Can't blame this on the cost of fuel

IdleAire has decided to switch their pricing tactics. Instead of charging $4 US dollars for the use of expanded TV, it has been decided to break it down to 24 hrs, 72 hrs and 30 days. This is good and bad at the same time.

Gold Member Prices:

24 hrs = $4 dollars
72 hrs =$8 dollars
30 days = $20 dollars


The Good

If you hook up to IdleAire everyday in every state in all the cities that you visit, then the thirty day is the greatest value for all drivers. You drive to a new location and hook up get you TV for the same low price. You pay to get the service that you are promised for the amount of time that you are there. You leave and go to another IdleAire location and you don’t have to pay any additional monies for what you had at the last location. If you lose service or the Unit that you are located breaks down; you have to move to another unit, just swipe your card and you are reconnected without having to call Customer Service waiting on hold and getting reconnected. Much less hassle to the driver and this allows the Tech Support for assistance to their customers with other problems like the internet problems and support to the employees at the IdleAire locations.


The Bad

In reality, IdleAire is limited to the locations. Grant you they are more plentiful in the Eastern states but there are 4 states that DO NOT have IdleAire at all, 5 states that only have 1 location, 10 in California (with their strict idle laws) being stuck there for five days at a time is just a nightmare in its self. I have sat at locations for at the most 12 days (Entertainment Business company Driver) and was paid for that time. The company does not reimburse me for the use of IdleAire since I have a GenPak. I have also setup IdleAire sat there less than an hour before I was called it assist or repower a unit. So what does all this mean, so far year to date I have spent $400 (estimated $1200 per year) using IdleAire services. This price will increase ($240 a year) for me since I do not use IdleAire as much and I go to locations that require me to stay onsite till the end of the show. Going to IdleAire is considered a treat for me. Paying for services that I am not using is just plain stupid. Unlike IdleAire's wireless services, you are required to hookup to the unit to watch there TV. How many times you went to a IdleAire (full) site just to see that half are not using the service and you are forced to park away from the services. There goes that days TV service.


Personally

I have a GenPak on my truck and I don’t need to use IdleAire. I use it so I may watch WWE on Mondays (since most drivers don’t really care to watch it), Use of the Internet and yes a much quitter night’s sleep. My TV is a newer set, hence HD capable, digital signal capable and built in DVD. From asking representative questions, IdleAire does not have plans to upgrade their TV services to HD quality, add more channels to the services or improve the quality. There have been many times the channels are in poor quality, not loud enough or over modulated, sound w/ no picture, picture w/no sound. So what are we paying for? I would like to see this price increase on the price of fuel. Just another reason to switch to the VuQube.

Note:

I wrote (email) to IdleAire on 27 April 2008 and asked them for a rebuttal. As of yet they have not responded. I personally feel that what I said was correct and they (IdleAire) does not want to comment concerning their pricing. Just another way to take money from the Truck Drivers. Also I will be sending this link to IdleAire since I did state that I would post this.

Email that was sent:
Thank you for reading my email. As a customer of IdleAire I wish to inform you that I am going to post this statement on the internets Trucker Forum. I would like to also post your rebuttal. I am very aware the you are in the business in making money. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I will not post this until 01 May 2008 witch will allow you to rebuttal the statement. I will not edit your statements and will change anything that is not correct as far as in pricing.

Please understand that this is only a personal opinion.

This will be posted:

IdleAire, please understand that I enjoy the service you provide. Your employee's are helpful and do what every is needed to do to provide the service that you started many years ago. You have got to come up with a better plan than this.

 

Dear Mr. Cxxx:



Thank you for contacting IdleAire with your question about which of our new Entertainment packages, or which combination of them, will best suit your needs, based on your particular usage habits. I’m happy to help.



It appears you have used IdleAire for about 295 hours so far in 2008 – thank you! Here’s your most recent usage:



March:
12 hrs, 42 hrs, 20 hrs, 20 hrs, 5 hrs, 22 hrs, 10 hrs



April:

13 hrs, 11 hrs, 11 hrs, 38 hrs, 12 hrs



In March you spent $28 plus tax on the Entertainment upgrade under the old system (7 visits x $4). Clearly you’d save money purchasing the 30-day package in a month like that from now on. Similarly, April would have cost you an equal amount for the 30-day package as what you spent under the old system.



From what I’m seeing, it seems likely you’ll stop at IdleAire five times in a month, so you’re best off purchasing the 30-day package. That way it doesn’t matter how long you’ll be stopping, and you save yourself from having to make the purchase each time you visit. Just buy once, then kick back and relax each time you visit.



We appreciate your business, Mr. Cxxx! We look forward to serving you again soon.



Sincerely,



Casey S.

Customer Support Specialist

IdleAire Technologies Corporation

 

After Sales Tax
$2.02 per hour for the use of the terminal
$4.34 per usage for TV Package (Old Price)
$3.20 per usage for the internet

The internet usage will now be going away. I have purchased an iPhone so now I will get my email live.

I know I am just being a cry baby about all this. I just get upset when companies figure out ways of taken money away from drivers.