Tips from a Transportation Service for Staying Alert During a Long Haul Trip
There are federal standards in place that outline the maximum amount of time a driver is allowed to be on the road in a certain day. But even when abiding by these laws, truck drivers still log long hours every single day, and often find themselves struggling to stay alert.
With this in mind, here are a few tips from our transportation service in Aurora, CO for staying alert during a long haul trip:
- Take short naps: Take a cat nap before you even get on the road. There are many studies that demonstrate that sleeping for under an hour gives your body just enough rest to help you make it through a night. If you find yourself in desperate need of sleep on the road, pull over and take a quick 20-minute nap to recharge.
- Eat well: While fast food and junk snacks from gas stations are convenient, healthy food is able to provide you with far more lasting energy and a much smaller likelihood of a crash later on. Eat your fruits and vegetables, get all of your necessary vitamins and eat real whole grains. You’d be amazed at how much of a difference a healthy diet can make when you need to stay awake for a long trek.
- Turn up the music: Music can have a tremendous impact on your mood. Make sure you’re listening to music that is not only likely to keep you awake, but also at a louder volume if necessary to keep you pumped up throughout your trip. Even singing along can be a great strategy to stay awake. Don’t worry if you can’t sing—no one can hear you!
- Open your windows: Having fresh air, especially if it’s cold, and having a strong breeze coming through your window can give a shock to your system to help you stay awake. Of course, shocking yourself awake only works temporarily. The more you need to rely on shocks to the system, the more likely it is that you just need to pull over and get in a quick nap.
- Avoid caffeine: The common notion is that you should fuel yourself with coffee or energy drinks, but this is a myth. While caffeine gives you a great initial boost of energy, it also gives you a huge crash once it wears off. Plus, it makes you more likely to need to use the bathroom quickly, which could get annoying. Drink just enough water to stay hydrated.
- Get plenty of sleep: If you know you have a long trip coming up, you need to make it a priority to get a full night’s sleep ahead of time. Sure, if you’re a night owl this might sound difficult, but it will be well worth it to avoid having to deal with constant naps the next day just to keep your batteries charged.
Looking for more tips on how to stay awake during your next long haul trip? Reach out to Osage Specialized Transport, your transportation service in Aurora, CO, for more information. Or, contact us online.
