Anti Idle Advice

Well I guess I must be one of those "hardcore" drivers...

By the way, do you know the truckers that actually ended up in a hospital with hypothermia or heatstroke? I've heard some jawing about this, but I haven't been able to find actual news stories or confirmation, so it might be one of those "urban legend" things.

I'll speak from my own perspective. In my youth I spent a LOT of time outdoors. I was an avid fisherman, hunter, backpacker, and mountain climber. In pursuit of my recreation which at a point in time extended into being a paid guide and instructor for a period of a few years, I've slept in a wide range of temperatures without benefit of air conditioning or heaters: in snow caves, on glaciers, at altitudes up to 20,000', tropical jungles, deserts, and temperatures down to -45ºF and as high as 125ºF. The closest I've ever come to health issues when it came to temperatures was hiking (and swimming) the slot canyons in Utah in August.

Now I realize I've had what most folks would say is an "extreme" background, so my perspective regarding sleeping in a truck in hot or cold temperatures might be taken with a grain of salt. However, I really love sleeping with fresh air. I always have at least one vent open and park to be as far away from idling trucks as possible.

If it gets really cold then yes I have a sleeping bag with a temperature rating down to zero degrees and I'll wear long johns and don a wool cap. There's an old climber's adage, "If your feet are cold, put your hat on". Most of your body heat is lost from your head, neck, and shoulders. Putting on a good warm hat makes a big difference. It's also why serious mountaineers always get a mummy style sleeping bag.

Frankly, there's nothing quite like sleeping in crisp, cold, fresh air to get a great night's sleep. Theres nothing to "suffer" about it.

When it gets hot I can also get some great sleep. Open all the vents, put those big screens in the windows, and sideways to the wind or breeze. Then put a big beach towel on the bunk, get naked, and remember those wonderful hours sleeping in hot rooms in a $300 per day day spa in Seoul (yep, my client factory owner paid $300 per day to sleep in hot rooms and I joined him and really enjoyed it). Ever get sleepy in a hot classroom or church? Same thing. Heat is great and relaxing to sleep.

After waking up from a hot sleep I'm all sweated out, drink some water, clean off with some Big Wipes and a washcloth, and I'm good to go.

After waking up from a cold night's sleep I turn on the Webasto heater before I get out of the bunk for about 15 minutes, then get up and get dressed. It's certainly a more comfortable way to wake up in a truck than when I was on McKinley waking up at -45ºF and having to start the stove so I could melt some ice and snow to get hot water, and having to knock the hoar frost hanging from the inside of the tent walls and sweep them out before the stove started heating up the interior of the tent. THAT was downright uncomfortable....

My worst night ever? Try a bivouac near the summit of Mt. Rainier in February: no sleeping bag, no tent, and no stove. I thought I'd broken a rib from shivering but it turned out to only be pulled muscles. Temperatures dropped to zero that night.

... "suffer"? In a TRUCK? Heck, that's the lap of luxury my friend...

By the way, idling a truck costs about $30-50 per night. You have any aspirations for being an O/O and have to buy your own fuel then give that some thought.

 

Never knew of anyone getting jail time for this.But if you're worried,bring a pet.They bend the rules for pets unless your company has no pet policy.Maybe that's why I don't care about this law,tiny my dog is my otr co pilot.But ive never had an officer come knocking on my door wanting me to turn trk off even without seeing my dog.Calif is really strict of this law and heard they have drove thru the ta in Ontario issuing tickets.

 

If the temperatures are on the "extreme" side, don't worry about it and do what you have to do to keep from drenching your mattress in sweat or frost off the insides of the tractor glass. If not quite extreme, it would all depend on where you're idling what you could or could not maybe expect but the chances of being near that Barny Fife cop while idling are pretty slim all things considered.

But, I too am in the column as one who will refuse to drive anywhere that doesn't not have APU and company/factory installed inverter 750 watt or greater.

 

Not a bad idea, especially if you have big dogs. They put out a lot of heat. Ever heard the origin of the name, "Three Dog Night". That's a night so cold you need to cuddle up with three dogs.

 

Far as im concerned,this law is just words on paper that don't mean a hill of beans to me.But companies have the stupid policy to save fuel.So if I drive for an otr company,they're either not going to have an idle policy or qualcomms.

 

They way people feel about pets you may get a pass from the cops because it would be animal cruelty to let a pet freeze or get to hot.

 

I idled regardless back in the day and never heard a peep out of any agency.
Occasionally a dispatcher would grumble,but i didn't take it to heart.
Ultimately we drivers are powerless to really change the system,its a losing battle,we have no voice or power

Where i work the trucks are set to auto shutoff off between 45 and 76 degrees if they are idling.
We run mainly in the western desert states where its hot as blazes or ice cold,so the trucks run most of the time.
A driver just needs to luck up and get on with a carrier that has some common sense and understanding.
Most modern trucks are Clean Air Certified...we are in Cali and can idle as we please,the engines meet the environmental specs
so its not a problem

 

Interstate (IDC) was an APU company. They now are selling off the last of their APU'd trucks. All trucks allow idle below 20 degrees and above 78. They have a bunk heater but no a/c system unless truck is running. Trouble is batteries are so weak, you get a low battery alarm after sitting and running a 12v fan for 8 hrs. I'm looking for a better equipped company right now.

 

I guess some carriers have decided that in order to be able to afford the new engines (trucks) that have risen drastically the last several years, they would have to cut driver pay and/or cut out the APU. Either way it's comes out of the driver's lifestyle comfort.

 

Very true........And i would refuse to drive for any such company.....F-them!
You know all the office employees and owners sleep with heat and AC but could care less about the driver who is earning the company the money...very sad.