So, your sitting in your captain's seat riding down interstate 20 about to start (hyperbole alert) the absolute most isolated stretch of concrete maybe in the world. You know which one I’m talking about, the distance of road between Dallas Fort Worth and El Paso, Texas.
Now, I’ve made cross-country trips countless times and…. my god that is a long, difficult part of cross-country trips.
Anyway, your riding down the desolate stretch of land (switching between the distinct smell of manure to the even more distinct smell of oil fields) at 2 am without a single vehicle in sight. When all of the sudden you realize…. Man, I’m exhausted!!!
The problem? You’ve got a loaded trailer attached to the back of your truck, and your client expects you to be arriving in Tucson tomorrow evening. You absolutely cannot stop. Besides, anybody who’s been on these understands one thing. We aren’t actually exhausted (hell we just got back on the road a few short hours ago), no, this is just what happens during long hauls. Especially during the most boring stretches of land.
But even still, when driving it is vitally important to stay alert, and it is a thousand times more important when carrying a payload.
But exactly how do you ensure alertness during these stretches of a trip?
Well, let’s discuss it.
Use your off hours for resting
One of the most irritating rules is also one of the most helpful things you can do to keep well rested. And it isn’t like you have the option to ignore these rules, so you might as well use your off-duty hours actually to rest. And I know, sometimes we just aren’t tired after our 14-hour shift ends. But again, it is a mandatory break, so try and use it to rest.
Set up mini milestones
Call me a dork but, those moments that I see I’m arriving at a checkpoint I’ve set up in my GPS are always accompanied by dopamine releases that get me just a little more amped up, and excited to just keep trucking.
Keep a Decent Diet
This is a huge problem for many of us, well at least for me it is. Driving down lonely, desolate roads in isolation can be a drag. So, it is no wonder you get excited when you finally see the familiar Love’s or Flying J signs appear over the horizon - in fact, that’s always one of the milestones I set up.
Go ahead and make your way to the store. Get you some much needed human contact. But for God’s sake, do not fall victim to the snack aisle. As delicious as Doritos, Reese's cups, and Coca-Cola are, they aren’t doing you any good. In fact, the only thing they are doing is adding to your fatigue. Oh, and that reminds me, try and stay away from those sugary energy drinks as well. You’ll feel a jolt of energy at first, but once that shockwave of sugar wears off you’ll be worse off than you were in the beginning.
Instead, opt for something a little healthier. I’ve fallen into a system that seems to keep me going and gives a noticeable boost of energy.
I’ll get some berries, bananas, pineapple (well any type of fruit works well really) and I’ll get myself an Arizona Green Tea. This ups my energy level and I don’t end up having that dreaded crash after the insulin spike drops back down to normal levels.
If I feel a crisis coming along - and I don’t have time to pull over - I’ll take a half a shot of 5-hour energy. Never the whole shot for me, but I don’t have much of a caffeine tolerance either.
If you have a mini fridge in your cab, it is a good idea to keep it stocked with some yogurt and other healthy mind focusing snacks.
Crank up the Music
Music has an incredible ability to alter our moods if you are feeling tired turn up the radio. You may not want to turn on Bach or Mozart (no offense to you classical music fans, but it just doesn’t get your blood pumping).
The type of music? Well, that doesn’t really matter much, you know what gets you in the zone.
Turn on a Podcast
I am quickly becoming less of a music listener in my vehicle and more a podcast guy. The engaging nature of podcasts is perfect for long road trips. And the best part is, there are so many podcasts out there that you are guaranteed to find something that is in your wheelhouse.
Turn on a Podcast, and you’ll be three plus hours closer to your destination.
Roll Down Those Windows
The tried and true method of wind blowing in your face. Of course, you tried this before, and you probably found it works just well enough to get you to your next rest stop where you can get out and stretch your legs.
Speaking of
Get Your Blood Moving
There have been countless studies done depicting the importance of exercise on not just our bodies, but our brains as well.
When you start to realize that you are getting a little too drowsy for comfort, hop out of the truck, grab some fresh air, and maybe even have a snack while you’re out there.
Nap
After you’ve logged 8 hours behind the wheel, you are required to take at least 30 minutes for rest. Use this time to recharge. You’ll be glad you did.
Wrap - Up
Driving for a living means you constantly have the potential to cause real damage. That’s why there are so many rules regulating how long CDL drivers can be on the road at a time before they need to rest.
Being alert and aware of our surroundings at all times is more than important. It can be the difference between life and death.
These tips can be beneficial and keep you on your toes when used at the proper times. That said, these aren’t a substitute for… you know…. Actual sleep. If you are too tired to keep moving, pull the truck over and get you some rest.
