Since Swift doesn't (?) have APU's on their company trucks, do you drivers get grief from DM about idling your trucks?
Some do. There are legal ways around it. What would suck is being in a no idle state or city and getting fined for idling.
I was under the impression that Swift company trucks do not have APU's. So how do you driver's deal with the cab environment if you are in a no-idle state, especially in the NE? Over 1/2 of the lower 48 are no idle! I guess I'll have to hope I get a chance to drive to Hawaii a lot.
I believe he meant some drivers get grief from their DM's and some don't. My DM's version: Idle to make the truck comfortable. My rig had the Opti-Idle system which automatically starts the truck to maintain the temp set. In winter, I'd set to 60; Summer 78. I'd also monkey with the temp to keep the truck running while making dinner or brewing coffee. Volvos have a diesel burning heater to keep you warm, and it will cook you like a turkey if you set it high enough. Keeping cool is your problem... Yet another reason I hated Volvos.
I heard Swift has them stored away. More than one person has told me that. APU is the least of your worries dude! Some of the Volvos have an Opti-idle type set up. Mine doesn't.
I ain't a Swifty & I ain't scared! If I'm hot, I idle. If I'm cold, I idle.... Haven't had a ticket or been hassled yet!
edit my post on what you want me to expel on. I've been know to puke all kinds of worthless info...... Call me Rug
Last Spring while I was in training, mentor and I were at a rest stop using the facilities, and the CHP (California) were banging on idling truck's doors while holding stop watches and threatening tickets if the drivers didn't shut the engines down. Some of these guys even had the California Clean Idle stickers all over their trucks but the CHP did not care. However a couple of months later, I was in Bakersfield doing 10, it was 118 degrees all night long, every truck in there was idling and no one said a word, not even the DM's. But if it's only about 90 - 100 degrees out, you can usually get away with idling the truck for 5 minutes w/ A/C on full blast windows up and it will stay cool enough in there for 55 minutes then you can idle for 5 minutes again. Use a fan to circulate the air, and just Man Up your ancestors did OK without A/C.
So you are saying "let's wake up every 55 minutes to turn the truck on and idle for 5 minutes to cool/heat the truck and repeat every hour?" Is that what you mean? If so, then when exactly are drivers suppose to sleep? "Man up" my as*! Drivers constantly getting harassed by lawboys, DM's and their companies for idling, but won't provide other measures to allow a driver to be in a tolerable environment, so they can rest. Then driver is in an accident because they're driving extremely fatigued. I think it is more an issue than "manning up." I think being able to sleep is more important than some bonus, and if a company says no idling (in 90 degree heat, etc..) or will not provide a bunk heater, etc.,then I am sure I would want to find a company that provides a driver a humane means to maintain some comfort when trying to sleep.
