Tips to Sleep On the Road as a Commercial Trucker

As a commercial truck driver who may spend a few days or weeks on the road, you know how important it is for you to get a good night of sleep every night. However, when you are sleeping in a little bunk, it isn’t always the easiest. 

Here are some tips to make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night when you are on the road. 

Don’t drive yourself until you are exhausted. Though many people drive until they can’t anymore, they often get a second wind, which makes it hard to fall asleep. Instead, you should get up and go to sleep on the same schedule so that your body knows when it is time to start winding down for the night. 

Make your bed as comfortable as possible. You may need to buy a new mattress or even just an insulation pad to help make the bunk as comfortable as possible. Also, take your good pillow (or buy a high quality one to keep in your truck). Make sure that you have enough blankets and pillows so that you can stay comfortable no matter how warm or cold it is. 

You also need to keep your truck tidy, so that you don’t fall over something if you get up in the middle of the night. Though you may want to throw things all over the cab of your truck, if you need to get up in the middle of the night, you don’t want to trip over your clothes or anything else that you may have left out. You will be half asleep, just fumbling around, so you don’t need anything extra that could get in your way. 

Choose a safe place to sleep. Though you can pull over and sleep wherever you want, the side of the road or a ramp to the highway isn’t the best place to park. It is best to choose a truck stop or rest stop if you are planning on stopping for a few hours. These are relatively safe, so you can fall asleep and not worry about anything while your body gets the rest that it needs. 

Many people recommend white noise or other sleep apps to help you fall asleep. Truck stops and parking lots can be loud, no matter how late it is. You are going to have trucks coming and going, as well as the truck drivers themselves. You may need a little noise to help you fall asleep (and stay that way), no matter the ruckus that is going on outside. You may also need to invest in some good ear plugs or headphones to keep the noise away. 

It also helps to get into a routine. That will also help your body get ready for bed. You may want to take a leisurely walk around the parking lot to help you unwind. You may want to take a hot shower before bed. It also helps to avoid stress and screen time right before you go to bed. If you have a phone call that will upset you, put it off until the morning. You don’t want to get worked up, and then try to sleep. That will never work. 

Though you may not think it is possible, you can get a good sleep when you are on the road. You just may need to make your bed as comfortable as possible. Choosing a safe place to sleep also helps. If you are sitting on the side of the road, you may be worried and find yourself staying awake! 

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David Ott

David Ott