Engine Idling & Staying Cool

I just bought a APU for my 359 it was used but know the guy well. He was pulling his sleeper, going dump trucking. Till now I have always idled esp in the summer better insulation helps but won't ever get you through the night even with the windows open and a fan if you park before dark you will be miserable. I have seen mosquitios big enough to stand flat footed and rape a turkey. A couldn't sleep due to inclement conditions driver is a dangerous driver. Convincing law makers is another matter. If it's against the law to leave a pet in the vehicle in the heat well never mind were only truck drivers

 

Most likely it is a state law and not Wenrers rule, also some shipper/receivers have rules against idling. My truck shuts off after 5 min of idling unless it is above 80 or 85 degrees or colder than 20 outside then it will idle without shutting off. Some trucks there are tricks you can do to get them to idle if you have the auto shutoff. One truck I had all I had to do was just set the cruise control and it would idle all night

 

20 degrees?? I dont know about you guys but I will be shaking at 20 degrees. thats crazy, when the body shakes from the cold its because the muscles are contracting rapidly trying to keep the body warm. How many people keep their home heating temps set to 20 degrees. I have always heard this but never worked for a company that would allow me to sleep in a freezer or a sauna

 

I will have the bunk heater on longer before it gets that cold.

 

I can take a little cold. ...but I refuse to sleep hot point blank period. ..home or my truck...they would just have to ticket me and ill still idle after the

 

No company intended. Phone call, Hey Dispatcher, you have A/C & Heat at home? Sure, rest my case.

 

Not sure about Werner's policy, but I know with Swift they like to see your total percentage of idle time at 16% or less. If it's hot or cold and you need to idle, then do so.

Personally I get a much better night's sleep without idling. Something about breathing fresh air, peace and quiet, and all that. I've slept without idling with outside air temperatures approaching 100ºF as long as I'm able to park so a good breeze is coming through the truck, add a fan, and then get naked and sleep on a towel and pretend I'm in a day spa. Inside temperature stayed in the low 90's.

As for sleeping without idling in cold temperatures, there's these things called blankets, comforters, and sleeping bags. Wonderful inventions. I've slept in -45ºF in a tent on a glacier and stayed toasty warm. However, in a truck when the temperature drops into the 20's I start idling to protect the fuel and DEF from gelling or freezing.

In cold temperatures I set my alarm for about an hour before "go" time, turn on the bunk heater, then wait until my snooze alarm goes off and my truck is plenty warm for starting my day.

 

Personally, with the current state of trucking, I would not drive a truck without an apu these days.

Year's ago when I drove for CFI, I was in St Louis when it was 10 deg outside. I got a phone call at 2 am saying I was idling too much. I asked the dispatcher if they had the heater on where he was. He said, of course, it's freezing outside. "Exactly" I said as I hung up the phone and turned Qualcomm down. Turned my truck in next home time..

 

I primarily stay in the northern tier of the country, so the AC thing for sleeping is not that big of a deal except for, cumulatively, 14 days a year. Just not worth it to get an APU. I have window screens for the door windows, and a DC powered 18"x18" window fan. That does the trick for most situations. On the hottest nights, then I will idle for a little bit. If it is going to be one of those hot nights, I will make sure and get the cab and sleeper really cooled down before I stop, and then only idle off and on to keep things comfortable. And I have no problem also getting a motel room occasionally. After all, it is a deductible expense by both O/O and company drivers. And you are more comfortable than in a sleeper and you get to take your time in the shower and enjoy it. As for heating, that is why I have the arctic insulation package for my truck along with a Webasto bunk heater. I also have put on the reflective insulation under the entire cab and sleeper like the insulation that is on hoods of the engine compartment. Makes a killer difference in that amount of heat coming thru the floor and keeps the heat in better during the winter.

When I look at the overall cost of purchasing, operating, and maintaining an APU, it just isn't worth it for me. If I was running the southern tier, and with different customers than I haul for now, then that might be different. But I have run the numbers and it would take me well over 10 years to just break even having an APU over not having one. That is too long of an ROI for me.