Where to Get Some Rest While Driving Your Semi Truck

Sometimes, you can accomplish a haul in a single trip over the course of a day. However, you are more likely to require a few days to accomplish most hauls due to distance. It’s best to avoid over-exerting yourself, as fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents, especially among truckers. In fact, being really tired can be as bad as being drunk! The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.8 and staying awake for 24 hours essentially puts you at a 0.10 BAC, according to one study by Australian researchers.

What all this means is that you need to try to get some rest and avoid driving for more than 10 to 12 hours at a stretch. K. Neal Truck and Bus Center, with four locations in the states of Maryland and Virginia, is your local semi truck dealer. Below, you’ll find some helpful recommendations for ways to get some shut-eye during your long-haul drives.

1. Make a Plan in Advance

Before you begin your drive, review the route you’re supposed to take with your semi truck and locate some rest points along the way. Choose places to stop for fuel and meals in addition to where you’ll sleep at night, and make sure that the distances you drive between the stops are feasible for you. Planning to rest for ten to fifteen minutes at a time every few hours helps you stay more alert and focused when you climb back into your cab. It’s going to be much easier to avoid driving while tired if you plan regular breaks and rests into your drive.

2. Use That Smartphone For Good

Of course, we don’t mean you should use your phone while driving! But you can download some apps like iExit Trucks and AllStays Truck & Travel, which will help you to find food, fuel and accommodations along your route. Try out a variety of trucking apps to find one that fits your needs.

3. Make Sure Your Stops are Semi-Truck Friendly

When driving a semi truck, it’s important that you ensure all your stops have the space for your vehicle, and that includes where you stop to rest at night. There are a number of truck stops all across the United States, generally along the interstate system, that are designed specifically to accommodate big semi trucks. These stops often have everything you need in one place, including showers, laundry facilities, shopping, grocery stores, cafes and restaurants, motels and fueling stations. 

We hope these tips help you to get some necessary rest on your journeys. Looking to purchase a semi truck? Stop by one of our four dealerships in Virginia or Maryland today to view our current stock of new and used semi trucks for sale. K. Neal Truck and Bus Center proudly serves the cities of Hyattsville and Gaithersburg, MD, and Lorton, VA.