CR England & APU

Back on the original topic, I don't know if they still don't use'em but when we worked there, I was told by one of the instructors that they didn't use apu's because they weren't cost effective. I know, sounds silly with the money they can save on fuel but they said that because of the cost of the apu itself and the cost of the installation, buying and spending money to install a new apu every three years when they replaced a truck wasn't cost effective. Some of those apu's can cost upwards of what, 8, 9,000 dollars installed?

 

Where are you working now? Sorry, but I thought CRE was being so very good to ya....wherever you ended up, I hope it was a good move for you.

 

I'm currently working for a much smaller company here in the springs. I run pretty much dedicated routes between here and Texas.

CRE was still being good, however, I dont feel "so very good" is the proper way to describe it but much better than what u hear here from everybody else on here.

No more all 48 states, no northeast, no California, no more l-70 thru Colorado or I-80 thru Wyoming. Way more hometime, back to being a company driver, truck has an apu on it and most importantly, they treat ya like a person rather than like a number.

 

I'm learning.. what is APU?

 

Auxillary Power Unit. Don't have to idle the truck when sleeping.

 

Keeps the battery charged too while u sit and depending on the manufacturer of the apu, it'll either automatically or can b programmed to charge the batteries while the truck sits when ur not in it like on hometime for example.

 

So it is a small gasoline power generator?.. or extra batteries?

 

Most apu's are little diesel engines in a compact unit that run off the tractor's fuel tanks. The RigMaster I have is all contained and makes it's own heat and runs it's own A/C compressor to cool.

The only one I know of that just consists of extra batteries is Freightliner's Park Smart system that uses an extra set of batteries to run an electric A/C compressor that circulates the vehicle's refrigerant to keep you cool and has a bunk heater-style furnace, for a lack of better terms that heats the vehicle's coolant to keep ya warm. As far as being an apu, I dont think it serves as an auxiliary power unit like the traditional apu does. All this does is just keeps u cool in the summer and warm in the winter without idling or the need for an apu.

 

This is a correct assessment. I've got the ParkSmart system, and it works well, though my blower did go out about a month ago and had to be replaced....fortunately, it was before it started to get real cold.