Schneider National

So,
if your truck doesn't have an APU, what are the rules on idling ?

 

When I drove solo, I idled if I was doing my 10 hour break. There are idle percentages you need to stay under if you want your quarterly personal performance bonuses. For teams it is under 6%. I am currently at 2% for my personal bonus. I shut the truck off to go inside, but I do not just to do a quick drop and hook.

I do not remember what it is for solos, but I think something like 10% but don't hold me too that - I don't remember for sure. They have bunk heaters for the winter time. If the temperature is above 10 degrees, they work pretty good. Two quarters of the year, you should have additional idle percentage available to make up for increased temperature extremes, but I don't remember specific numbers. Just use good sense like you are driving your personal vehicle. Are you going to let it sit and run while you are in a store for 30 minutes or more?

Most company drivers do not give a crap because they are not paying for fuel and let their assigned trucks run if they are in them or not. That is what has led to idle policies. Just use good judgment and the idle policies from most companies should not be a factor.

 

I've idled the three summers I've been with SNI...my idle time is usually between 50 and 55%. I don't get my bonus....I DO get the mandatory "try to do better" thing from my driver manager, and we move on.

I'm not roasting in the truck. I'll try my best to put off idling as much as I can in lieu of ever-increasing fuel prices...I have no issue with that whatsover. But there's a threshold beyond which I can not sleep, so I idle.

Never been a problem. It's only going to be an issue if you blatantly abuse it by, say, leaving the unit running all the time...literally, and making your idle some insane figure like 75%. But I'll take comfort over my bonus any day.