Anti-idling laws. Company drivers, how do you get rest if you don't have a APU? - Page 6 - Truckers' Trucking Forum

onelikeseabass · **^ Top** #51 07.10.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckerdave1970

If you find any laws out there that would protect a driver, pls let us know! But I would bet a dozen doughnuts that nothing like that exists. Apparently, judging by most companies policies, We are not worth the $25-$30 a night that it might cost to idle a truck for 10 hours a nite.

I was just informed a few minutes ago that I am on probation and subject to possible termination for my high idle time. The company's goal is less than 20%. So if I drive 10 hrs, I am allowed to idle NO MORE THAN 2 HOURS!

My question for the forum is should I just resign now or let them fire me???

This is where having a truck with Opti-Idle, TAS, or something similar comes in handy. I realize not every truck out there has one of these systems, but mine does, and it is what enables me to have a low idle time. The truck only has to run for five or ten minutes every so often to cool down the cab and then it shuts off. When the temp builds back up, the truck turns back on and cools it back down.

If your truck has one of these systems, there is no reason whatsoever to run your truck all night long.

If you don't have one, then yea, I support the fight against your employer to allow more idling. You can't get a good night's rest if you have to keep waking up to turn on the AC in short bursts to keep idle low.

However, during the day I think that drivers should do an on/off cycle to reduce idle time or just go inside the truck stop if available.

brinkj23 · **^ Top** #52 07.10.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelikeseabass

This is where having a truck with Opti-Idle, TAS, or something similar comes in handy. I realize not every truck out there has one of these systems, but mine does, and it is what enables me to have a low idle time. The truck only has to run for five or ten minutes every so often to cool down the cab and then it shuts off. When the temp builds back up, the truck turns back on and cools it back down.

If your truck has one of these systems, there is no reason whatsoever to run your truck all night long.

If you don't have one, then yea, I support the fight against your employer to allow more idling. You can't get a good night's rest if you have to keep waking up to turn on the AC in short bursts to keep idle low.

However, during the day I think that drivers should do an on/off cycle to reduce idle time or just go inside the truck stop if available.

I had a truck with TAS in it, absolutely impossible for me to sleep at night with it on. I would keep getting woken up every time the truck fired up and every time it shut off, now thats not getting a good nights rest. So I just let the truck idle because I didnt feel safe not getting very much sleep with the truck rocking every time it fires up. I think companies should either put apu's on the trucks or not complain about idle time. Anyways I would think the amount of money the companies that have TAS or opti idle spend on starters would be better off spent on apu's. Plus apu's are burn a lot less fuel and it saves the wear and tear on the motor. Only downside I had with the apu was when I was in the south and it was above 100 then the apu had a hard time keeping it cool in the sleeper, other than that I loved having that apu.

onelikeseabass · **^ Top** #53 07.10.2009

Sorry, brink, I can't sympathize. After the first few nights I got used to it.

I'm guessing you only work solo? I can't imagine you'd be able to sleep with the truck shaking and moving about down the road.

Johnny82 · **^ Top** #54 07.10.2009

The company my dad drives for got the trucks from the manufacturer with APU's on them and sent them back to have them taken off to save money. In my opinion, it's their own stupidity, so they should have to eat the extra cost of drivers idling. If they want to save money, how about turning the AC off at all the terminals or corporate!!!!!!!!!!!

brinkj23 · **^ Top** #55 07.10.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelikeseabass

Sorry, brink, I can't sympathize. After the first few nights I got used to it.

I'm guessing you only work solo? I can't imagine you'd be able to sleep with the truck shaking and moving about down the road.

I team drove for 3 months at the beginning of my career, and then went solo after that. Some people are lighter sleepers and some people could sleep through a tornado. I get woken up by any vibration and the truck rocking back an forth when starting would wake me up thinking I just got hit or someone was stealing the truck. Especially got bad after I did get backed into at a truckstop.

rubbergearsnextyear · **^ Top** #56 07.11.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by brinkj23

I team drove for 3 months at the beginning of my career, and then went solo after that. Some people are lighter sleepers and some people could sleep through a tornado. I get woken up by any vibration and the truck rocking back an forth when starting would wake me up thinking I just got hit or someone was stealing the truck. Especially got bad after I did get backed into at a truckstop.

No worries Brink, supertruckin' seabass will show us the way!

I do miss TAS though and I can see where the off and on would bother some. I really miss the Volvo in general as the International is a little sexier, but just not as driver friendly.

Why I hate not having TAS is the fact that I don't leave the truck running all night because that's just too much idle time but I friggin' hate waking up drenched in sweat and then having to get up to crank the truck back up and sit there for a few minutes until the idle cutoff message appears and push in the clutch to keep it going.

I don't mind sweatin a little in the mornings because sweating is good for you but it's a serious pain having to do this often.

mandiesel · **^ Top** #57 07.12.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelikeseabass

This is where having a truck with Opti-Idle, TAS, or something similar comes in handy. I realize not every truck out there has one of these systems, but mine does, and it is what enables me to have a low idle time. The truck only has to run for five or ten minutes every so often to cool down the cab and then it shuts off. When the temp builds back up, the truck turns back on and cools it back down.

If your truck has one of these systems, there is no reason whatsoever to run your truck all night long.

If you don't have one, then yea, I support the fight against your employer to allow more idling. You can't get a good night's rest if you have to keep waking up to turn on the AC in short bursts to keep idle low.

However, during the day I think that drivers should do an on/off cycle to reduce idle time or just go inside the truck stop if available.

Do most trucks have opti idle nowadays to keep idling down?
And if they don't has anyone ever called safety over companies not wanting you to idle at all,how's a man supposed to sleep in 100 deg. heat?

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #58 07.12.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandiesel

Do most trucks have opti idle nowadays to keep idling down?
And if they don't has anyone ever called safety over companies not wanting you to idle at all,how's a man supposed to sleep in 100 deg. heat?

I guess when you find the answer to the sleep question, you can post it.

As far as opti idle, most do not have it.

truckerdave1970 · **^ Top** #59 07.12.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandiesel

Do most trucks have opti idle nowadays to keep idling down?
And if they don't has anyone ever called safety over companies not wanting you to idle at all,how's a man supposed to sleep in 100 deg. heat?

your company does not give a damn about you! turn the damn truck off or find another crook, oops I mean company to work for! It is your problem is your problem if cant sleep in the heat or cold. ll they care about is their profit! That's just the job of being a "professional truckdriver". Give up a family life, hobbies, social life, meals, showers, personal comfort, pay, safety, and security!
If you cant take the heat, get out of the truck! that's what my safety mgr. told me on Thursday! Nice, huh?

Nighthawk34 · **^ Top** #60 07.12.2009

I just figured something out !!! From my knowledge it is illegal just about everywhere to leave a pet or child in a vehicle due to temps... so to make it ok ya would stay there with them and have the AC/htr running... Hence why can't have pets or kids on the trucks cause then would have a legal reason to idle..

OK I'm just bored and had a brain fart of an idea and had to post that LOL !!!

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