Anti Idle Advice

I'm pushing 60 (in a couple years) and still manage to cope with very little idle time. "Dues" has nothing to do with it.

I commiserate with those that have had frost bite, it sure does lead to a lifetime of sensitivity to temperatures in the extremities that were affected. Thankfully I never did get frostbite, although came close on McKinley. Some of my friends in the climbing world weren't so lucky, some lost digits (and were relegated to a lifetime of not being able to count properly)...

 

even if it was 10 degrees outside that sun can and will cook your truck. but only when there isnt a breeze.

 

From the perspective of an O/O, if you idle habitually throughout a 10 hour rest break and during layovers and 34 hour resets on the road, then you are adding at least $10,000 and potentially upwards of $20,000 per year to your costs. For a fleet operator that's $10K to $20K per truck. If that truck is doing an average of 20 loads per month you are adding about $40 to $80 per load cost on average.

By the way, your comments about dealing with heat in a tin can is well taken. That's why when I get my own truck and become an O/O I'll be certain to have a very well insulated truck. Many trucks I've been in have been terrible when it comes to insulation against heat. The '12 Cascadia I'm currently driving is by far the best.

I think the push to lower idle times is only going to increase from governments and companies.

I think it would be a boon to the industry if we installed solar panels on the roofs of tractors to power AC and heat. Battery capacity should also be addressed. I find that almost all my idle time so far is used to recharge the dang batteries to keep my 12v cooler going, the 12v fan, and the Webasto heater in winter. It would be nice to not have to worry about battery power.

 

my company say u can idle 35% a week and we have to average 6mpg a week
the way I found around that I would set my cruise control between 55-60mpg ride like that all day. if im heavy by the time I stop I would be at maybe 7.3 or so and when I was light I would be over 8.0mpg. I would idle my truck just enough to where it wouldn't kill. I would do this maybe 2-3 time a week. the other days I would run my truck at the governed speed 65mph. because I AINT GONNA BE HOT/FREEZE FOR NOBODY!!!!! I been in NJ & NY at those plaza's they have no idle signs up. still do it I never got a knock on door. they have signs up no overnight parking ignored that one 2. my company pay 300,200,100 to drivers with top MPG for month. they be out there in heat/ cold just trying to get bonus. I don't need money that bad. I was always over my % but I always got my MPG average. my DM never said anything to me because I was a good driver my grade in company was A+. 80% of my loads was hot loads. when I become a o/o in the not so distant future I will have a APU put on truck before I leave dealership. if I got to be away from home BY GOSH GOLLY!!!! im gonna be comfortable.

 

For those that haven't seen it, and I'm sure they'll be in collections of limited edition car enthusiasts, there is the all electric Aptera...

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=444375

... one feature that always fascinated me about this car was the composite shell that embedded solar panels in the roof that were dedicated to keeping the temperature controlled in the cabin, even when you parked the car in a sunny, hot day. You could always count on having a comfortable car to get into after a couple hours shopping at a mall.

Trucks have MUCH more surface area available for solar panels above the windshield and on the sides. With the decreasing costs of solar panels why not embed SP's in the body panels of the tractor in order to have a functional AC and/or charge batteries so we don't have to idle so much to stay comfortable? The green technology is there, so how much would this really cost to implement in a truck for a payback that could net $10K to $20K per year?

Think about that... truck stops could become much quieter, less polluting, and healthier.

 

By the way, one good way to have a comfortable sleep in the winter...

... run at night when it's cold, then park with the wind shield facing west so you catch all that warmth coming into the cab... I gotta vent the sleeper berth to stay cool enough to sleep until the sun goes down... (yawn)...