Safety Is Everyone’s Concern! As a commercial driver, being fatigued can have dangerous consequences as it significantly increases your risk as you operate your truck. To stay both safe and healthy, it is important that you get enough quality sleep. Here are some tips:
- Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep, which is enough time to complete 5 or 6 cycles of quality sleep.
- Give yourself plenty of time to wake up before you get behind the wheel. Safety-critical events are most likely to occur within the first hour of driving.
- If you suspect you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor.
- Think about the food you put in your body like the fuel you puts in his truck. Healthy foods like whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables are like diesel fuel, whereas processed foods that are high in sugar, fat and refined carbohydrates are more like gasoline.
- Monitor your caffeine intake. Too much caffeine can cause adverse side effects such as dizziness or a headache which can impair your ability to drive.
- Have a routine that includes good habits to relax both your body and mind in order to make it easier for you to fall asleep.
Don’t rely on tricks like rolling down your window or turning up the radio to maintain alertness, as this may give you a false sense of security. We hope that the above tips help in recognizing and managing fatigue. If you have feedback and suggestions, send details to ship@ippolitogroup.com
