How to Stay Awake While Driving: 10 Tips from Long Haul Truckers

Let's face it: long hauls get boring after the first 10 or 20 miles. Your tires hum against the road, the scenery looks the same, and that combination of white noise and nothing visually exciting contributes to road fatigue, which is what makes your eyelids droop.

"No problem," you think. "I'll pull over and grab something to help me stay awake." Sure enough, your favorite truck stop has all kinds of energy and sugary products promising to keep you alert. But time and testing have shown these quick fixes can make you even more tired once the effect wears off. We've all downed a large bag of candy trying to stay sharp behind the wheel, only to crash once the sugar high ends.

So what do you do? Some experienced truckers have tried-and-true methods to stay alert while traveling thousands of miles for hours on end. These tips have helped truckers keep it safe, because aside from bad weather, driving when you're sleepy is just about the best way to cause an accident.

10 tips to stay awake on the road

1. Cat-nap before getting on the road. Even less than an hour of sleep gives your body crucial rest to help you stay awake into the night. Pull over and take 20-minute power naps while en route when you need them. Don't fight your fatigue to save time; you might end up hurting yourself or others.
2. Eat a healthy meal after your pre-route nap. Fast food is convenient, but the fat, salt, and sugar make you tired. Energy food consists of complex carbohydrates and protein for long-lasting stamina. Eat whole grains, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
3. Take your vitamins. Certain vitamins, like B and C, give you energy. Just take them with your healthy meal so your body absorbs them.
4. Move when you get tired. Pull over, get out of your cab, and stretch your legs. You're sitting for long periods and need to move to keep your blood flowing and your energy up. A quick walk-around inspection of your rig is a perfect excuse.
5. Crank up the volume. Music affects your mood, which in turn affects your fatigue level. If you're feeling sleepy or down, put on something lively you can sing along with. Only you and your rig can hear you.
6. Keep snacking, but keep it healthy. Don't ride the sugar rollercoaster on a long haul. Snack on something healthy instead, like a bag of almonds.
7. Listen to an audiobook. Keeping your mind occupied helps you stay awake. Whether you like suspense, a thriller, or something lighter, once you tire of singing, listen to someone else's voice for a while.
8. Do small things to wake yourself up. Rub the roof of your mouth with your tongue, pinch your earlobe, or do something else mildly irritating to chase away the sleepiness. Don't hurt yourself, of course.
9. Open your windows and let the air flow. This works especially well when it's warm in your cab and cold outside. Like diving into cold water, cold air gives your system a temporary jolt. It only works temporarily, though, so pull over at your next rest stop for a power nap.
10. Stay hydrated and go easy on caffeine. Dehydration is an immediate fatigue-causer, so don't skip the water. And don't load up on coffee: the caffeine wears off, and it's also a diuretic that increases dehydration.

These are just 10 ways to stay awake while driving. There are many others, but the best solution is always to get your proper sleep, because nothing replaces actual rest. The FMCSA has strict hours-of-service rules to help prevent driver fatigue and accidents for a reason. Safety is worth a lot more than pushing yourself to make good time. Keep it safe out there, and avoid fatigue on the long haul.