Pulling an all nighter

[Gary H NC]

Working not drinking....lol!

Been a while since i had to do this....Like 20 some years.
My new job is kinda on-call trucking position.

Here the last few weeks i get a call at least 10 to 12 hours in advance.
Well, they just called and need a load going out at 1:30 am going to Atlanta.

I have been up since 6 am and know i will probably not get any sleep before i leave home at 1 am....

Going to be a long night...coffee and cold Mountain Dew it looks like..

I just wish i had a normal shift.First second or Third would be fine as long as i could get on a sleep schedule.

I got spoiled over the last few weeks of day shift,that and it was local and just bumping docks...easy job. Glad i have work though!

Just waiting for spring and the boat business will be going again.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Hey Gary, good luck with that. I quit trucking 7 years ago for various reasons, but one of main one's was how it messed with my sleep patterns.

There is a reason they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture. It's tough on body and mind.

Wish you well tonight, keep the shiny side up!!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

A good buddy of mine has a penchant for changing careers. He as owned a couple of stores, installed cable and satellite systems, done construction, and owned a couple of trucks, among other things. He's often said that the toughest on his body was driving truck, so I know of what your talking about. Good luck on the run and be safe.

 

[rbh]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Hey Gary, good luck with that. I quit trucking 7 years ago for various reasons, but one of main one's was how it messed with my sleep patterns.

There is a reason they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture. It's tough on body and mind.

Wish you well tonight, keep the shiny side up!!

And keep the rubber side down.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Keep with them, you will finally get a shift. maybe it will work with the boat schedule.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Thanks guys!
Yea,the worst part is those couple hours before sunrise.It is the body is saying SLEEP NOW!....lol!

At least i will try to get a couple hours sleep before the alarm goes off at 12:45 am...
My first time pulling a load for this company so i have to get used to another truck in the dark.It is a Ryder lease so probably a decent truck.
Supposed to be a drop and hook run so i can dig that....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Keep with them, you will finally get a shift. maybe it will work with the boat schedule.

I hear ya TD,I have been running for Harris Teeter the last couple weeks.
Drivers work a 8 to 10 hour shift and excellent pay.
Super easy job,all new rigs and the driver touches nothing.
The farthest route is 90 miles from home.The terminal is 3 miles from my house.It would be perfect.
What a pie job! Working on getting a full time gig with them...

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Thanks guys!
Yea,the worst part is those couple hours before sunrise.It is the body is saying SLEEP NOW!...

I use to work at a all night gas station when I was a kid and your right. As that sun come up your body says its time to sleep. Stay alert.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Good luck, Gary. I remember your posts several months ago when looking for work....
I know it's hard to be grateful for having a job when that job is not what you really wanted. You seem to be a good worker, and looking at what you are up against with the younger crowd, your skills will soon be appreciated.
Hang in there....coffee and mountain dew is better than a few pills, so put on the yack box, find a few nighttime friends and morning will be there before you know it...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Yep,The yack box on and i hope a decent running truck...it should go by fast..
Got my cooler packed and the coffee set to come on in a few hours...up at 12:45 and suck down a couple cups.That and getting out in the cold air should wake me up..

I like night time trucking...The I-85 run is mostly trucks only that time of night.
Hopefully it has enough motor to do the left lane boogie!....

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

All-nighters suck, I commiserate with you. Up until 2008, I worked 8 years on a 12 hr rotating shift that ran a 28 day cycle. 28 days of day shift, then 28 night shifts, and so on. Work Mon. and Tues., off Wed. and Thurs., work Fri., Sat. and Sun., off Mon. and Tues., work Wed. and Thurs., then OFF FRI, SAT, SUN! (Best part). Toughest part was the switching...just when your body starts to get accustomed to one or the other, it changes. I wasn't driving a truck, but I was driving a car the entire time. Many times I would have to pull over and get some fresh air and coffee at the 3-4 a.m. mark.

Keep it between the lines and stay away from the lot lizards and you'll be alright.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

What part of ATL are you coming to

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

What part of ATL are you coming to

North side...Jimmy Carter Blvd area...Thank goodness!
I should be there by around 6:30 am and hopefully out of there and heading back north by 7. I know the southbound traffic gets terrible in the mornings.

Well,never did get any sleep.Working on coffee now then shower and get going..
I got a tooth ache setting in....it should keep me awake anyway.

I'm hoping if i get to the terminal a little early i can get out of there and be down there by 6 am...

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Cool on the working Gary!! Stay safe out there !!! I did a 30 hour day here a couple months ago , I couldnt handle that any more !! good Luck and stay safe out there !! John

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Cool on the working Gary!! Stay safe out there !!! I did a 30 hour day here a couple months ago , I couldnt handle that any more !! good Luck and stay safe out there !! John

Thanks John! I am home and the load of GM parts delivered.
Those couple of hours before day light was rough man! Once the sun came up i was feeling better..
4 coffees and 3 Mountain Dews later....lol!

The bed is calling now...nap time....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

glad you are home safe. my business is showing life again. found an '87 110 for a client that blew his '88 88spl. removed the 88. i got it to part out or rebuild, and a great binnacle control, for installing the 110 yesterday. took it for the test run. ran just like a new one.

i have a 76 25hp and a 72 6hp coming in for service tonight and tomorrow.

only did 2 motors in Dec.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Sleep tight, Gary ... I feel your pain, I hate it when the fire alarm sounds about 10 minutes into the night's sleep and you are in for an all-nighter! Have had several of them recently ... I end up trying to stay up the next day till as close to the "normal" time of bed as I can, because if I don't I will get headaches and very cranky. But I can stay up and be okay, well, as okay as I usually am, which some would say is a few fries short of a Happy Meal!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Pulling an all nighter

Man! I must be getting old! Slept straight through to 7 am this morning..

I used to be able to go for days with just a couple hours of sleep each night...
The body is not what it used to be...lol!

Glad to hear work is picking up TD! I have a full service to get to this week on a 2009 Bayliner.I may get to it today if i'm not called into work.