Tips for Truck Drivers to Stay Awake on the Road
Being a truck driver is a difficult job. Whether you’re a tow truck driver, a semi-truck driver or somewhere in between, you have tons of responsibilities when you’re on the road. And when you’re an overnight truck driver of any sort, your responsibility stays the same but your risk increases exponentially. You can never be too cautious, especially when you’re a truck driver. That’s why we thought it was important for you to know some tips to stay awake on the road at night. Here are some tips from our team of professional tow truck drivers.
4 Tips for Tow Truck or Semi-Truck Drivers to Stay Awake in Transit
Get Plenty of Rest
Sleep is essential if you want to perform at your peak. And any semi-truck or tow truck driver knows that they have to perform at their best every time they’re on the job. There’s no room for error, especially when you’re driving such large vehicles and you have people relying on you to be sharp. Getting the right amount of rest is one of the easiest ways to prepare for those long haul or overnight shifts. When you want to stay awake on the road, getting enough sleep is one of the best, if not the best, thing you can do for yourself.
Eat a Healthy Meal
Just like rest, eating the proper foods to fuel your body is a yet another way you can stay awake while you’re on the road. Food gives you the energy you need to get through your shift. When it’s dark outside, your body thinks it should be resting. You have to trick your body into staying awake just as much as you need to prepare for it. Foods like eggs, beans, spinach, bananas, apples, oatmeal, yogurt, nuts, dark chocolate and sweet potatoes are full of nutrients your body needs to stay awake overnight.
Pull Over if You’re Tired
This tip is really just common sense. If you’re tired, pull over. Get out of your semi-truck or tow truck and get your legs moving. Getting your blood flowing in your legs can do wonders for your energy levels. You can also take the time to eat a quick snack, like nuts or a banana, to boost your energy. While you’re out of your vehicle reenergizing yourself you can inspect your truck. The worst thing you could do is continue to drive through the night and risk falling asleep at the wheel. The next time you find yourself drifting off to sleep, pull over, and take a couple minutes to get yourself physically moving again.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration causes fatigue and when you’re a long haul truck driver or overnight tow truck operator, you don’t want to get fatigued. Fatigue won’t allow you to perform your job duties to the best of your abilities and can impede you from staying awake on the road. The easiest way to combat fatigue is to stay hydrated. Dehydration slows down body functions and can cause you to feel sluggish and tired, which is the last thing you want when you have an overnight shift. Drink water regularly throughout your drive, not just when you feel thirsty, and avoid fatigue while you’re on the road at night.
24 Hour Tow Truck Drivers in Los Angeles
As a truck driver, driving at night can be dangerous. Visibility is decreased and there are people can be more inattentive at night. When accidents happen on the road, it’s important to have someone that you can rely on to bail you out. Pepe’s Towing Service is ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We don’t care if it’s early in the morning or late in the evening, if you need us, we’ll come. Whether you need a winch out, rollover recovery or undecking, we can help. Next time you’re in need of someone to get you out of a jam, contact us, even if it’s on your overnight shift.