Anyone know how to idle a swift truck

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Nsuaqcat, Apr 13, 2020.

  1. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    i really miss them days of bumping the cruise up to 1000rpms. endless ac in the summer. didnt have any of the sounds or problems sleeping
     
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  3. Oakland Raiders Forever

    Oakland Raiders Forever Medium Load Member

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  4. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

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    It means you work for a dog poop company. No joke.

    Spiking the throttle while at a traffic light should keep the tractor running.

    Trainer James (now with Wally World) put out a helpful video on how to use Optimized Idle some years ago. I like him.

    There are also videos about how to disconnect the tractors temperature sensor. If you can find the dang thing.

    The following anecdote is a story that tells why automatic idle shutdown is bad, bad, bad. I heard the story thirdhand, so take it how you will.

    Supposedly, a driver with a certain trucking outfit from central Oregon had
    a bunk heater that was not working and needed to shutdown while outside temperatures were freezing. He couldn't keep the tractor on and the bunk heater failed.

    He then called his companies breakdown department, but no one picked up. This meant he had no outside help and was left to his own devices.

    I have to assume he drove until daylight or until he located a motel. Afterwards, he promptly quit that company.

    I remember when I was with Western Express and my Optimized Idle malfunctioned and would shut off even though the outside temperature was above 70 degrees. No one I spoke with about resolving this issue could care less.

    And that's how we all became the Brady Bunch.
     
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  5. BUMBACLADWAR

    BUMBACLADWAR Road Train Member

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    Tractor knob "in" keeps mine idling. Still get a bad report card. Truck is restarted about 15 times a day. Wait until the company has to pay for 200 tow trucks and 200 new starters. This should get their attention. Lol
     
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  6. midgetripples

    midgetripples Light Load Member

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    the internationals will not idle no matter what you do if your not within the temp settings, volvos will idle if you set just the trailer brakes and leave the tractor brakes off same with some freightliners, i am currently in a swift 2017 4 axle freightliner and got lucky my truck will idle till it runs out of fuel
     
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  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    I've had several trucks that will shutdown according to a timer unless the accelerator or brake pedal change position, not just get frozen in some position. Whatever trick works the company is still monitoring idle %
     
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  8. Nsuaqcat

    Nsuaqcat Light Load Member

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    Hahaha 200 new starters, no that's real
     
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  9. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Thats why they buy GOOD starters one time at DM Bowman and tell us to restart and shut down and start again every. single. red. light.

    3 minutes per light. Crank her up at green and take off.

    People look at me funny from the cars. Poor Yanquis...

    I kept count one trip into Philly and back through Baltimore on two loads over 14 hours.

    147 starts on that starter motor.

    To its credit on that brand new mack engine it did not fail that year. Other things did.
     
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  10. AM14

    AM14 Road Train Member

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    1.) Take your left hand and place it on the door handle.
    2.) Open door and exit vehicle (3 points of contact for safety)
    3.) Go find a company that doesn't have that garbage.
    4.) Enjoy your new life being treated like a human being.
     
  11. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    swift does have a decent record tho. i would leave my company if i could go in as a diamond plus driver
     
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