Snackbar is chillin'....at Shaffer

The one message was from the Deland Assistant Fleet Manager...my idle last week was 31%. The 2nd message was just 'tips to reduce idle time'. Pretty much what the wall posters I've seen at a couple terminals said. My Asset Manager said he got it as well. My reply to my terminal when I get these messages is all the same...I don't control when this thing idles other than turning in the opti-idle. I don't have a hotel load to reduce. Everything I have runs off a 300 watt cpap inverter that a previous driver needed. Part of the 'tips' were to - charge your phone while driving to reduce drain on batteries. Jesus, how big are some people's phone chargers. I have a Pixel 4 with a smart rapid charger that only draws a max 10w, and only when the phone needs it. It would take weeks to drain 4 truck batteries with that. After the tards at New Kingstown supposedly checked my batteries, I was out in ID waiting for a preloaded trailer to get preloaded...5+ hours. It was a nice day, so I rolled down the windows, but did a test. With nothing but the fridge and my 18qt cooler running, no interior lights, no hvac blowers running...not even my phone plugged in. I put it on battery mode of the opti-idle, and it started twice in those 5 hours with nothing major drawing power. My terminal said, before I was assigned this POS, my idle time was fine...so, that tells me, this truck is the problem, not my usage of power...but yet, they won't do a #### thing about it other than ##### at me. Deland also said that Lincoln is considering reducing the truck of high idlers back to 62 mph...so, punish the drivers for equipment problems. I told him to warn me before they do that to my truck, so I have time to pack my stuff...and that he can consider that warning my official notice, and the truck will be parked back in Deland, clean and ready for the next unlucky contestant.

 

I think it also has a lot to do with fuel prices. When I had that International, I idled a lot when I was in warm climates, they never said a word. But now fuel prices are spiking, it's a weekly thing. I expected some sort of response from Deland when I told my AM that I am reducing my time out because I am tired of the constant flak I am getting about idling...but so far, not a peep.

 

Well, my weekend and start of the week are already preplanned. I drop/hook (load to load) in Henderson, NV on Friday. Deliver in Stockton, CA on Sunday, then pick up 70 miles away from Stockton on Sunday and deliver in OR on Monday. No extra time to stop and donate any gambling losses to the local Henderson/Vegas economy.