No Idle Trucks

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Brucesmith, Jul 12, 2015.

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  1. Jul 12, 2015 #1
    Brucesmith

    Brucesmith Heavy Load Member

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    I have been very lucky. Although I have worked for 2 companies in both cases the trucks were not programmed to shut down after idling. I HATE idling a truck but when you are parked in Yuma and it is 90 plus degrees the cab is #### hot! I would often run the truck for 4 hours and if the outside temps were down enough I would shut the truck off. In Phoenix it ran all night in 100 degree heat. Many trucks are set up to idle for maybe an hour. How can you sleep if you have to get up and restart the truck? Many states and even some cities have no idle laws. But it is criminal and even dangerous to expect a driver to suffer in that heat. The cab of a truck is like a giant oven. Many companies do not have APU's or the new 12 volt AC's How do you handle that heart?
     
    Brucesmith, Jul 12, 2015
    Brucesmith, Jul 12, 2015
    #1
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  3. Jul 12, 2015 #2
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Best way to handle it is to refuse to work for such a company that would prefer you soak your mattress with your own sweat, and not sleep well, before idling 10 hours and pissing off the bean counters sleeping comfortably at home.
     
    STexan, Jul 12, 2015
    STexan, Jul 12, 2015
    #2
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  4. Jul 12, 2015 #3
    KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    I hate idling the trucks for a number of reasons, but if we have an apu issue and have to idle that is left up to the driver, USUALLY there is a way to defeat the idle shutdown.

    If we have a non working apu and a driver has an on road 34, I ask them to find a motel, as I would rather pay the motel bill than idle that truck for two days.
     
    KANSAS TRANSIT, Jul 12, 2015
    KANSAS TRANSIT, Jul 12, 2015
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  5. Jul 12, 2015 #4
    truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

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    One trick I've heard of is to use your cruise control...I don't know how that may work but one guy told me enabling it prevented his truck from shutting off.

    Another way is to keep the pedal slightly pressed, yet not actually accelerating. Or the break pedal or the clutch..

    Either one ...

    Try it
     
    truckthatpassesyouby, Jul 12, 2015
    truckthatpassesyouby, Jul 12, 2015
    #4
  7. Jul 12, 2015 #5
    TruckDuo

    TruckDuo Road Train Member

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    Our company lets us idle the truck when it's above 70 and below 28. I can't sleep if it isn't ice cold. Don't work for a company that doesn't let you idle or doesn't have a apu.
    [​IMG]
     
    TruckDuo, Jul 12, 2015
    TruckDuo, Jul 12, 2015
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  8. Jul 12, 2015 #6
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Most systems will shut off the engine after 5 minutes unless the bypass is triggered.
    With my Volvo it is pressing the clutch within a certain window of time.
    I had a Cascadia that used the cruise control, and a ProStar that also used the clutch.

    Once you bypass the shut off it will idle forever.
     
    Moosetek13, Jul 12, 2015
    Moosetek13, Jul 12, 2015
    #6
  9. Jul 12, 2015 #7
    marineman227

    marineman227 Dock Waterer

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    Our older trucks didn't have idle timers or APUs so it was expected/accepted that we let them run. Our new trucks have battery pack APUs and 5 min idle timers. You can touch any of the 3 pedals and keep it running.
     
    marineman227, Jul 12, 2015
    marineman227, Jul 12, 2015
    #7
  10. Jul 12, 2015 #8
    315wheelbase

    315wheelbase Heavy Load Member

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    Always hated idling,,hard to sleep in a truck vibrating and shaking all night,,My last 2 trucks had APUs,, Here is one for you ask your company if their offices are air conditioned,,With all the laws against idling and the EPA BS smartway truck program one would think that a truck could not be certified as a Smartway EPA approved truck if it did not have an APU..The EPA should require all trucks with sleepers to have an APU.
     
    315wheelbase, Jul 12, 2015
    315wheelbase, Jul 12, 2015
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  11. Jul 12, 2015 #9
    Lightside

    Lightside Medium Load Member

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    Does anyone know which companies don't allow it? or have APUs. I'm a recent CDL grad.
     
    Lightside, Jul 12, 2015
    Lightside, Jul 12, 2015
    #9
  12. Jul 12, 2015 #10
    PayCheck

    PayCheck Medium Load Member

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    If the truck won't idle and I don't have an app I just go find a new company. Screw them, I have a clean cdl and I'm experienced they need me more then I need them.
     
    PayCheck, Jul 12, 2015
    PayCheck, Jul 12, 2015
    #10
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