The Complete Guide To A Career In Trucking

The Trucking Lifestyle: Parking & Getting Sleep On The Road

picture of a truck stop at night

At the end of a long day of driving, or even in the middle of one, every driver is going to have to find a place to shut down for at least 10 hours. It is important to do so legally and responsibly.

Getting enough quality sleep is an important part of any drivers lifestyle. Overly tired & fatigued drivers can be a liability on the road, to themselves and to others.

Where will I park the truck? Are truck stops the only legal place to park?

Your preferred place to park will be at a truck stop. That's why they're there. Truck stops are built and equipped to handle large commercial vehicles. More experienced drivers will many times try to arrange to sleep in the parking lot of their customer, to maximize their available driving hours.

There will be times when finding parking before running out of hours will be a giant hassle, and drivers sometimes resort to parking on a ramp or on the side of the road, though definitely not recommended.

What can I do to help me get enough sleep?

Sleep being a key ingredient of overall health, maximizing your sleep while still getting as many miles as you can will be a learned balancing act to help you succeed as a truck driver.

White noise generators, ear plugs, headphones, and even just the idling of your own truck are all methods drivers will use to help them sleep and block out noises from truck stops, roads, etc.

If you're into taking sleeping pills to help you sleep, always keep in mind that most prescription drugs, and even over-the-counter meds, will potentially violate company or DOT drug policy, and should be cleared by a physician and your company. When in doubt, ask.

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