I’ve done a 15 hour day on 2 hours of sleep. It was not fun. Loads can be changed around as can drivers. If you hit someone because your dozing off then its you who’s getting in the neck. Is your life/license worth risking by running tired?
After seeing someone join the A1(M) from the A14 and fall asleep, smash through the barrier and come to a rest on the S/B side within 6 inches of a bridge pillar (Which certainly would have killed him), it was a real eye opener and certainly woke me up to the fact of how easy it was to fall asleep on the job… I have before, and would again refuse work / phone in sick if I ended up with no sleep one day. Its not worth the risk at all.
Much safer than the alternative, the driver in question had a broken leg and was pinned into his unit.
If anyone knows the person that had this accident about 3 - 4 years ago in a “RH Commercials” (Renault Premium) hire unit and a fridge trailer, please let me know if he was OK. I was swiftly moved on by the police once they turned up.
I must also admit, it was quite a shock how many “Comrades” flew past on the limiter as if nothing had happened, despite smoke and barriers/lamp posts being strewn all across the carriageways.
trubster:
After seeing someone join the A1(M) from the A14 and fall asleep, smash through the barrier and come to a rest on the S/B side within 6 inches of a bridge pillar (Which certainly would have killed him), it was a real eye opener and certainly woke me up to the fact of how easy it was to fall asleep on the job… I have before, and would again refuse work / phone in sick if I ended up with no sleep one day. Its not worth the risk at all.Much safer than the alternative, the driver in question had a broken leg and was pinned into his unit.
If anyone knows the person that had this accident about 3 - 4 years ago in a “RH Commercials” (Renault Premium) hire unit and a fridge trailer, please let me know if he was OK. I was swiftly moved on by the police once they turned up.
I must also admit, it was quite a shock how many “Comrades” flew past on the limiter as if nothing had happened, despite smoke and barriers/lamp posts being strewn all across the carriageways.
so called comrades do not care anymore,fact of life unfortunately
well said young man,ffs whats the job coming to…?
alix776:
Grow some nuts and get on with the job. If you need a couple of extra rests during the day take them.
I will admit to driving tired on occasions, bad nights sleep, noisy surrounding etc, I had the choice to do the job as safe as I could taking in measures to keep awake and alert, or throw a sickie and risk the BS of disciplinaries, So strong coffee, energy drinks and power naps got me through the day.
Will I do the same again, yes. Why? because it annoys the hell out of me when you get these wet ■■■■■ dropping you in it pulling a sickie because they sneezed whilst watching corrie.
‘Boss, I cant come in today, I am abit tired’ 
I do 15 hour shifts on a regular basis. I object though turning up to a shorter job, and having it made into a 15 hour one “because I might do it the rest of the time”. This makes the assumptions that I live in a genie bottle when off duty, and don’t require sleep at all.
I don’t like the “give an inch, take a mile” culture of what’s expected of agency workers by the yard clients (or rather their office “clerks”) themselves…
There is a massive difference between being a bit tired and being too tired to drive safely
alix776:
Guys just get in the real world instead of your rose tinted one.Truckulent
You dont even know me so coming out with stupid quotes about not being near you on the road. And yes I am happy doing a 15 hr shift on 3-5 hrs sleep and no I’m would not be over tired am I unsafe rog you’ve no idea what amount of sleep I need also
I don’t need to know you. If you’re a human, you suffer from sleep deprivation if you continue to work when you need to sleep.
You didn’t read my post properly did you? Perhaps you were too tired to understand it correctly.
Driving a bit tired is normal and generally harmless.
Driving so tired you can’t keep your eyes open and keep micro sleeping is not safe. Thinking you are are immune to tiredness doesn’t mean you are.
Tim85:
So, guys and gals, you have just had a [zb] (rubbish) nights sleep (for whatever reason) you might have even had a couple. What do you do? telephone your boss and say you can’t drive today! they are going to love you for that aren’t they! BUT, you have a morel/professional responsibility to ensure you are fit to do your shift. so yes your tacho says you have have had sufficient time off, we have all been there I am sure but what did you do?
If I rang my boss up too tell him I was too tired too drive I’d be ringing him up most days to be honest,I’m back down too 4/5 hrs a night ,bloody great bags under my eyes,thank god for pot holes ,rumble strips.
I could say I’m fine getting 4/5 hrs a night ,but I’d be just kidding myself ,
I think we all think were invincible ,it won’t happen too us,but I guess that’s what the r.h driver in the post above thought 
I
that pish is all relevant until your working for a subbie in Ireland doing fridge work… your late…your booked in,our booked on the midnight stena ,get your sleep on the boat.etc,etc…welcome to the other side of being a truckie…
Truckulent:
alix776:
Guys just get in the real world instead of your rose tinted one.Truckulent
You dont even know me so coming out with stupid quotes about not being near you on the road. And yes I am happy doing a 15 hr shift on 3-5 hrs sleep and no I’m would not be over tired am I unsafe rog you’ve no idea what amount of sleep I need also
I don’t need to know you. If you’re a human, you suffer from sleep deprivation if you continue to work when you need to sleep.
You didn’t read my post properly did you? Perhaps you were too tired to understand it correctly.
Driving a bit tired is normal and generally harmless.
Driving so tired you can’t keep your eyes open and keep micro sleeping is not safe. Thinking you are are immune to tiredness doesn’t mean you are.
I turned up for work once, yawned a few times, got into a discussion about my lack of sleep the previous night and was told I shouldn’t have come to work.
Next time it happened and I only managed 2 hours sleep I rang in and said I ain’t coming in. Ok no problem see you tomorrow was the response.
How it should be really.
alix776:
Guys just get in the real world instead of your rose tinted one.Truckulent
You dont even know me so coming out with stupid quotes about not being near you on the road. And yes I am happy doing a 15 hr shift on 3-5 hrs sleep and no I’m would not be over tired am I unsafe rog you’ve no idea what amount of sleep I need also
Happy working 15 hours on 3-5 hours sleep? I know that not everybody needs as much sleep as others, but regularly only getting 3-5 hours sleep a night on top of 15 hours shifts is a sure fire way to be looking old & knackered well before your time. Catching 40 winks on a bay is no good. Everyone needs more sleep that that, don’t kid yourself - your no superman. It’ll catch you up.
As I have said, I have gone to work sleep deprived and you can get through it, but when it started to become a regular thing I knocked it on the head for my own sake & others on the road. It’s just not worth it, nor is there any need, so not sure where you are getting this ‘real world’ ■■■■■■■■ from. Sorry if that makes me some sort of pansy.
dieseldog999:
that pish is all relevant until your working for a subbie in Ireland doing fridge work… your late…your booked in,our booked on the midnight stena ,get your sleep on the boat.etc,etc…welcome to the other side of being a truckie…
Not a post that can be accused as being stereotypical in any way !!!
All the reasons above are full valid points & will be a good get out clause , accepted without question when it all goes wrong . 
Tim85:
So, guys and gals, you have just had a [zb] (rubbish) nights sleep (for whatever reason) you might have even had a couple. What do you do? telephone your boss and say you can’t drive today! they are going to love you for that aren’t they! BUT, you have a morel/professional responsibility to ensure you are fit to do your shift. so yes your tacho says you have have had sufficient time off, we have all been there I am sure but what did you do?
Everyone can have a poor night’s sleep, but if you can’t turn in because you’ve had a couple it’s time for a career change.
sayersy:
Everyone can have a poor night’s sleep, but if you can’t turn in because you’ve had a couple it’s time for a career change.
Too true !! You need an aptitude for driving…
seems this guy had the same views as some posters
alix776:
Which why you take a break if your tired it simple. Do any of you actually wok fir living or do you take a day off if you have a bad nights sleep
I bet your boss love’s you I suppose you go to work at other time’s when your not fit and you call yourself professional you are just what our industry need’s a prattttt
samsgrandad:
alix776:
Which why you take a break if your tired it simple. Do any of you actually wok fir living or do you take a day off if you have a bad nights sleepI bet your boss love’s you I suppose you go to work at other time’s when your not fit and you call yourself professional you are just what our industry need’s a prattttt
+1
Get real, if you can’t or don’t want to do the job for whatever reason then feel free to find a different job. Why winge on here ?
samsgrandad:
alix776:
Which why you take a break if your tired it simple. Do any of you actually wok fir living or do you take a day off if you have a bad nights sleepI bet your boss love’s you I suppose you go to work at other time’s when your not fit and you call yourself professional you are just what our industry need’s a prattttt
Yes the boss does love me, as I’m the boss I love myself. Many don’t have the luxury of taking days off in perfect world yes you ring up say your tired and have the day off.
Fortunately I can function adequately on on a few hrs sleep. It’s just how I am. Many can’t but there are ways of getting through a shift if you are tired the op was talking about 1 nights not constant sleep deprivation. Best things to get you through a shift if you are tired are lucozade hydro. And a couple of coffees if you need a 20 30 min power nap then take one its not rocket science. It’s amazing how a post about having a bad night turns into something completely different by a bunch of women who cam speculate with out knowing the full facts or flame someone’s comment regarding one nights bad sleep and turn it in to working constantly without sleep