Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Apu vs Idling - Staying cool in the Summer

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by knuckledragger, May 10, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. May 10, 2015 #1
    knuckledragger

    knuckledragger Medium Load Member

    403
    95
    Jun 7, 2014
    Everett, WA
    0
    Those of you that don't have an APU in your truck, how do you stay cool in hot weather?

    If you have to idle your truck, are there places that don't allow this? For instance, I've read that California has a new law that prohibits idling. Is this true?

    If you are 'camped out' for hours on end at a shippers dock waited to be loaded, can you idle your truck? Do some shippers not allow this? If so, do you just sit in your truck and sweat while you're waiting? Or do they have a place inside where you can wait (and stay cool)?

    Is it okay to run an APU anywhere you go? Or are there restrictions on this as well?

    Thanks for answering a Rook's questions.
     
    knuckledragger, May 10, 2015
    knuckledragger, May 10, 2015
    #1
    Road Killer and enicolasy Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. May 10, 2015 #2
    Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

    3,937
    2,636
    May 10, 2012
    Temple, TX
    0
    Not so New Law but yes.
    Think it's technically limited to 5 min/hour.
    hmm I guess if you have the Clean Idle Label in Cali you can idle?

    A lot more than just Cali. It doesn't seem to be enforced very often. (in Cali)

    Other places have exceptions for when you're on your Break.
    Some don't care.
    Some places have exceptions for certain Temperatures (like when it's HOT)
    Some places want your Keys, not very often.
    Most places WON'T have a break room for the driver(s)
    Walmart DCs doesn't want you to Idle on their property also not enforced (I haven't seen it enforced)
    Walmart usually has a Break room the drivers could wait in if they wanted to.




    ATRI Cab Card PDF (Idling Laws/Regs around the US)
    http://www.atri-online.org/research/idling/ATRI_Idling_Cab_Card.pdf
     
    Balakov100, May 10, 2015
    Balakov100, May 10, 2015
    #2
    Road Killer, enicolasy and knuckledragger Thank this.
  4. May 10, 2015 #3
    BanditTrucker

    BanditTrucker Light Load Member

    256
    61
    Nov 24, 2011
    KS
    0
    you can idle in california as long as the truck is a 2008 year model+ or has been retrofit with a DPF filter.
     
    BanditTrucker, May 10, 2015
    BanditTrucker, May 10, 2015
    #3
    enicolasy and knuckledragger Thank this.
  5. May 10, 2015 #4
    HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

    4,098
    4,865
    Sep 23, 2012
    0
    In my 8 years of driving I've never been hassled for idling.
     
    HotH2o, May 10, 2015
    HotH2o, May 10, 2015
    #4
    enicolasy, truckon and knuckledragger Thank this.
  7. May 10, 2015 #5
    PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

    14,765
    22,567
    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
    0
    The only place I saw idling laws enforced was Connecticut
     
    PackRatTDI, May 10, 2015
    PackRatTDI, May 10, 2015
    #5
  8. May 10, 2015 #6
    knuckledragger

    knuckledragger Medium Load Member

    403
    95
    Jun 7, 2014
    Everett, WA
    0
    What about when you're sitting at a dock waiting to get loaded or unloaded? Are you allowed to idle at most docks or do you just sit in your truck and sweat for hours on end? Can APUs be used at most docks?
     
    knuckledragger, May 10, 2015
    knuckledragger, May 10, 2015
    #6
  9. May 10, 2015 #7
    T_TRUCKER.

    T_TRUCKER. Road Train Member

    1,586
    1,385
    Mar 27, 2014
    A city near you.
    0
    Ive had an APU on my last 2 trucks and I wouldn't want to not have one again, they definitely make life living in a truck a little easier, especially if they have the built in plugs.

    Before i had an apu i just idled but be careful and ask questions to companys your looking at because lots have idle shut off.
     
    T_TRUCKER., May 10, 2015
    T_TRUCKER., May 10, 2015
    #7
    knuckledragger and enicolasy Thank this.
  10. May 10, 2015 #8
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

    14,574
    18,159
    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
    0
    Swift doesn't install them because they are not cost effective during the life that they keep a truck.
    They just hound us to keep idle times low, and give us a percentage of what they deem appropriate for the time of year.
    I am always way over that.

    And most idle shut-offs have an override to disable it.
    In my current truck all I have to do is press the clutch at the right time, which allows me to idle nonstop.
     
    Moosetek13, May 10, 2015
    Moosetek13, May 10, 2015
    #8
    knuckledragger Thanks this.
  11. May 10, 2015 #9
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,749
    45,403
    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
    0
    APUs as do reefers powered by a diesel engine need a particulate filter in California.

    Everywhere I go, I have seen trucks idling even next to the signs prohibiting such.

    One of our guys got ticketed at Hunt's Point, and we were warned about it at the Brooklyn Wholesale Meat Market.

    His truck was equipped with APU from new but it was inoperable for AC by that time. 2009 tractor, this was in 2013 or 2014, and the guy was using CPAP, but no Doctor's note, if I remember right. Someone dropped the dime on him, and that was what was happening in Brooklyn.

    Signs are posted in downtown Chicago. I idle if I'm not comfortable except in a place where I'm advised not to by receivers. There are getting to be more of those.
     
    25(2)+2, May 10, 2015
    25(2)+2, May 10, 2015
    #9
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 2