Night Shift

My route changed and I am now running at night every day, I use to just have to do nights once a week but now it’s daily, any tips for adjusting?

Geez, I would have a hard time with a full schedule of night driving. I know it will be part of my driving, but I want to see the scenery as much as possible.

If you concentrate on your sleep pattern it helps. Dark curtains to keep your bedroom dark and melatonin will help with sleeping during the day. If you start getting tired while driving change things up. If you where listening to music try silence for a few minutes. What ever works for you because getting into a monotony is what will escalate how tired you feel. I prefer driving at night but it does take some getting used to

I run linehaul at night and have been on the night shift for several months and it is still difficult. Blackout curtains for my bes room certainly helped, and keeping my weekend schedule as close as I can to my normal one otherwise Monday nights are rough

I find the time running from 4AM to Sunrise the hardest. Many times if I have the extra time I pull into a rest area and take a 30 min to an hour nap right before sunrise. This helps keep me driving safe.

If I run early mornings, which I do most days, I'll do the same thing if my schedule allows it. Especially if I'm EB.

I find the time running from 4AM to Sunrise the hardest. Many times if I have the extra time I pull into a rest area and take a 30 min to an hour nap right before sunrise. This helps keep me driving safe.

Some things that help are keeping the dash brightness at the lowest level, taking more regular breaks even if it is just a couple laps around the truck, and caffeine tends to work better for me if I wait to have any until around the middle of my shift.

My favorite driving schedule starts around 3-4am. No traffic, and pulling in to a truly empty truck stop the "night" is great.

The trick is that about 4pm, get your dinner eaten, get into the sleeper, close the curtains and decide on your own to go to sleep. (Turn off your phone if you need to.)

I have been running nights for the past 3 months with a start time of usually 7 or 8pm and i love it. No traffic which is wonderful up in North Jersey, NYC area, just makes things easier. And get two sets of black out curtains, one for the inside closest to the window and one for the outside, closest to the room and it will be pitch black and cover any areas the first curtain lets any light through.

I recommend the 'Night Drivers' glasses sold at most truck stops (used my points to pay for them); they work great on cutting down the glare of headlights, in front of me as well as in the mirrors. They also brighten the landscape at dusk and dawn.