May Managing Fatigue HOME >  Landstar Advantage > May

Fatigue Management Fatigue affects your health and safety, and it’s a major problem for professional drivers because it often contributes to, or directly causes accidents. Fatigue is not just caused by a lack of sleep, but also a lack of exercise, improper diet, illness, medications and long uninterrupted tasks such as driving. Fatigue can be eliminated by taking control over those factors. Warning Signs The following behaviors are indicators that you are showing signs of fatigue.    • Taking “mini snoozes” which can last up to 5 seconds (at 60 mph you will travel 88 feet per second)    • Illusions – seeing things on the roadway that don’t exist    • Heavy eyes, frequent yawning, trouble keeping your head up, squirming in your seat, drifting in the lane and daydreaming    • Crankiness/moodiness, lack of motivation,    • Sudden, improper acceleration and breaking

Skills lost to fatigue. When you are driving tired your judgment of clearance, speed and distance are distorted, reaction time is slower and depth perception is inaccurate. Prevention If you are fatigued during your drive, don’t just look for a quick fix to your current condition. Ask yourself, “Why am I tired?” Did you have enough pre-trip rest? Did you eat well and get plenty of exercise? Rolling down windows, turning up the radio and drinking caffeinated beverages are not safe remedies. Consider the following for optimum alertness:     Rest     Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require commercial drivers break 10 hours following 11 hours of driving. Your break should be used for good recuperative sleep and relaxation, not for addressing other matters that prevent “refueling of your energy tank”.     Healthy Eating     Beef and pork are heavy and fatty and require more energy for your body to process. Consider poultry, seafood and fish instead. Caffeine and sugar may give you a boost of energy but be aware that the rebound affect of these stimulants can leave you feeling more depleted than before you consumed them and coffee will dehydrate your body which also results in exhaustion. Drink plenty of healthy, calorie free and fat free water.     Medical Conditions     Illnesses and their associated medications will have an effect on your driving skills and energy level. When you are not well, you must rest. Rest is a vital healing treatment for your well being. Also, if you are not waking up rested on a regular basis, consider the possibility you’re suffering from Sleep Apnea, a disorder that interrupts your breathing, causing intervals of waking and thus prevents deep recuperative sleep. If you think you may suffer from sleep apnea or other conditions that affect your sleep, consult a physician and visit the American Sleep Foundation at www.sleepfoundation.org. Please take care of yourself so that you may arrive at your destination safely and on time. For more information, please contact: safety@landstar.com or 800-872-9496.