idleing

Yes on all counts - I've stopped at both locations within the past two weeks.

 

NE of Toronto is getting close to my neck of the woods, which truck stops are you thinking of stopping at?

Nobody will hassle you for idling at any truck stop in Ontario in the winter time, especially if you don't have an Espar. Temps for next week in the Toronto area will average -7C (19F) for a daytime high and -10C (14F) for an over night low, so make sure you bring warm clothing. Also, we get some strong winds up this way so make sure you have lined gloves and boots! You can run US HOS here and be well within the legal requirements for Canada. And note that trucks are governed to 105kmh in this province - don't be caught going over that.

EDIT: Forgot to add this... DON'T COME TO ONTARIO WITH VIRGINIA FUEL! It doesn't have the required additives that prevent it from jelling up in the cold temps we get up here. Fuel up anywhere in the northern US before you get here, as their diesel is formulated for winter use.

 

I have never heard about any anti-idling laws up here at all. If you're crossing at Fort Erie and looking for a place to shut down before you get to Toronto, there's a BIG Ultramar truck stop just past the toll booth, like about 2 miles... I don't remember the exact exit number off the top of my head. Past that is a Fifth Wheel about an hour or so up the road, then not really much of anything. You couldn't pay me to park at the Dixie Husky.

 

I echo that no parking at the Dixie Husky. Gets real scary there on a Friday night! The Ultramar in Ft. Erie is off exit 5, just past the MTO scale, (which is rarely open.).
As well, the is a Fith Wheel in Grimsby, ON., which is 45 minutes from the border.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes! You will be lucky to still have your front end left intact going in that place. You also have the old "Relay Station" truck stop at exit 64 before you get to Hamilton on the QEW but like everything else things have slowed up for them and the resturant is only open till like 10 or 11 and the Esso at 50 road exit is the same if I remember correctly. I wouldn't even think of going to Dixie Rd. for anything !

 

The Fifth Wheel truck stop in Grimsby is not too bad a place, if you can get over the fact that the parking lot is torn to heck. The food is good, reasonably priced, and the staff are USUALLY friendly. There's also a Blue Beacon there if you want to get all purdy... or at least your TRUCK will be all purdy... Unless you know exactly where to look, there's really nothing past that on the way into TO.

 

Don`t North American trucks have stand-alone heaters which run on diesel ? If so then this makes NA trucks look like they are from stone age .
In Europe, at least trucks that drive in colder, northern european countries all have stand-alone heaters running on diesel. There are 2 versions of them: one keeps only the cab warm, other version keeps cab+engine coolant warm (easy engine start-ups in cold weather). Pretty low fuel consumption + a lot more quiet than running engine.
Makes me wonder why not ?

 

Yes. There's also the Pre Processing Center at the Ultramar on Exit 5 off the QEW. On the 401 just east of London at Exit 199 (Dorchester) is another Fifth Wheel.

 

We do have this equipment available, but it is not standard, and can be quite expensive.