For Idle time restriction companies, what do truckers do during break/down time

Hire on with a company that has diesel APU, then you can do all that stuff plus have air conditioning or heat without the engine running.

 

Set ur trl brakes. Release your tractor brakes. Put in nuetral. Now idle all yoi want.. No trl you say? Chalk your wheels.

 

Get a room

 

If your company restricts idling time and does NOT provide you with an APU, you need a NEW company.

 

If you break down, if you have a apu, you use that.if you dont, then you'se the cruise control on older models, and if that don't work then you are just out of luck.it really depends if its a engine problem or tire / mechanical prblem. As far as the restbreak, depends on you, if you can sleep 10 , cool, me its 7-8 hrs and then planning for the next leg. Most e-logs put you in violation if you start moving b4 10 hrs is up so you do what you need done during that time.

 

What are you supposed to do on the ten hours you are supposed to be resting?

Sleeping?

Wow, that's unrealistic.

 

I work 4-5 days a week, weekends at the house. I don’t have a tv or game system. I usually try and park (not at a truckstop) where I know I can take my dog for a good hike before bed. A good 60 to 90 min walk at night, 7 or 8 hours of sleep, good walk again in the morning, then hit the road.

 

It kind of is considering most people I know don't sleep 10 hours at home. I actually sleep more in the truck than at home, and it's still nowhere near ten hours.

 

My company truck has automatic start and stop. It's Detroit Optimized Idle, it will start the engine for heat or a/c or low battery voltage and engine oil temperature.

Nobody cares about the 5 minute idle time. Most new trucks are the new emission truck so. In California you can idle all day with new emission trucks.

New York State used to enforce the idle law but I'm not sure today bucause every one has new emission trucks or APU

 

If I'm just down 10.. I don't have a lot of time for killing.
I get cleaned up, and eat.
Then it's to the truck to get some rest.
I'm up before the 10 is finished so I'm ready to start my day with face washed and restroom break done, etc.

As far as idling being a no no.

Ask your boss if they have AC and Heat in their offices and at home.

I'll be ###### if I'll sit and suffer.
It's 105° where I'm at right now.
Am I gonna sit with the windows down?
Nope. I'll idle just a bit til it's check in time at the Radisson. (They pay for it)
Get with a great company that doesn't treat you like a dog.