AC not working, is there a DOT regulation about this?

And that is where the 2 horses come from.

 

That's true of a company driver, but what if is your truck? Will you turn down a load to get it fixed NOW, or will you wait until after you're loaded and have put in your days work? Do you want fixing your a/c to have the same priority as fixing a tire? Would you like to be put out of service or get CSA points because the a/c doesn't work? If the answer to those 3 questions is no, then it is a luxury.

 

That all depends. If I'm OTR and I'm faced with paying for hotels to get sufficient rest to move that next load, or passing on that load and paying to get the A/C fixed (which is going to have to happen sooner or later), then I'm shutting down and getting the A/C fixed. There's no sleeping in a truck with no A/C in the summer in most of the US.

 

Meh... just roll down the windows.

 

If you're that strapped for cash that you can't take the time to fix even minor problems, then perhaps you should consider closing up shop and doing something else.

The A/C system is an integral and essential part of keeping the windshield clear and giving the driver an unobstructed view of the road ahead. Trying to defog a cool or cold windshield in humid conditions without the de-humidifying effect of the A/C system is nearly impossible. So in that regard, it's a safety issue, not a luxury.

 

I guess you didn't get the scenario. You're starting your trip. You do a pre-trip and discover a flat tire. That needs to be fixed now. If instead of discovering a flat tire, you find the a/c doesn't work. If the a/c is a safety issue, then you have to get it fixed and lose your load. If it is not a safety issue, you get loaded and get your a/c fixed at the end of the day.

Now do you want the a/c to be safety or luxury?

 

Here's another scenario for you; A friend of mine couldn't afford to mess around with his old trucks, so he gave me one. It needed a lot if tlc, but had no real DOT issues. Starting out, it certainly made more sense to skip the a/c until the list of mechanical problems that would keep it from going to work were taken care of. The truck came from New Jersey and I work in Chicago. I had no problem getting the windshield defrosted before I fixed the a/c.

I would not, as an owner, expect my driver to drive without a/c. That, not-with-standing, I do not feel is a safety issue, like lights, tires, brakes, etc. It is a comfort issue like a radio.

 

I had no A/C and hardly any heat in the first truck I was given. Ran it like that for over a year before they fixed it. Suck it up princess and git 'r done!

 

I agree. Back in the day, we had kick panels on the lower part of the cab, back when COE's were popular, to let more air into the cab, as well. Don't know if they would work that well with a modern conventional cab rig with the engine in front. You'd probably pick up lots of engine heat, be my guess.

A/C should be a mandatory requirement per DOT regs, IMO. Besides, if you let the A/C go, you wont be selling that rig anytime soon either, or you will do so at a great loss in value/money when you sell.

 

Try doing that when you are driving in the hot, humid states, when you are 60+ years old and have to load or unload your rig, and then get back to me, NM. While you are at it, dont use the A/C while you are at home too.