Schneider idle policy

I've been here since Sept. '07.

I have never achieved bonus during the summer months because my idle time is in the 50 to 55% range.

The only thing my DBL says to me is "do your best" to keep it down.

No biggie.

 

I idle 100% of the time. In fur weeks running in this jockey truck, I have never shut it down!




Raid3r

 

Hey Truck Farmer,

I use a ThermoKing Tri-Pak and LOVE it. I can set the system up to heat or cool to a specific temperature, all the while keeping the batteries charged and the block warm. I don't have to worry about a tv, laptop, interior lights or anything else running the batteries down. The system handles it. When I am on TAH, I can turn off the bunk comforts but let it still charge the batteries and warm the block. I don't have to worry about cleaning out the fridge, plugging in the block or firing the truck up during my week off. No more dead batteries, molassas oil, or hard starting issues in the winter. If it is super cold, I use an anti-gel additive to be safe. My bunk a/c will freeze your buns, and I make hot chocolate with my bunk heater. The system uses about 1/10 a gallon an hour (versus the truck at a gallon an hour). I have never had any problem with idling laws. I run Upstate New York occasionally, but seldom California. My truck is five years old and has 1400 hours of idle time while my Tri-Pak has 15,000 hours. That's 15,000 hours of wear that isn't on my truck, and 13,500 gallons of fuel I didn't buy. You may not know why people would buy one, but I know why I wouldn't buy a truck without one.

 

I was not saying I would not own one or see the point in it it was just that I was told that the idling laws that were set for the trucks engine also ment the running of the smaller APU unit engine. The guy that told me that maybe full of crap. I don't know why they wouldn't allow them for the very same reasons you just stated for loving it. More confort, less wear and tear on truck and less fuel consumption sounds like a winner all the way around. Just not all laws make good since is all.

 

The APU is a good thing. If you've been driving a while you know that the industry technology has gotten better over the years. It is now a tool of the trade! Business wise it saves me a ton of money over a 12-month period, approximately 1 gallon for every idle hour. It’s cheaper to get a motel! I would suggest a sleeping bag and the APU. Not having the APU is similar to not having air-conditioning!

The Big Dog 54

 

Not all of their trucks that are sold have the APU. They have some that do not, and they are getting in some that have the ClimaCab system. It uses the batteries. Every 10 hours or so, you have to fire up the truck to charge the system again. The problem with this system, you are replacing batteries about twice a year and the system is bolted to the back wall, inside your sleeper below the upper bunk.

As far as Idle, below 10, idle, company policy. Next morning send msg on the QC, how many hours and reason why

 

Schneider Finance has tried a couple of cheaper systems on their IC trucks....Blue Cool, Knight, etc. But if it is the difference between selling the truck or not, they will put on a Tri-Pac.

 

I was looking at some of their trucks yesterday on the inventory list, and saw alot without the tri-pac. Tells me that they have the other system in them. After my Pete caught on fire during a test drive, they tried to get me into another truck, and it had the ClimaCab system. Wanted nothing to do with it, and they would not change it out. So still a company driver, and now they have denied me from becomming a L/P again.

 

One thing that kills me is a stinky APU running and dumping exhaust next to my open sleeper vents.

Many pollute more than the trucks engine.

Some meet California emissions.

 

Don't they still have that qualcomm? Years ago, I had the brainbox to the qualcomm under the bunk by the blower motor for the heat/ac. There were 3 cables that plugged into it. One went to the satellite thing on the roof, another to the keyboard. The third cable had like 64 pins and two thumb screws (kinda like a really old style computer printer cable before USB). That cable went to the engine computer to measure things such as overspeed, overidle, miles, time and over rpm. I used to just unplug it at night and plug it back up in the morning. Always had less than 00.10% idle. I eventually got smart and I left it unplugged everwhere except in 55 mph states. Then I just mashed my foot on the floor doing 68 everywhere passing other pumpkin trucks with 00.00% overspeed. Told them their speedometer's messed up or something when they asked how I blew their doors off. Never got caught in 3 years I was there. Always remembered to hook it up before the shop though and said "I dunno??" when asked. Always got the bonus too. Run hourly local these days but may go back OTR somewhere in the future if the $$$'s right. $.46/mile or more. I made $.34 in 1999. Is it still that way under the bunk? Don't fiddle with it unless you know exactly what's going on with the XX.XX% on the keyboard if it gives the option to monitor and know it works for sure. This was back in a 1996 or 1998 Century and it got downright cold in Oregon and Washington states in the winters and hot in Arizona in the summer. The STL didn't sound enthused when I asked how many times he slept in a shed in the backyard when it was 10 degrees outside. But then he lived in Montebello, CA. Never gets cold there.