Truckers are paid by the mile, not by the hour. When it’s time to snooze, drivers need to be asleep instead of staring at the ceiling or the bottom of their eyelids. Insomnia can eventually become an safety issue if the trucker doesn’t get enough rest.

Many owner operators who buy a semi truck have started teaming with their spouse or another trucker in order to maximize their earnings. With high fuel costs and a lingering recession, it’s becoming harder and harder to make a profit in trucking. It can be very difficult take a nap on a moving semi truck even though it’s becoming more of a necessity. Nevertheless, there are ways to make it possible to sleep in a moving vehicle. API logistic

Getting the Right Semi Truck Driver

If a rig has two drivers, the first thing is to make sure the partnering driver is somebody that who is trustworthy and easy to get along with. Nothing prevents sleep more than a trucker that can’t be trusted or is somebody that’s not likable. In the cramped quarters of a rig, a lot of stress induced insomnia can be prevented by picking a good partner.

The partner should try to avoid potholes or turning the radio up when her partner is in the back trying to sleep. The driving style of the partner should not be aggressive with frequent acceleration and deceleration of the truck.

Finally, set aside some time when the truck is not moving so that both partners are able to get some quality sleep.

Semi Truck Driver Sleeping Aids

There are sleeping aids out there that can make napping easier. Noise canceling headphones can drown out a good amount of road noise, which will make it easier to fall asleep. For the eyes, a sleep mask can be very helpful in trying to block out street lights, incoming headlights, or even sunlight. Finally, it can be very helpful to purchase extra padding for the bed. Extra padding can help absorb inevitable road vibrations if it’s necessary to sleep while the rig is moving.

Illegal Drugs and Semi Truckers

It is not recommended to take drugs in order to avoid sleep. The temptation to use amphetamines in order to stay awake is high. Random drug testing and pre-employment drug screens are administered widely in the United States to protect the motoring public from drivers who abuse drugs.

In the United States and Canada, the maximum time on duty per day is 16 hours. The shortest time off-duty is 8 hours. Resist the temptation to violate the law.

The cost of ansemi truck accident can be very high. Driving while tired and sleepy may lead to the loss of the rig via a crash or lawsuit. An incident often leads to increased semi truck insurance premiums and the loss of a job. It may even result in the trucker’s death.

Making money and resting should not be conflicting goals. In the long run, being able to sleep allows a driver to avoid accidents, drive more hours, and make more money.