Hi all
Well after passing C&E last week I have been asked to cover a few weeks on nights. This is nice easy work, but never having done nights before I’m after some tips to help me prepare. Start Monday night at 10pm so have all weekend and Monday to get ready!
Regards
Turn your lights on.
xichrisxi:
Turn your lights on.
Boom boom, I’m here all week 
Caffeine is a must. Heater set low window open
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Check your route for night road closures and diversions
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Try to get your sleep pattern sorted, as your body will naturally want to shut down at it’s regular time. This probably won’t happen the first few nights as the adrenaline will keep you going, but it will creep up on you!
I’m guessing you’re going to be going to a hub, and if you don’t know the score ensure you inform them that you’re new to site and don’t know how things work. You might even get a card saying “New to site” to stick in the window! 
(TPN do this…) If it’s pallets, you will go through the loop twice, once to offload, and again to load with quite a few hours break in the middle whilst others offload and the forkies damage as much crap as they can! 
Best of luck!
jamdutton4:
Caffeine is a must. Heater set low window openSent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
No, don’t do this as it only does you more harm than good. A proper sleep with a good meal before you start is what you need.
Radar19:
jamdutton4:
Caffeine is a must. Heater set low window openSent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
No, don’t do this as it only does you more harm than good. A proper sleep with a good meal before you start is what you need.
Agreed, I do carry a couple of can of RedBull type stuff with me in my bag, but they are for emergencies only…
I’ve had the same 2 cans in there for months!
Once you get into the habit of drinking lots of caffeine, it’s hard to break out of it, I’ve seen it. 
The other issue with using caffeine to keep you alert during a nightshift (especially in the second half of the shift) is that it’s still in your system when you finish work and want to sleep. It may well not stop you getting off to sleep but sure as eggs are ovoid it will stop you sleeping properly. On the subject of sleeping - make sure you have decently thick curtains in your bedroom to keep it as dark as possible.
Also depending on whether you’re a smoker, and the strength of your bladder plan your route and stops carefully. Remember that truck stops will be rammed at night, and parking up more hassle than it’s worth in a lot of places. So with that in mind take a packed lunch, as it really won’t be much fun trying to squeeze into that space that no one else wants in the dark and ■■■■■■■ rain just to get your MacDonalds…
I tend to have my ipod blaring away and now and then can be seen bouncing up an down on my seat giving it large to whatever playing, had a few looks from passing wagons… [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]
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The hours( early start times, unpredictable finishes etc) in the industry are crazy enough (usually) without doing nightshift! get off them as quick as you can!
Have you seen these short videos from a new (arctic) driver on a night shift?
Ive been on nights now since November 2015, I’ve found Talksport is better for me than music for staying awake on a tired night, heater on low, window cracked open a bit and if you find yourself struggling, stop somewhere safe, get out and have a walk round the truck, my boss told me that, better to take a few minutes longer and get yourself back safe
A good sleep in the day is most important, waking just before your shift, as you would on days, if possible.
Honestscott76:
A good sleep in the day is most important, waking just before your shift, as you would on days, if possible.
I tend to go to bed straight at the end of my shift and get up and do stuff before going to work, dunno why I do it that way round but always have. I don’t sleep much though. Also as said, stop and stretch your legs, get some fresh air even if only for a minute
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When asleep in the day, take out the battery in the house door bell, turn off all phones, if it’s a land line, pull out the cable .
Foam ear plugs to blot out next door mowing the grass, barking dogs and the couple having a loud argument .
A good quality Thermos to save on Msa rip off prices .Some establishments charge 50p to fill with hot water .
As somebody said, plan for night road closures, normally they are from 21.00 to 06.00. .
If in a double decker or over height trailer, try not to join the BBC, the bridge bashers club .
Before starting work at night, I wanted a fry up breakfast, finishing in the morning, wanted an evening meal, some drivers had a few beers at home, after the shift to take the edge off the nervous system being stimulated .
Evil8Beezle:
Try to get your sleep pattern sorted, as your body will naturally want to shut down at it’s regular time. This probably won’t happen the first few nights as the adrenaline will keep you going, but it will creep up on you!I’m guessing you’re going to be going to a hub, and if you don’t know the score ensure you inform them that you’re new to site and don’t know how things work. You might even get a card saying “New to site” to stick in the window!
Best of luck!
Tell me more Beezle lol TPN is the hub I’ll be trunking to and from in a couple weeks time! 
UselessForce:
Tell me more Beezle lol TPN is the hub I’ll be trunking to and from in a couple weeks time!
OK I’ll do my best mate but I didn’t do it very many times, as nights are not really my thing, and as I was ADR I was normally sent to the HazChem Network…
First off, check you have everything you need in the truck before you set off.
- A big card with your depot number on it to put in the window.
- If your firm are sending more than one truck, another card saying which of the trucks you are (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc…)
- The paperwork if you’re the first truck, which gets handed in at the gate as you enter. (Which is also where you get your ‘New to site’ card)
As for getting there, my TomTom had no issues except for the very last roundabout, as it thinks the entrance is right on that roundabout instead of straight on (so follow all the other trucks pal). And have a gander on Google maps…
When you get to the gatehouse tell them your depot number, put your cards in the window, hand over the paperwork and ask for a ‘New to Site’ card, which you give back when you leave. Yes I’m stressing that you get this card, as there is no shame in playing the Newbie card!!!
The gate house will tell you to go park up with all the other trailers, so drive as far forward into the yard before swinging it around 180 degrees to face forward alongside all the other trailers. Get out and pull your curtains back swearing like a trooper as you struggle to tie them around the back of the trailer. Use the internal straps looking at what the experienced drivers have done, and try not to get upset that you can’t make yours look as neat as theirs!
Then stick it on Break and chill! 
- There’s a coffee machine and smoking area halfway down the warehouse, which you won’t struggle to find as lots of drivers will generally be chewing the cud there. Keep to the marked walkways and have eyes in the back of your head, as things are always moving around…
Once the trucks to your left start moving, get ready to be called for your turn. Join the queue and when you eventually get around the corner to the while line, wait to be directed into one of the entrances. Do not set off towards an available entrance unless directed, as if it’s on the oppersite side of the warehouse to where your depot’s pallets are stored, the forkies will not be impressed! 
Once inside the entrance, try not to crap yourself at the number and speed of the forklifts flying around like lunatics. Drive very slow and go to the bay number you were give when directed which door to enter in. Yes the forkies will act like they haven’t seen you, but they will get out of your way, and still drive slow even if you feel like you’re holding them up… (You won’t get banned from site for being slow, but I doubt the same came be said for driving fast and showing off…) Once in your bay and straight, a forkie will put a sign in front of your windscreen with instruction on it. Basically it says don’t move until that sign is removed, don’t get out of the truck (Which you won’t want to when you see the place! ) and either sit in the passenger seat or on the bunk. (i.e. they won’t unload/load you if you’re in the drivers seat). Once unloaded and the sign removed, drive forward out of the other end of the warehouse and park up again like before.
Stick it on Break and hit the sack!
Depending on where you are in the stack, you could be there 2-4 hours waiting to be called to be loaded. Some drivers will close the curtains and have a kip, and don’t worry about missing your turn as you’ll get a bang on the door when it’s your turn. Just make sure your depot cards are visible if you do close the curtains.
Reloading is just the same as unloading, and by now you should have worked out which corner/area of the warehouse all your depot pallets are stored, and have a clue which door you’ll be directed to, which logically should be the same as when you unloaded… Once the sign is removed you drive out again. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE TRUCK TO SECURE YOUR LOAD IN THE WAREHOUSE!!!
Once you’ve gingerly driven out of the warehouse, try to find a spot to park up and secure your load. I say try, as there isn’t much space just outside and you might have to basically drive around to the area you were first parked up, depends on your luck… Once everything is secure you’re good to go, or have a ■■■■■/toilet break. So it can pay to park up well out of the way when securing your load.
At the gatehouse return your ‘New to Site’ card, and if you’re the only truck from your depot collect all the load paperwork. If your depot is sending multiple trucks up, the paperwork may not be ready and will generally go with the last truck…
That’s it, a doddle!
And yes, you don’t have to do a single reverse, so this is a good introductory gig for a Newbie!
Hope that helps mate…
An some of these help
