Orlando, Fla.—Truck driver fatigue is a problem the industry has been dealing with for a while. With the driver shortage, comes additional work hours for the ones currently on the job. Working while tired is a normal situation for many, but when a truck driver is showing signs of fatigue, it becomes a serious danger for all, the driver and anyone else involved in case of an accident.

Fatigued commercial truck drivers are exposed to daytime sleepiness, slowed thinking, a diminished attention span, and poor judgment or decision making. You must remember this is all happening while they are in control of heavy weight rigs, driving at highway speeds. Do the math.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety provides a few tips for truck drivers to maintain safe driving conditions while on duty.

Get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel

Be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. If possible, do not drive while your body is naturally drowsy, between the hours of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Driver drowsiness may impair a driver’s response time to potential hazards, increasing the chances of being in a crash. If you do become drowsy while driving, be sure to choose a safe place to pull over and rest.

Maintain a healthy diet

Skipping meals or eating at irregular times may lead to fatigue and/or food cravings. Also, going to bed with an empty stomach or immediately after a heavy meal can interfere with sleep. A light snack before bed may help you achieve more restful sleep. Remember that if you are not well-rested, induced fatigue may cause slow reaction time, reduced attention, memory lapses, lack of awareness, mood changes, and reduced judgment ability.

Take a nap

If possible, you should take a nap when feeling drowsy or less alert. Naps should last a minimum of 10 minutes, but ideally a nap should last up to 45 minutes. Allow at least 15 minutes after waking to fully recover before starting to drive.

Avoid medication that may induce drowsiness

Avoid medications that may make you drowsy if you plan to get behind the wheel. Most drowsiness-inducing medications include a warning label indicating that you should not operate vehicles or machinery during use. Some of the most common medicines that may make you drowsy are: tranquilizers, sleeping pills, allergy medicines and cold medicines.

Recognize the signals and dangers of drowsiness

Indicators of drowsiness include: frequent yawning, heavy eyes, and blurred vision.

Do not rely on “Alertness Tricks” to keep you awake

Behaviors such as smoking, turning up the radio, drinking coffee, opening the window, and other “alertness tricks” are not real cures for drowsiness and may give you a false sense of security.

Orlando Truck Insurance is a full-service provider of Commercial Insurance products and services for Trucking and Commercial auto insurance. We invite you to review our programs: truck, public transportation, and commercial specialty auto. Orlando Truck Insurance has the products and underwriting experience to meet your insurance needs.

To obtain a quote for Truck Insurance, call us at  (407) 203-7085 to speak with a truck insurance specialist. You may also fill out an online questionnaire and one of our staff members will contact you to complete your quote process.

We have the staff, the local experience and the customer service platform to walk you through your insurance coverage options and keep your business well protected. Again, call one of our truck and commercial vehicles insurance specialists today at (407) 203-7085 to get you started in the right track, we’ll be more than happy to assist!

Hector Perez, Producer

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