Last night I was driving when the “Sunderland Moment” happened this time at 02:24 instead of 02:08 like it did for Brexit.
Initially, the Pound dropped 200 points, the Dow Jones dropped 1000 points, and the FTSE dropped 400 points on the overnight electronic markets…
NOW look at them: Pound UP 100 points, DJ UP 200 points, FTSE UP 68 points…
Traders on Betfair were betting on Trump, with a lot of “Overseas money” lost on Hilary. “Good for the country in a roundabout way too” then.
Alex Salmond on LBC watching Trump on the Betfair market, along with the overnight markets too… with some obvious “biased” ■■■■■■■■ from the presenter, clearly not happy that Trump could possibly win, and do a “Brexit + + +” as predicted only the day before…
I often have Radio Four or LBC on to give me something to keep me awake at night on the Motorway drives in particular… 
I usually work 1600 till 0500-0700. Generally I find coffee and an emergency red bull is a good thing to pack. Don’t eat too much as that’s always a good way to change carriageways. A quick 15min nap is good but no longer than 20 mins as your body will go into sleep mode and you will end up worse. The best one though is singing to loud music. Mix that with red bull when you running back to the yard and your sorted.
Jwalsh8:
I usually work 1600 till 0500-0700. Generally I find coffee and an emergency red bull is a good thing to pack. Don’t eat too much as that’s always a good way to change carriageways. A quick 15min nap is good but no longer than 20 mins as your body will go into sleep mode and you will end up worse. The best one though is singing to loud music. Mix that with red bull when you running back to the yard and your sorted.
That’s just silly hours especially if you’re adding commuting time to that.I thought 20.00-07.00 was a long night. 
You can’t be forced to work more than 10 hours (on duty) on nights I’m told.
So… A driver must consent, or sign some kind of “opt-out” form should they be offered a 4x12 duty then.
The real trouble (at least for me) is from 06:00-09:00 in the mornings. Regardless of how late I got up to start the previous shift, I’m always dead beat around this time.
Typically then, I won’t be consenting to working “after 6am” unless I’ve got the next day off in addition to my normal weekly rest.
In other words, I don’t think it’s appropriate to work more than 10 hours unless it’s on a four day week.
Winseer:
You can’t be forced to work more than 10 hours (on duty) on nights I’m told.
I don’t think you have much choice (other than to quit) if there is a collective agreement to opt out of the 10 hour rule already in place when you are hired, it is a case of fit in or ■■■■ off!
The-Snowman:
I always found that the horn blasts from other motorists when I drifted into their lane or side of the road usually woke me up in plenty of time. I could usually get a few sneaky power naps in
I always keep cans of red bull or similar energy drinks in the fridge (sugar free) the full bore ones are too sugary. The caffeine content making you want to then pee is the downside…but keeps me alert… cruise control on laying back in the seat with both feet up on the dash is a no no anymore, far too easy to drift off. What we need is self driving trucks 
I have just changed from 10 years of nights to days and I didnt realise untill now how much better and healthier I feel on days with me and the family as a whole. I was used to nights and they didnt seem to bother me but I dont want fancy ever going back to being a creature of the night.
I watch videos on YouTube. Just leave the interior light on so that the glow from the screen doesn’t show.
Uncle Albie:
Did nights a few years back and would never do it again.
Reckon some can handle it and some cannot.
Main thing is as you say you would never drop off whilst driving.
Also the older you get the harder it is.
Pros and Cons but never again for me.
Not necessarily so.
Over forty years ago when I was in the garage trade I was on permanent nights, no problem.
Now after being retired for over thirteen years, doing which time I’ve been doing two night shifts a week, Friday and Sunday.
My shifts don’t start until between mid night and 02.00, so I have about six hours in bed late afternoon, have a good breakfast and two Pro Plus caffeine tablets before I clock in. Can do a fourteen hour shift without a yawn.
Carryfast:
Jwalsh8:
I usually work 1600 till 0500-0700. Generally I find coffee and an emergency red bull is a good thing to pack. Don’t eat too much as that’s always a good way to change carriageways. A quick 15min nap is good but no longer than 20 mins as your body will go into sleep mode and you will end up worse. The best one though is singing to loud music. Mix that with red bull when you running back to the yard and your sorted.
That’s just silly hours especially if you’re adding commuting time to that.I thought 20.00-07.00 was a long night.
Yeh it’s a well known cold storage company all black and white trucks. Not very popular with depot staff but we get lots of work from them regardless. Due to this and how central we are we can be doing Glasgow one day and London or Bristol the next and that’s as a day or night driver!
