Millis OTR journal

Happy Thanksgiving to all former, current and future Millis drivers!!!!
Lol trying to prepare a separate thanksgiving meal for sons girlfriend because she is a vegan!!!

 

That’s the bad thing about training in my opinion every trainee should gain experience with at least 2 different trainers. When I’m hot run the truck for the a/c when I’m cold I run the truck for heat. In between I will use the bunk heater when needed.
I do agree with you driver being well rested should be a priority.

 

Before Heartland bought Millis, idling was never an issue. Those days are gone forever, though.

Did the bunk heater not work? I know those things are fickle as hell but if it's 17 and mine decides not to work that night, I'm gonna idle and anybody that doesn't like it can kiss my big toe.

 

Agree, me personally I like the cold but at some point I do idle. Everyone is different and a good nights rest is essential. I idle a lot more spring summer months than I do in fall winter.
But I do whatever I need to do to make sure I sleep well.

As was explained to me, millis hates that 10 min-90 min idle they would rather you idle for 8 hrs. Which makes no sense to me. But I’ve survived over 4 years now with no issues that I know of.

 

He is suspicious of the bunk heater malfunctioning and causing a carbon monoxide concern whereas you just don't wake up.
Possibly some merit, I did see on the range trucks where the exhaust for those behind the seats was all jacked up. It appeared to be a plastic vent housing holding a more temperature resistant duct ported to a 3/4 - 1" flexible looking stainless hose exiting through the passenger side back wall of the sleeper cab. I don't know enough of the design and implementation to have an opinion either way and at that point relied on his expertise.

With that said i certainly wouldn't have been in the passenger seat driving with myself through those hills in West Virginia on an hour of sleep the first night.

 

Maybe he should get a carbon monoxide detectorfor the bunk area if he is that concerned. It actually crossed my mind from time to time but never concerned me enough to not use the heater or get a detector.

 

That might explain why I received a message one day about my short term idling. It was long before Heartland was in the picture. It didn't make sense to me either from a fuel use perspective. I would start my truck to make coffee, boil water in my electric tea kettle or run the microwave and turn it off. If it was hot and I needed AC it idled. Otherwise I tried to limit my idle.

I have an answer to idle concerns. Install an APU or EPU in all the trucks. Problem mostly solved for everyone.

 

I use the mobile app. Haven't swiped my card at a pilot/J pump in awhile.

 

Many people believe it takes more fuel to start a diesel than it does just to idle. So the constant turning off and starting the truck could use more fuel than just idling for 8 straight hours. Idk if it’s true or not I’ve never seen any hard core facts about it but I’ve heard it several times.

 

But yea if someone is concerned about carbon monoxide buy a #### CO2 detector problem solved.