APU question

That red crap sure will gum up a kerosene heater. I got so tired of that almost monthly chore of cleaning out my moms I just started buying the regular tax paid kerosene. It has been close to 10 years since I last bought kerosene, but at one time in my Georgia hometown every place in town sold red kerosene, I had to go almost to Westminister SC to buy the regular stuff.

 

The APU is a diesel powered generator. USUALLY included with the APU is a seperate air conditioning system driven by the APU and a 12 volt alternator driven by APU. In most/all APU installations a 12v DC to 120v AC inverter is installed and that is used to provide hosehold type power outlets that many drivers use for various "creature comforts". These may include a microwave, satellite TV, refrigerator, etc.

You can have & use an inverter without an APU but you will deplete the truck batteries quickly or need to idle the truck's diesel engine.

My truck's APU system includes a separate diesel fuel powered cab/sleeper heater due to the puny heat output of the APU itself.

 

I got a message today telling me I was the highest idling driver in our fleet.

Well, how about that?!
We could get that down to near zero with an APU, but the company doesn't seem to think they are cost effective.

APU or fuel... fuel or APU. What a toss up.

 

You won!

 

I received a message like that after 2 trips from The St Louis area to Salt lake City hauling Hershey's candy during a really cold winter. Had to try to sleep in below zero temps in both Nebraska and Wyoming. In the last tractor, I ever was assigned that lacked an APU. Then got shanghaied at the main terminal several weeks later for my idling percentage. I told my Fleet manager I was not going to go get screamed at and if they did not like it I could rent a car and go home, and have a job by the time I got home. Soon after this, I got a Volvo with an APU. I generally try to be reasonable but this is one of my hot buttons, once pushed you can't un-push it. Another hot button is a carrier that tries to override my safety call.

 

And the thing is, with the newer trucks there are temperature limits set on when we can idle the truck.
I figure if the limits let me idle, I am OK to idle because it is too hot or cold otherwise.