The Night Shift on the Road: Weird Sights Truckers’ Witness
There’s something about being alone on the road at 3 AM driving a big truck, while the rest of the world sleeps.
The headlights shine through the darkness.
And things kind of feel off. Just a little bit weird.
For the night shift trucker, those long dark hours bring stories that range from weird to downright strange.
Here are some of those weird and strange things truckers have spotted during those long night shifts, behind the wheel.
Weird Sightings By Truckers (In the Night)
1. Ghost Cars + Abandoned Vehicles
Empty highways aren’t always empty. Some drivers say they see vehicles appear and then quickly disappear. They say the vehicle sometimes weaves, sometimes they are just parked in the middle of nowhere. No lights, no driver and then just plain gone in an instant.
2. People + Wildlife Crossing
It’s not unusual to see deer and raccoons crossing a dark highway. But how about a full-grown moose casually strolling across the interstate, or a family of pigs out for a stroll at 3 AM? Were these animals REALLY there?
What’s even more bizarre, and often a common sight, are people standing on the side of the road, waving for help. This one can be downright creepy. What driver wants to pull over? Can leave the driver wondering if there was REALLY someone there.
3. Lights, Patterns, and Shapes
I have personally heard stories from drivers about blinking lights in trees, shapes resembling animals or people in front of their truck. Some drivers will swear they’ve seen entire scenes that totally disappear by the time they get close.
4. Just Plain Creepy and Weird Stuff
Drivers lament about road crews playing music road-side, people in strange costumes, or silhouettes of people in the fog. Sometimes these are so startling, it causes a driver to slam on the brakes a little too hard!
5. Aliens
Yes, I have talked to a few drivers who swear they’ve seen spaceships! Seen them land, seen little strange beings exit a spaceship, load things into spaceships and well you get the idea. You may be wondering why these drivers even have a CDL after hallucinations like these?
A Trucker story? Hallucination? Or for real? Hard to say.
Are These Things REAL? Or Are They Illusions?
- Sleep deprivation
- The hum of the truck’s engine
- The monotony of the drive
……..can make the brain do some strange things.
Driving at night can really be hypnotic.
And Then There’s the BLACK DOG
Ever heard of the BLACK DOG, some of the older truckers talk about?
The BLACK DOG is a heavy, nagging feeling that sometimes comes with night driving when extremely exhausted. Seeing the BLACK DOG IS NOT A GOOD THING!
If you’ve ever driven in the night, particularly in remote areas, you’ve probably had a few the experiences mentioned above at some time.
It may be a sign you need to get that rig off the road at a safe haven, and grab a few ZZZ’s.
