Idle Restrictions

Im sure most seasoned drivers know this... but,for noobs... idle your gas pedal up to 700 thenset the cruise control. It'll stay running. If the company monitors your idle time shut it off ,wait 5 minutesrestart it again idle it up againagain(remove ignition key if possible) and they wont know its idleing.

 

Okay.

Then I have a question for you, and given it's nature it may not have a logical answer.

Why is it that most Mega companies aren't putting apu's on their trucks anymore then?

The easy answer is because it doesn't pay for them, and that is partly true since they are rid of their trucks after 5 years in most cases. If you hang onto them for 10+ years, then an apu would pay for itself when it comes to maintenance fees. Fuel alone, yes you do save using an apu.

I don't know, like I said, I'd rather Idle. I sleep better that way.

APU's are pretty hotly debated from what I've seen on TTR, but unless you're in a state where they hand out idling tickets like candy on halloween... You're probably still better idling. Just my two cents on the last part.

I suspect that there's cheaper and better alternatives than just using an apu or idling. But as a company driver, I don't know of any nor do I have any data to prove any of the ideas I've had.

 

exactly, you are a company driver who doesn't care about the costs of idling, the unit will pay for itself. That's a fact , but the other savings on engine life, emission system problems etc. Are all savings, not to mention driver convenience. You prefer to idle because it is your pocket its coming out of.

 

I'm not so certain that my stance on idling would change even if I were an owner operator. Yes, I might be inclined to idle less than I do now, but the vibrations and sound help me when I sleep. Not sure why, I've always been like that since I was a baby.

No joke, my mother would run the vacuum cleaner in order to get me to go to sleep some nights. I was one year old when I first went up in a prop driven airplane, according to my uncle who is flying the plane it was not five minutes after take off and I was already sound asleep.

 

To be perfectly honest, I have never used an APU.

It's possible my tune may change once I've used one. As of right now though, I would much rather idle for my own personal comfort.