Can't Sleep While Truck Is Moving

Hello everyone, I recently started training with a mentor. I told him I can't sleep in the sleeper berth while he is driving. I tend to get bounced around back there while he is driving.Would it be unreasonable to ask him to pull over and park for a few hours so I can sleep? All suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

This is what I was worried about. I hopefully we will getting my CDL and training soon with Swift..and I am a very light sleeper. If I'm by myself, there isn't an issue...but trying to sleep while someone is driving? What if they are listening to music? I am afraid I'm gonna get 2 hours of sleep then be expected to drive 8 hours at night... and this will go on for 3-4 weeks? Thank god I'm not gonna be a team driver after all is said and done... there is absolutely no way. And people say earplugs work...but earplugs don't completely stop the sound..they just muffle it.

I have a feeling. If you are asking here, you did not like his response? Mentor and you only make money when the wheels are turning. So you need to find ways to get used to the truck sway, and or take every opportunity to get rest when you can.

Hello everyone, I recently started training with a mentor. I told him I can't sleep in the sleeper berth while he is driving. I tend to get bounced around back there while he is driving.Would it be unreasonable to ask him to pull over and park for a few hours so I can sleep? All suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

Hello everyone, I recently started training with a mentor. I told him I can't sleep in the sleeper berth while he is driving. I tend to get bounced around back there while he is driving.Would it be unreasonable to ask him to pull over and park for a few hours so I can sleep? All suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

The short answer is YES, it is unreasonable to ask him to pull over while you sleep. You will have to find a way to rest. Most everyone driving a truck had the same issue. In the long game a few weeks of uncomfortable sleeping is the price you have to pay to play. It should get better the longer you do it though.

It will take weeks to get used to it, if you get used to it at all. I never did, so I drive exclusively solo.

Eye on the prize of your ultimate goal: Your Own Truck!

Tyler: Not all companies require you to team drive when you are training. I trained through Millis Transfer and you don't typically get your CDL until well into your training period so team driving really isn't possible because the trainer is "On Duty" while you are driving so he is using up his hours sitting in the passenger seat. Even once you get your CDL some trainers want you to team, others just run a solo truck with maybe a few extra hours of trainer driving.

I would ask your recruiters what their company policy is. Also, if possible, try to avoid training with an owner operator. They are going to be much more likely to push for team driving.

This is what I was worried about. I hopefully we will getting my CDL and training soon with Swift..and I am a very light sleeper. If I'm by myself, there isn't an issue...but trying to sleep while someone is driving? What if they are listening to music? I am afraid I'm gonna get 2 hours of sleep then be expected to drive 8 hours at night... and this will go on for 3-4 weeks? Thank god I'm not gonna be a team driver after all is said and done... there is absolutely no way. And people say earplugs work...but earplugs don't completely stop the sound..they just muffle it.

You need to do your homework because there are companies out there that offer this. I trained with TMC. I ran my clock out and then my trainer drove a little but they wanted the truck parked at night. This was for the first two weeks. As someone else has said millis offers this. I’m sure there are others as well!

Yes its unrealistic to expect your trainer to pull over so you can sleep. However as some have said, some companies expect the trainee to do the majority of the driving then the trainer drives a short time if needed to make an appointment time. Some companies full on team from the get go.

I personally sleep like a baby when the truck is moving, provided it's not a trainee doing the driving lol. An experienced driver that has a million or so under their belt.. I'm out like a light. And trust me, when you get tired enough, you'll sleep while it's moving.

Ask your training coordinator or recruiter about their policy and if it's not what you want to hear, sick it up. It's only temporary.

Tyler: Not all companies require you to team drive when you are training. I trained through Millis Transfer and you don't typically get your CDL until well into your training period so team driving really isn't possible because the trainer is "On Duty" while you are driving so he is using up his hours sitting in the passenger seat. Even once you get your CDL some trainers want you to team, others just run a solo truck with maybe a few extra hours of trainer driving.

I would ask your recruiters what their company policy is. Also, if possible, try to avoid training with an owner operator. They are going to be much more likely to push for team driving.

By team driving I meant basically what you do with a trainer.. which is team driving. 200 hours of team driving... is that not team driving? I'm new so I honestly don't know.. but I figured one person sleeping while the other drives is what team driving was. So yeah the 3-4 weeks of "team/mentor" driving is what I'm dreading...but I guess we all gotta do it.

Generally "Team Driving" means the truck is always moving. Both drivers need to be licensed CDL drivers. Some company do train like this. If you are just a permit holder and your trainer goes into the sleeper that is unsafe as well as illegal. One call to training or safety would shut that down.

I did 15K miles with my Millis trainers and I was never required to sleep in a moving truck. I did almost all the driving and we basically took our breaks at the same time. Trainer trucks always have double bunks.