Caffeine Pills Vs Energy Drinks Vs Coffee / Tea

What do you guys use? First, let me state that I don't substitute caffeine for proper rest - nobody should. I drive nights. I need the stimulant since the body naturally wants to sleep at night, regardless of how much sleep was had during the day. So, all caffeine consumption is in moderation.

Caffeine Pills - no additives, no garbage, no calories, no extra fluid to contribute to frequent coffee breaks, and MUCH cheaper than the alternatives

Energy Drinks / Energy Shots - obscene amount of unnecessary extra vitamins and minerals, additives, possible calories and sodium depending on brand, fluid contributes to potty breaks

Coffee / Tea - natural antioxidants included, no additive garbage or calories (if consumed black or straight w/o cream and/or sugar), fluid contributes to potty breaks

I LOVE the taste of coffee and grind my own beans at home. But on the road, I"m looking at it from just a stimulant boost. As you might have surmised, for me the winner will be caffeine pills and just water (1-2 throughout a shift, not combining it w/ coffee etc.). It's cheaper, doesn't have the additives, and even though caffeine itself is a diuretic, you don't have the extra fluid. I don't like being dependent on finding a store to buy a cup of coffee when those sleepies hit me, I don't like the garbage in energy drinks, and that pretty much leaves it up to caffeine pills. At home, all I drink is coffee and water anyhow, so I'm totally fine with just getting back to wonderful water.

I drive line haul so most of my driving is also at night. When I need a boost it is typically 5 hour energy, although now that I'm getting used to night driving I do not have to use them as often as I used to.

I would prefer to drink coffee, but to be honest the stuff goes straight through me and I would have to stop every hour lol.

Woody

I'm linehaul too Woody ;)

As you stated, nothing compared to proper rest, however I will do a cup of coffee. Sometimes I'll toss in a shot of espresso, but only on occasion. Otherwise, I sleep if tired.. 30 min nap out beats any caffeine boosters.

As you stated, nothing compared to proper rest, however I will do a cup of coffee. Sometimes I'll toss in a shot of espresso, but only on occasion. Otherwise, I sleep if tired.. 30 min nap out beats any caffeine boosters.

I agree, but with linehaul we run very tight schedules.

I agree, but with linehaul we run very tight schedules.

Our linehaul schedules leave us plenty of time to take a nap if needed. In fact they strongly encourage us to pull over and take a nap if we are tired, even if that means pulling in a little late. I'm currently on a pretty short run though so I'm always early.

I like to drink Rock Star Fruit Punch. I like the taste. It gives me that much needed boost in the mornings. Much like what people need when they drink coffee. The caffeine effects wear off in a few hours.

As with any thing caffeine related don't mix you caffeine fixes together. Coffee or energy drink or caffeine pills. Only one. To much caffeine can cause heart palpitations (spelling?) and they you just might be screwed.

I agree, but with linehaul we run very tight schedules.

Our linehaul schedules leave us plenty of time to take a nap if needed. In fact they strongly encourage us to pull over and take a nap if we are tired, even if that means pulling in a little late. I'm currently on a pretty short run though so I'm always early.

I don't have a bid run yet, so I run "wild," or what some companies call the "extraboard." I basically run till I"m out of my 11, or don't have enough hours left to get me to one more terminal / meet point. My dispatchers would never complain if I was late for having to take an emergency nap, and I've already had to wave the white flag at least once before I was out of hours, just because I couldn't go anymore.

I don't like having to get to the point where I feel like I HAVE to pull over for a nap, so I like to take two doses of caffeine during my 11 / 14 hour shift. I haven't pulled over yet, and don't really want to unless I am unsafe to drive, which I do keep a close watch on. I know that napping is much better, so hopefully when I get a comfy bid run and have the time to snooze for a bit I will. Actually, I did snooze for 10 minutes once on my 30 minute break. Even that 10 min was extremely beneficial.

I like to drink Rock Star Fruit Punch. I like the taste. It gives me that much needed boost in the mornings. Much like what people need when they drink coffee. The caffeine effects wear off in a few hours.

As with any thing caffeine related don't mix you caffeine fixes together. Coffee or energy drink or caffeine pills. Only one. To much caffeine can cause heart palpitations (spelling?) and they you just might be screwed.

I hear you on the too much caffeine Guy. Too much for me can give me minor chest pains that come and go, along w/ some anxiety. I rarely get to that point since I know how much my body can handle and what is moderate for me. But, trying new energy drinks, I did run into the problem a few times, just because I had never had those drinks before. You shouldn't chug them ...

Also, apparently there is a stigma with a "pill." Even though a caffeine pill is much cleaner than most of the energy drinks, including 5 Hour Energy shots, some folks sorta cringe when they hear the word "pill." I actually couldn't find any pills at the BJ's Wholesale I went to tonight, but they did have a ton of Monster, Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy, and other more accepted energy drinks. Go figure.