Posted by semisweet on August 03, 2006 at 07:11:49:In Reply to: Re: 24/7 10hr shift for 9 and 10 people posted by psgtgirl on June 22, 2006 at 01:34:04:
I was working for a defense contractor who had us on 4 10-hr days. It was really 11 hours, with lunch, and mandatory overtime if we were on a "mission."
I quit that job and went back to OTR trucking. This has it's own perils, as the drive from home, with the carpool, was almost 2 hours. I would snooze on the way to work, and on the way home if I wasn't the driver. Still, this was not a good situation.
You're x'd if you don't and x'd if you do sleep. The DOT wants one thing, the dispatcher wants something else, the customers want another thing, and my body wants what it wants. I usually go with my needs, and everyone else - including the DOT - can kiss my hiney.
I feel better doing this job (it's paid by the mile rather than by the hour) than the hourly defense contractor job. But I totally disagree with the DOT about micromanaging my sleep. I want the DOT out of my bed. I know when I need to sleep, and I take naps as needed to get me back to top shape for driving.