Why do people needlessly idle ?

That and I find the vibration of the engine soothing. Puts me to sleep faster than laying there listening to crickets. And as you said.. its a constant noise.. not the start stop of an APU or reefer unit. Or someone arguing on the phone loudly with his wife and his windows down for the whole world to hear.

This is trucking... I find getting upset over an idling truck the same as getting upset over a slower truck climbing a hill. In either case.. its none of my concern.

Hurst

 

There usually isn't trucks out there on their own. Usually just generators or light towers powering some stationary equipment.

 

I've actually delivered and picked up in places that looked like the first pic.

One was to a guys house in Concho, AZ. It was a group buy of pottery clay. The rest was in Las Cruces, NM


That's his house. I parked on the County Road outside his driveway and he and another guy unloaded by hand. His wife gave me iced tea and a sandwich.

The funny thing is I was late delivering there because I had to get a starter replaced in Flagstaff!

 

One of the nicest places I went to deliver was a mine in Gold River BC.
One of the most desolate place I went to deliver a excavator was happy valley goose bay. I swore I would never do that trip ever again. And no you don't ever turn the truck off up there.

 

AMEN!!

I'm from Florida. The human body is 98f. I'm not quite that had.. but below 65f and I've been known to put on a hoodie.

My wife is always cold. I set the house AC to 72 when home. She likes it at 78. When I'm home she runs around the house in a snuggy all the time. LoL

Hurst

 

APU's are only worth the money if you take 10 hour breaks regularly and more or less live in your truck.

I might Idle 20 hours a week tops. An APU would never pay for itself for me.

When I started out as a company driver though I had an APU and I couldn't sleep well without that thing running. Then I got up north for a bit and It stayed below 0* for a week so I had to leave my truck idling. (our trucks were only allowed to idle at 0* or colder). I had never slept with a truck idling. For a long time I would wake up after 4 hours thinking something was wrong because the truck was running. Normally the truck shut itself off after 5 minutes.

Anymore I can sleep fine with anything. Cows stomping around in the back. Reefer running. Truck Idling. APU running.

If your honestly unable to sleep due to the normal noises in the industry you probably aren't tired enough to be stopping to sleep in the first place.

 

@jerezxp7

Just curious have you lived in Oregon your entire life, it will help answer a few questions most are asking.

I have and meet many friends in Eugene,Or I have spent years understanding the Oregon way of life.

With this industry, they have made huge improvements in the diesel world. If only cars would be up to the diesel improvements.

http://www.theicct.org/blogs/staff/ever-improving-efficiency-diesel-engine

Besides all that technical jargon, Trucking is and has been around before you and will be after you. It's inhabited by many different people. Who work to provide and control there little world. At present the government is trying to control this monster of an industry. With no major impact, but to effect the individual. Science has more ability to fix Trucking than some person worried about a noise or idling.
You can pick another spot away from idling trucks. But firing up a group of drivers is not a great suggestion. Everyone is entitled to his opinion, it's the internet. Change how you do it or change your surroundings.

 

So we have a self important person who doesn't like anyone who doesn't see things the way he does, or a plain 'ol internet troll. Same difference either way.

 

Because that is where the customer wants the load. So you feel that you are worthy of judging others? I too pull long and heavy loads. 150' long and grossing 210k. Is that pic in your avatar what you haul? Because it looks like power poles on a flat deck. Try it pulling a dolly where you steer the truck and the dolly at the same time. Kinda funny to watch someone come around a corner with their head turned watching only the mirror... LOL Heck I have been known to throw the tent up on the deck of the trailer and there is no sound insulation.


One day you will hear a popping sound, that is your head being pulled out of your ###.