Rumor truth

"Oh No". I drove one of those for Schneider. All it has is a bunk heater operated by your cabin batteries. After about 4or 5 hours it dies. Their are no inverters to power anything a driver might have. Only Cigarette lighter fixtures. Schneider was trying out some units with A/C as well. The problem is they don't last long. You have to start the truck to charge the batteries. Another problem is truck will only idle 4 to 5 minutes. That won't change. Drivers getting screwed again.

 

I dont think my espar heater ran off batteries. My truck had no problem starting after a 34

 

Drivers won't get screwed if they leave USA Truck and work for a different company that runs the equipment that they want.

 

If I leave my truck more than 18 hours without cranking it with everything off, it'll be very slow to start. Almost to the point where it won't start.

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I can remember this system in the Detroit engine equipped freightliner tractors as far back as 1996. It saddens me to hear about this, but honestly I was expecting it. I heard it right from Jim Shaffer's mouth back in the early summer of 2011 the APU's was costing the company major bucks. Most of the newer Freightliners have the DPF APU's and those things are a royal pain in the butt when they are out of warranty. Unfortunately it's all about the money and right now the company don't have it to spend.

 

isnt the optimized idiling where the truck can only be idled when the outside temperature reaches certain set points? I believe Heartland Express has the same set up on their trucks

 

No, the optimized idle has been around a long time. My old flat top with USA had it. You set the thermostat in your bunk. The engine starts automatically when it gets to warm or cool in cabin.
I can't see them going back to this. It still uses to much fuel, and it's illegal to idle all over the place. They are probably going to go with the same set up Schneider has. Bunk heaters, with no inverters or power source other than cigarrete lighter outlets. Schneider just started putting sensors on their truck so they won't idle between certain temps. To be honest. I'm beginning to see the only way to have a climate controlled truck is to team. it's getting to bad. I'll go work at a convenience store before I will freeze or sweat while living in a truck.