 miles) where are the rest areas and truck stops located.
Using my "I'm good for the first 400 miles", I check the map to see where that puts me. My mental goal is to make it to that point. Then I work from there.
When I pick up a load at night, knowing I will be driving well into the light of the next morning, I try and stop and take a nap just before dawn. This is another mental game. If I lay down while it is still dark and awake shortly after day break, I fool myself into thinking I had a night's rest. Okay, so I'm gullible. Hope I don't go blind deluding myself this way!
Last week I had a 832 mile load delivering in Dyersburg, TN. I had 72 miles deadhead to the load that picked up at 19:00. I got to the shipper early. The load was ready and I was on the road at 18:30. My goal was to get south of St. Louis before dawn and take a nap.
I accomplished that and had more than 3 hours to nap with plenty of time to make a 12:15 delivery. Of course my nap was cut short by a QC beep and message inquiring what was wrong and why did I stop. Oh well. Still delivered an hour early.
Getting to the shipper early and if the freight is ready all the better. If the freight isn't ready take a nap at the shipper. Know your route and know your limitations and adjust accordingly.
Eat plenty of spinach and hope for a urine test the next morning.