Idle Restrictions

Very simple fix would be to require trucking companies to provide hotel/motel rooms for truck drivers like they do for flight attendants/pilots(the airlines usually make big deals with hotel chains and pay like 20 bucks for them to spend a night there). This would save the environment, and stimulate business, and provide a better rest for the drivers(maybe a hotel gym also), and be better for public safety.

 

I live and drive on long island and its not a fun place to drive(so many crazy drivers especially during rush hours), and the many companies have been hiring here for years, and not able to get enough drivers to work like slaves for them.

 

Tell me about it,I use to deliver to a cust in Long Island once a week and stayed the night there.

 

An easier way to solve the problem is, a requirement that any truck with a sleeper compartment be required to have an alternate climate control device factory installed. It is also a requirement that it be in operating condition when the vehicle is occupied.
Over the life of the truck, the cost would be much less than the cost of a nightly motel room.

 

Some have them. Apu's function similarly to what you're talking about. The issue is that there is little to no cost savings in fuel consumption, upfront cost is very high, and that nobody wants to work on them.

Personally, I'd rather idle. The vibrations of the truck help me sleep anyways.

 

Surely you can't think an APU burns as much fuel in an hour as a 6 cylinder diesel engine at idle. Most engines will burn a gallon an hour at idle and an APU burns a quarter of a gallon in that same period of time.
A factory installed APU/Climate control system is less cost than an add on system. The ROI for an APU is about 14 months and it increases the trade value when getting a new truck.
And there are other systems available than the APU's. To each his own as to which type to go for.
In the end, idling is going to become a thing of the past. More and more, cities and states will be pressured to start enforcement of these rules and the revenue stream will start to look attractive.
These same arguments came along as to the use of seat belts. Each year the total usage figures go up as enforcement/fines increase.
As for the vibration. Go find one of those vibrating beds that cost a Quarter you would find in the old motels.

 

Mine doesn't burn but 0.5gal/hr unless it's on high idle.

If it were me, and I was forced to not idle... O/o, I think I could come up with a cheap and comparable solution. It looks redneck, but I've seen generators strapped between the truck/trailer. Get the right size and I'm sure you could run a portable ac unit off that plus more.

If the thing breaks, it's still cheaper than an apu.

 

I had a little $1000 Honda suitcase generator for 4 summers, but it finally crapped out this summer. Saw a Home Depot and ran in and picked up a $600 Ryobi generater couple months ago and it is already crapped out. Will be picking up another Honda as soon as possible--

 

Unless you're going military surplus or something I think is probably the best generator to buy. Ryobi is OK but in my experience it is never built for professional use. Granted, that opinion comes from their tools.

 

I think they fired you because your an "immigrant" ..hehe l had to,but hey it's as good as a black guy saying "ah man why yo doing me like this,is it cuz I'm black ??