"Chemical" Fixes

This is a question regarding the whole situation that is/was discussed here…Run Hard - Get Paid…WITHOUT getting into that particular situation.

How does the industry or you feel about the use of java, joe, Red bull, 5-Hour Energy and/or Unisom, Sominex, ZZZQuil to assist in keeping you awake or helping you sleep. I'm personally thinking that these would be a no-no, but could it show up in a drug test or something and out you "out-of-service"?

Stay away from the NyQuil, anything with alcohol and any amphetamine based meds (aderol). And any drug tests should be ok. That being said, I think you would be foolish to operate any vehicle while using any meds containing dextromethorphan. NyQuil, robitussin, Vicks 44 etc all use this ingredient as a cough suppressant that just happens to be A fairly powerful hallucinogen.

There is no substitute for sleep. Any redbull or 5 hr energy only succeeds in keeping you awake and does nothing to keep you alert. You need to be both awake and alert to operate any vehicle.

While I know this all to be true, you will get my coffee and green monster drink when you pry it from wired, jittery fingers.

That's a good question LittleJoe.

Over the years I've found that eating healthy, which includes eating smaller portions at a time, maintaining your proper weight, and getting some regular exercise will do more for your overall energy level than anything you can consume. Coffee and energy drinks and the like will give you a short-term boost if you need it, but it isn't going to last long and often times you'll come down from it hard and fast.

That being said, I love my coffee! I'm also known to consume energy drinks on occasion. I don't think there's anything wrong with any of that stuff. But in the end it's important for drivers to understand:

1) Eating healthy and maintaining your proper weight will give you more energy and alertness over a longer period of time than anything you can consume

2) There is no substitute for sleep. If you find you're getting a little tired but you have to push on a little longer and you know you can do it safely, there's nothing wrong with grabbing a cup of coffee and turning down the air temperature in the truck a little bit to help yourself stay awake and alert. But once you start getting really tired, nothing but sleep will ultimately cure that.

3) A short nap or a short walk can be highly effective for most people. All my years of driving I rarely drove more than 2-3 hours at a time without stopping for at least five minutes to walk inside and grab a fresh cup of coffee or a snack. It's almost miraculous how a five minute walk makes you feel when you climb back in the truck. And a short nap? Please! I'm all for a 30-60 minute nap in the middle of the day. I've always done that. It can make a world of difference. It not only makes you more awake and alert but it clears your mind and makes you feel like you're starting your day fresh again.

So I think coffee and energy drinks really are perfectly ok to consume but they're the least effective way of staying awake and alert. A good night's rest, healthy eating, exercise, a short nap, or a short walk are all more effective ways of keeping your energy level and alertness where it needs to be throughout the long days.

Man....that took a while to type out. I'm out of coffee again! Be right back!

Do y'all have Demon Energy there?

Do y'all have Demon Energy there?

Well, we have Demons

and we have Energy, but together? I'm not sure . . .

Jopa

y'all

BTW, are you from the South Island??

Jopa

y'all

BTW, are you from the South Island??

Jopa

He is in the land of the hobbits. New Zealand. Everyone one there lives in hobbit holes in the side of hill. Hey! Now that I think about it I really would not mind living in a hobbit cottage as long as it was like the one Bilbo Baggins had. That would be cool.