Daylight Saving Tips for Truck Drivers

Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 13th, 2022 at 2:00am.  Follow these tips to stay safe and on schedule after the time change.

When do I change my clocks?

Remember it’s the time of year to SPRING forward and move your clocks ahead by one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 12th. Your cell phone, computer, and tablet will most likely change the time automatically for you, but any analog clocks or appliances not connected to the internet will have to be manually adjusted.

How does Daylight Saving Time affect my job?

Logging Time

Most electronic logging devices (ELDs) automatically account for the time change for you. It is important to remember that regardless of the time change you must follow the rules for how many hours truck drivers are allowed to drive. Below are a couple of examples of tracking time during DST.

• If you drive from 10pm on Saturday night to 7am on Sunday morning, your electronic log should show that you drove for 8 hours.

• If you start your 10-hour break period at 1am on Sunday morning, you must wait until 12pm to start driving again.

If you are using paper logs, be sure to mark your log for March 13th with “Spring Time Change” or something similar so you know to account for that hour.

Adjusting Your Schedule

Another important thing to remember in the days immediately following the time change is to verify your schedule with your employer to see if any of your route stops are affected. It’s also a good idea to account for the time change when planning your route. You don’t want to be late to a route stop because you forgot that you have to break for an extra hour to account for the time change.

Checking Your Equipment

Finally, you’ll want to double-check your headlights in the mornings. It will be darker when you start driving for the day, and it’s important to be especially conscious of safe driving practices when others on the road may be distracted or not paying as close attention to things affected by the time change.

How do I get enough sleep?

According to the CDC, adults need at least 7 hours of sleep each night. But you should listen to your body to figure out how much sleep you need to safely drive your truck. Keep in mind that truck drivers are only allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours per day, and must spend at least 10 hours in their sleeper berth if driving over the road.

Even when you adhere to the FMCSA’s 10-hour break rule for Hours of Service, you may find that your circadian rhythms, or internal clock, won’t let you sleep past a certain time. Reducing caffeine consumption and electronics use leading up to your break time may help you fall asleep faster and get a better quality of sleep. Adjusting your bedtime for a couple of days leading up to the time change can also make it easier on your body to adjust your sleep schedule.

How do truck drivers fight fatigue after Daylight Saving Time begins?

Going to work, especially as a truck driver, during the days immediately following a DST time change can be challenging. Losing an hour of sleep can lead to driver fatigue, and that is very dangerous for you and other drivers on the road. Traffic accidents are an increased risk in the days following a time change, and not just for truckers. All motorists need to be more vigilant and careful when adjusting to the new time.

Fighting fatigue while driving is always important, and it is critical to know the signals your body gives you, especially when the clocks change for Daylight Saving Time.

Below are some common signs of fatigue that you should look out for.

• Repeated yawning

• Inability to keep eyes open

• Burning eyes

• Shallow breathing

• Difficulty focusing

• Wandering thoughts

• Restlessness or impatience

• Brief lapses in memory (sometimes called Highway Hypnosis)

• Drifting into the shoulder or adjacent lanes

There are a lot of easy things you can do to combat fatigue while on the road. Below are our safety tips:

Take a Break

If you’re feeling tired or sleepy, park your truck at a nearby rest stop, get out, and walk around a bit. You can even do some bodyweight exercises to get your heart pumping and help you get rid of some of the cobwebs. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.

Eat a Healthy Snack

Make sure you always have some light and healthy snacks with you. Eating a granola bar, a piece of fruit, or a protein bar can help give your body some energy and signal that it’s not bedtime.

Drink Lots of Water

It’s tempting to load up on caffeine and sugar to give yourself a boost of energy, but drinking water instead is a lot better for you and can prevent a sugar or caffeine crash later, and won’t negatively affect your sleep patterns like caffeine sometimes can.

Turn Up the AC

When it’s warm and cozy in your cab, it’s easy for your body to want to curl up for a nap. Cranking the AC up and cooling down the atmosphere can help you stay awake and alert on the road.

Remember to stay safe and alert on the road. Change your analog clocks before bed. And make sure to double-check your pickup and delivery times the day of the time change so you can keep your schedule.