idleing

I have a little "tater" job where I am home most of the time while being out 1 or 2 nights a week.... maybe once or twice a year, I will find myself out 3 times a week. Because I am only out 1 or 2 nights a week, an APU is probably not an ideal investment in this situation for about 75 - 80 nights a year.

Having said that, my boss/supervisor/dispatcher encourages me to idle & stay comfortable while out. I do so unless the temp outside is around 60 (in the deep south). Otherwise, I idle.

Everyone gets to stay comfortable at night except truck drivers. Only truck drivers are expected to brave the heat & cold... because we are truck drivers. You, I, the boss, the owner runs central heat & air units at home to be comfortable at night. While in a truck... because we are dumb ol', bottom feeding truck drivers, we are suppose to be an exception. Why? Because it costs. Uh, I don't remember ever getting fuel for free or buying/leasing a truck for free & I don't remember maintenance being free. Everything costs to operate a truck... that's why its known as the "cost of doing business". It may not be the preferred method of earning money but if you run a business, your gonna have this pesky little thing called "the cost of doing business".
Unless something changes this month, I have to pay for my natural gas & electricity at home to stay comfortable... just like you, the boss & the owner. Its just part of being comfortable. But you accept it & so does the company owner. We all except it & pay it... its just part of life & being comfortable. And guess what, its a dead expense. Its not part of business, but its come outta your pocket just the same. Its an expense that we except as part of life & being comfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I understand business. I understand that people need to be conscious of expenses. Just like fuel, just like a truck note, just like insurance & payroll. Its part of doing business. Owners don't think twice about whether or not that heat/air is gonna kick on that nigh at home (or in the office for that matter), but when it comes to that ol' bottom feeding truck driver... "oh, he'll be ok. They get heat & air in the office while at work... the whole time they are expected to be at work.

He runs his at home & in the company Cadilac on the way home, I should have the option to be just as comfortable. Its part of doing business. Sure, be aware of overall costs, but be reasonable.

I understand everyone is different, situations are different, areas/regions are different... many things are different. There are all sorts of variables. Not all situations are the same. It's not a "one size fits all" situation or decision. If you're an owner operator, then its totally your choice how you sleep or run your heat & air. I don't have a beef with you guys. Its your choice. But if everyone else at the company is sitting in an office while he pays for heat & air, OR is at home paying for their own heat & air, I have to be out in a sweat box... cause I'm a dumb ol' truck driver.

So, if idling & staying comfortable is considered a luxury rather than a necessity to you like a truck note, insurance, payroll or fuel etc & isn't "required" to get the job done & because your trying to keep expenses down (you, the boss or the company), while your at it, next time you're at a truck stop, you might think about selling that $500 + CB equipment, that TV equipment, that laptop or Kendall, those extra 40 or 50 chicken lights you got on the truck, those $40 - $100 weekly truck & trailer washes you get cause it aint gotta be pretty, its just gotta get the load there safely & the other luxury accessories you got to make your life more comfortable or pretty.

Now, after all this rambling, I know everyone & every situation is different. We all have different expectations & various things are important in different ways for different reasons to each person. That's what makes us all different & its what generates different opinions. My point is, to some, being comfortable at night is worth the expense.. to others not so much. Some people need TV & CB's & chicken lights & truck washes to satisfy their personal needs or comforts. People spend money on various things that, to others, are unnecessary. The truck you chose was $40,000 more than it really needed to be but it was worth it to you, to be comfortable. The company bought a cheaper truck, so does the price of the truck off set idling all night? To some it may, some it may not. The thing is, people/companies spend money in different ways, 'cause different things are more important for different reasons.

I'm not throwing rocks at anyone person or group here. Personally for me, since I don't have an APU, I'm gonna idle... it's whats important to me. Fortunately, I have a boss & owner who care enough about me that they want me to be comfortable & encourage me to idle if I want/need to. After all, its just part of doing business.

Sorry if I offended anyone here. It was/is not my intent. Good luck to all