Driver Can't Sleep In Rolling Truck....

TennHillBilly · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 06:17 PM

I am posting this for my husband. Please forgive me if I didn't put this in the right place. My husband is a new team driver. New but not too young if that matters. He hasn't had any problems with any of the challenges of his new career until now. He finally got teamed up and they are on a run across country. He just cannot sleep. Since Thursday he has had about five hours of sleep. They actually have cut their run short and are headed back because of it.

My husband asked me to come on here and ask if any of you have had problems sleeping in a rolling truck and if sleeping pills helped? He is hoping there is something he can take that will allow him to sleep and not be fuzzy headed when he crawls out of the bunk. He gave up caffine a few months ago so that isn't part of it. He's a non-smoker. They are eating fairly well...nothing too heavy. He just cannot go out and stay out.

He is heading to the doctors office as soon as he hits the yard.

We would be very grateful for any help or advise you can give him.

Thank you.

CFer · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 06:22 PM

TennHillBilly, I've never run sleeper teams but I would think there is a big adjustment to make when sleeping in a moving truck. Hopefully as more time goes by he'll get used to it. I would stay away from pills as much as possible.

Welcome to Truckingboards

oldslowchevy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 06:30 PM

i bet this there is a 2 part answer to this, part one, does your husban fully trust this other drivers driving? it is like trusting a guy with your life. the second part is how smooth is the truck?i know if my cat simply jumps on my bed i wake up, but i am a light sleeper. but the swaying and bouncing a truck goes though while driving is enough to keep me sleeping i bet it is the same for him as well. but if it were me i would stay away from the pills till a last resort

Dirtball · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 06:39 PM

I ran sleeper team for awhile and it does take some time to get used to it. As was said earlier STAY AWAY FROM THE PILLS..Type of truck ride will make a difference and knowing your team driver helps. My biggest problem was sitting in the jump seat while we were in traffic..SCARY..Good Luck.Perhaps a local job would be advisable for the time being. Tell your husband to check out LASKO bathware if he wants the big rig experience.Good money and new trucks, Usually no more than two years old and PENSKE.

pro1driver · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 07:27 PM

as someone else stated, it does take some time to adjust sleeping habits while the vehicle is in motion. it does become one of trust too. the other driver can be the utmost safest driver in the world, but your hubby doesn't know this. also, even the very best team driver will hit a bump or two in the road, causing vibrations that even the very best sleeper cabs to feel.

my only advice here would be for your hubby to NOT drink any caffinated beverages 2 to 4 hours before bedtime. if he feels the "need" for a coffee or other caffinated beverage, tell him "caffine free" is the way to go. also, have him cut down on his sugar intake as well, as sugar will provide short bursts of energy that can possibly interfere with his sleep time.

grocery thrower · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 08:54 PM

I haven't teamed much but when I did, and I always trusted the drivers I teamed with, they were friends of mine, I just couldn't get to sleep, If we left out on Sunday night I wouldn't sleep till Wednesday sometime, then I would sleep like a baby till the trip was over, I might not team again for 3 or 4 weeks, so it was the same routine all over again, I did find however that night or day I could sleep better if the sleeper vent was open, something about the noise of that air.