NEWS FLASH....TMC APU's

You ever thought that some of us may know something about these things because we have looked at them ourselves?

Big deal. 100 out of how many trucks?

A company that does not really care about the comfort of the driver.

I consider your response to be one lacking in overall knowledge.

 

100 trucks seems pretty good for a pilot program, and also seems to indicate that they do care. And why would you assume that you know more than those running the program? What I might lack in knowledge I make up for in first hand experience. I do my best to keep my idle low, when I have to, I run the truck. Never had a problem or "talking to" yet.

 

Pilot program.

There is proof already for many years about the savings obtained to the company through the use of APU;s.

However, you work for a company that has not figured it out yet. You are in great company.

Schneider
Maverick
Swift
JB Hunt
Covenant

Just to name a few. These guys will not do it.

I had a friend who worked for TMC. He told me of the problems he had when he idled.

By the way, 100 trucks does not indicate to me that they care. I guess I see things through non rosy glasses.

If it works for you, then fine.

 

The funds come from DNR ??
That seems strange to me, is THAT normally what they fund ??
I'm not argueing, just curious....

 

Really? I find it hard to believe that such a large company, that's been in business for this long, would pass up such a savings just to screw it's drivers. I'm sure Harrold is behind his desk right now, tapping his fingertips together, saying "exx-cell-ent"

btw- I prefer my lenses with a bronze tint. It helps me to see clearly.

 

Werner is doing it.

Alot of the smaller companies did it several years ago.

It will become a very important issue with all of the anti idle laws around.

 

Out of 2500+, minus the trucks that are being sold/repossessed.

No, it seems to indicate the government tit is willing to provide 100 APU's. TMC always said it was the maintenance costs that prevented them from using APU's, given their recent financial situation it's much more likely they simply couldn't afford the initial layout of cash for the upgrades. Maybe the battery powered APU's will have a lower maintenance cost, but they are also a lower level APU. I'm looking forward to hearing what the lucky 100 think of them, maybe someone could post some pictures of the new units.

 

I'd like to know if the grant covers the entire cost or just a portion. The funding available now in NC requires the purchase and installation done be done in NC, and is a $2500 rebate after you show proof of payment. So you have to pony up the $10K first before waiting a couple months for the rebate.

Battery APU's don't have the capacity to do what an engine driven one does. All batteries lose amp-hour capacity as temperature drops. One of the small diesel units will continue to circulate at least a little fuel in your tank and can prove hot coolant through the engine, or enough 120VAC to power a block heater, while also keeping your starting batteries charged up. Anyone who has been stuck with a truck that won't start in subzero conditions can appreciate that.

Also, there is NO provision for running an engine to recharge the APU batteries. Three minutes every hour wont even recharge the starting batteries for the drain on them from starting. I question the ability to run an AC unit and keep me comfortable when it's 100+ outside and I have to sleep in the sun during the daytime. Furthermore from day one batteries lose some capacity with each successive charging cycle, and the deeper they are discharged the faster this depletion occurs. I could envision having to replace batteries more than once per year if the were used every day for ten hours or more.

Also it has been mentioned, is the disposal of batteries, another government department will be formed to oversee the disposal of hazardous batteries that will be polluting our landfills ... then they'll be banning electric APU's. These batteries are as expensive, or moreso, than a traditional APU and have a questionable lifespan.

Consider also what to do once they are exhausted and the driver will be on a 34 reset, or sitting over a long weekend to deliver or reload. The units are purportedly designed around the required ten hour break, but OTR drivers are routinely put in situations of sitting 24hrs or more. So what happens then?

The only promising viable technology I see in the foreseeable future is the fuel cell, one which at this moment is a long way from providing the power we need at an affordable price.

Regarding the big companies mentioned, they don't care about the driver, we know that. That is why they can be so anal at times and hound drivers constantly about idle times. They know the cost of idling and want to limit it to save money. Driver health and safety is not an issue, never has been. Plus if the driver receives an idling violation it's his problem to pay it, not the company's.

 

My question is why any state would pay for APUs at an OTR company, when the APU will be used very little, if any, in that state.