5 Ways to Fight Fatigue as a Truck Driver
As a long-haul truck driver, you need to reach your destination by a particular day and time. But after spending so many hours on the road, it’s all too common to start getting tired. The following five tips are meant to help mitigate your risk of road fatigue to keep yourself safe, rested, and awake.
Identify Warning Signs of Tired Driving
Your body knows when it’s getting tired and provides you with numerous signs and symptoms. If you notice that you’re experiencing any of them, you should pull over as soon as safely possible and get some sleep.
These warning signs include impaired memory, increased blinking or yawning, distractibility, impaired driving ability, irritability and moodiness, head nodding or falling asleep, and hallucinations.
Take Frequent Breaks
Sometimes, a change in routine is all that’s needed to refresh your mind. Approximately every two hours, make a point of stopping somewhere you can stretch your legs and enjoy some fresh air. Even a quick change of scenery can do wonders when fighting fatigue!
While stopped, use this opportunity to stock up on water. Staying hydrated also helps you remain awake.
Sleep During Your Regular Sleep Schedule
Your internal clock is more inclined to be tired between the hours of midnight and 6 am and in the early afternoon. That’s why it’s essential during these times that you try to get some rest – even an hour-long power nap is helpful. If that’s not an option, make sure to take a break from driving during this time, at the very least.
And the night before you hit the road? Try to get a good night’s sleep.
Eat Healthily
While driving long distances, it can be difficult to make nutritious choices at mealtime. Instead, we often pull over at the nearest rest stop and select the first option that sounds good at that moment.
Following a balanced diet that includes regular meals and snacks can help keep your blood sugar levels stable and help you fight fatigue. Instead of ordering that burger combo, choose a more nutritious meal instead. Keep healthy snacks such as almonds and apples within reaching distance of the wheel.
Limit Your Caffeine Intake
As tempting as it is, ordering a coffee isn’t the solution when you’re already tired. Instead of providing you with energy, the caffeine in coffee or energy drinks can make you jittery and anxious.
Although caffeine drinks can be helpful in moderation, better options for staying hydrated include water or juice.
Besides keeping yourself in the best condition possible to drive long-haul, you need to keep your truck in optimal shape, too. At Rhino Truck Lube Centres, enjoy drive-thru lubrication, filtration, and inspection services are performed in less than an hour. Spend this time wisely and get some rest before heading back on the road!
