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Fatigue and The Truck Dirver
Fatigue and The Truck Dirver
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Overview
What is fatigue?
How does fatigue affect alertness and driver
performance?
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Why study truck driver fatigue?
Trucking is an around-the-clock industry.
Public concern
Potential for injury and death
Affects performance even if you do not fall asleep.
Loss of revenue
Potential loss of CDL
Potential improvement of highway safety
Increased productivity
Improved quality of life
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What is fatigue?
Fatigue is the body’s response to continued physical or
mental activity or sleep loss, characterized by:
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Acute and chronic fatigue
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Physical fatigue
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General or mental fatigue
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Factors affecting fatigue
Quality and quantity of prior rest
Individual physical fitness
Endurance, exposure to level of task demand
Environmental conditions
Number of sustained work episodes
Time of day
Type of task
Workload (mental or physical)
Motivation and other individual differences
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How much sleep is enough?
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Sleep loss and sleep debt
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Sleepiness components
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Rest and sleep
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The circadian rhythms
BODY TEMPERATURE
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Circadian “low points”
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Effects of circadian disruption
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Sleep and trucking operations
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Chemical aids to wakefulness
and sleep
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Aids to sleep
Sleeping pills can have serious limitations as
sleep aids.
Sleeping pills can actually delay the onset of
sleep and disrupt sleep quality.
Barbiturates, once widely used, are now
generally illegal and can be dangerous.
Benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium,
Diazepam,Halcion) are more commonly used
and less dangerous.
We may adapt to sleeping pills, and may
experience withdrawal symptoms.
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Alcohol
Some people use alcohol as a sleep aid.
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Melatonin
A natural hormone secreted by the pineal gland
during darkness.
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Aids to wakefulness
If you use stimulants to stay awake, remember:
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Caffeine effects
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Using caffeine
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Sleep disorders
Insomnia
Drug-dependence insomnia
Sleep apnea
Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
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Common misconceptions
“I know how tired I am.”
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“I know how tired I am.”
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“I’ve lost sleep before . . .”
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“I’m motivated enough . . .”
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“There is a ‘magic bullet’ . . .”
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“One cure will work . . .”
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What you can do to fight fatigue
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Preventive strategies
At home: get the best sleep possible before
starting a trip.
On a trip: try to get at least as much sleep as in
a day at home.
Get your sleep at the right times (at low
circadian times).
Don’t forget physical fitness and nutrition.
Trust your own physiology: If you feel sleepy, it
is because you are sleepy.
If you can’t get to sleep within 15-30 minutes,
get up and try again later.
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Strategic napping
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Good sleep habits
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While you are driving . . .
Engage in conversation (passengers, CB,
etc...), listen to talk radio.
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Keep in mind:
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