idling a truck. . .

Zeviander · Sep 5, 2016

Voyager1968 said: ↑

Honestly, I prefer the truck bunk to a motel when I'm out. Trying to find a motel that has parking for a big truck, and then maneuvering around (been there, done that) isn't much fun. It's so much easier with a sleeper to find a truckstop/rest area to call it a night.

As for not having an APU, I do realize that they're expensive, and for some companies, not cost effective. With that said, any company that can't (or won't) provide an APU should at least have a liberal idle policy. No driver, especially considering the sacrifices made to be out on the road, should be forced to freeze or roast on their 10 hour break.
Click to expand...

Or not have access to power for electronic devices or appliances.

Antinomian · Sep 5, 2016

Find the temperature sensor. Buy one of those 12 volt cup heaters at a truck stop. Don't burn the truck down. Don't get caught.

CrappieJunkie · Sep 5, 2016

mudding in 18 wheeler lol said: ↑

OK so I know this question has been asked more than once but let's begin anyway. . .
I'm a company Driver that's been assigned a freightliner Cascadia. . .whoopee!
It will idle ONLY during temperatures above 71 degrees (it shuts itself off at 69-70 degrees) how very courteous of the manufacturer to allow this to happen. . .
WINTER WEATHER IS APPROACHING. . .
Which means I will be losing this courtesy very soon. .which makes me sad like this

QUESTIONS AND THEORY!
now it's time for me to impose on the experienced trucker for ANY REASONABLE IDEA on how to idle the truck. . .
My electronic necessity? Running my 300 watt laptop (yep! That's all I'm here for)

- I thought to install an inverter (which I have, cables and all) but that would only drain the batteries . . .
but I can't actually access the batteries because they are neatly placed inside a plastic box which is located underneath the driver seat WHICH AGAIN is difficult to access to begin with to deter truckers from messing with the batteries. . .

- then I thought to find a way to have some kind of jury rigged fan that I could duct tape to the cup holder and just cut off the fans and tape something to the spinning fan that would press the "override engine shutdown" button. . .so that every 5 minutes that the engine would shutdown. . .the button would be pressed and viola! An idling engine. . .
But that might just wear out the button . . .

So for anyone else out there whose just unfortunate enough to face this retarded delimma, have thou comest upon a solution? I'd love to hear it. . .

*don't suggest the accelerator, it shuts down anyway
*don't suggest keeping the button held down in place. . .it shuts down anyway

[I'm having to submit this thread from my phone. . .can you guess why? Yep! It's because I can't idle this piece of #### long enough to write a thread on my laptop. I know I know but I'm a company Driver and I'm trying to find ways to make winter weather suck less. . .]

~ ~ ~some information about me
I have a 300watt bestek inverter plugged into a cigarette outlet. Surprisingly it keeps my laptops battery charged ONLY when the truck is idling. . .if the truck isn't idling, I ASSUME the laptop draws more power from the inverter than it can handle (the poor thing) and the red lights flash and it shuts itself down to save itself. . .then starts back up, then shuts itself down etc etc
My laptop is a gaming laptop, which means it's battery life is 30 minutes. . .or less. It cost me $2,100 or so to purchase it (I'm not bragging I just said that to prevent
"maybe your laptop is a #### laptop"
comments I might receive from responses. . .
My laptops wattage is 300-315 and the bestek inverter has 300 watt with a 350 watt peak (not bad for only using a cigarette lighter)
Click to expand...

Lose the laptop...focus on driving.

Zeviander · Sep 6, 2016

crappiejunkie said: ↑

Lose the laptop...focus on driving.
Click to expand...

Because every driver should be focused on driving during their 10 hour break.

CrappieJunkie · Sep 6, 2016

Zeviander said: ↑

Because every driver should be focused on driving during their 10 hour break.
Click to expand...

They should be sleeping. I dont know about the rest of you but when I was otr I did trip planning, got food, shower and slept, and if needed laundry on my 10s. I didnt have time for video games. But I guess I am wierd cause I love sleep.

Rusty Trawler · Sep 6, 2016

crappiejunkie said: ↑

They should be sleeping. I dont know about the rest of you but when I was otr I did trip planning, got food, shower and slept, and if needed laundry on my 10s. I didnt have time for video games. But I guess I am wierd cause I love sleep.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and we used to have to walk through 4 ft snow drifts to get to the showers.
Uphill. Both ways.

CrappieJunkie · Sep 6, 2016

Rusty Trawler said: ↑

Get a 2000 inverter

Yeah, and we used to have to walk through 4 ft snow drifts to get to the showers.
Uphill. Both ways.
Click to expand...

What is your point?

Rusty Trawler · Sep 7, 2016

crappiejunkie said: ↑

What is your point?
Click to expand...

I never have a point
Just rambling
Slight dementia, I think.

201 · Sep 8, 2016

crappiejunkie said: ↑

What is your point?
Click to expand...

Doesn't need a point. I forgot what this thread was all about anyway.

Riffman · Sep 8, 2016

snowwy said: ↑

For starters. It's not the manufacture that programmed the truck that way. It's the company that spec'd out the truck that way.

My last company, was spec'd to shut off after 1 minute. Regardless the temp outside. To bypass it. You pulled the yellow valve. Turned on the cruise. And tapped the SET button. That would raise the idle from 600 to 800. And get you 9 hours idle plus 1 hour warning to regenerate. After 10 hours you regenerated or the truck won't idle. Now you've got 5 hours of idle time. To which you regenerate again. And the second regen takes much longer then the first. And if it's 100 plus outside, Have your fire extinguisher handy cuz that dpf will start glowing and smoke will start billowing out. And the truck might burn down.

If the regen light comes on and your ready to roll. You do the regen first because the light will never shut off. And you could find yourself trying to drive with no power.

If you happen to roll during your idle time. All it takes is a couple of miles and the idle timer resets itself.

It's not good to idle your engine at 600 rpm. And your a/c won't be much good either. Thus, the step up to 800 rpm.

The good companies have bunk heaters installed on the trucks. Although, it's still not good to let truck sit below 20 degrees. You risk the possibility of fuel gelling. And a dead truck. Depending on what part of the region you fuelled up at.
Click to expand...

I honestly can't believe companies get away with this crap. How is this safe working conditions?

Log in or Sign up

Forums

idling a truck. . .

Zeviander Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Antinomian Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Zeviander Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

201 Road Train Member

Riffman Light Load Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

idling a truck. . .

Zeviander Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Antinomian Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Zeviander Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

201 Road Train Member

Riffman Light Load Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!