Should A New Driver Allow No APU/INVERTER to be a Deal Breaker?

If the company doesn't have APU that's no problem as long as you can idle...

I don't see having no inverter being a deal breaker... Get your experience then move on.

 

If you're a newbie and this is your deal breaker you should probably find different profession. Lol

 

There's a difference between necessities and niceties. Those are niceties.

 

I would choose a company with an Apu cause most companies are going to limit idle time. I wouldnt worry much about an inverter.

 

I think most starter companies don't have apus do they? and they all have an idle policy.far as inverters some allow only the ones that plug into the ciggarette lighter.others allow more bigger ones but you have to buy theirs and have their shop install it.then other companies will fire the driver if he's using a more powerful inverter that's not allowed.

 

Having worked for both types of companies now.....

I'd never work for one that doesn't have apu's / inverters installed again.

It just makes life on the road much easier and cheaper if you have them. Having the power available to run a microwave and fridge will save you thousands of dollars a year on food if you can stay away from the fast food / truckstop buffets and bring your own.......especially if you have a wife or know yourself how to clip and use coupons to do your grocery shopping. I eat well on 50 or less a week with more food in the truck than I'll eat each week.

For a new driver I guess you'll just have to suck it up and deal with it or find one of the few better training companies out there that either have them or don't limit idle time. Get your first year or so out of the way and then find a good company.

My training company would let us idle all summer and never say a word had good bunk heaters for winter. Inverters were allowed if you bought them and the shop installed it. It wasn't bad for a starter gig.

My current company equips the trucks with apu's, 1800w inverters and fridge /freezer but I had to work my way up to that gig.

 

I have a bunk heater but no APU, I can have a inverter but the shop has to install it for safety reasons and I have to pay for the inverter. It is slightly annoying to have to start the truck every now and then to charge the battery, otherwise the low voltage alarm starts to beep. I do drive a brand new 379 with a refrigerator so I can't complain, although the refrigerator has never worked. When I started I didn't even know what a APU was, so the question never even came to mind. I think you should take what you can get as long as your getting paid fair and not driving junk. Good luck.

 

There is nothing wrong with wanting an inverter or APU (or idling allowed) in a starter company and there is many out there that can fit your needs.

 

No APU's at Swift, and there is a no inverter policy.

They monitor idle time and don't like to see over about 20%, and you will get messages if you go over.
However, most of us are smart enough to simply idle as we really need to and ignore the messages.

Plug-in inverters are overlooked. I leave mine hooked up even while in the shop. No one has ever said anything.
A company driver can't have an inverter that wires in directly to the battery, but O/O and L/O drivers can. They need to be installed by a Swift shop from what I've heard.
The plug-in types can power a laptop, TV and chargers. Most of what you will need will be covered.

No microwave or real refrigerator, though.
But a Coleman 12V cooler and a lunchbox oven will do the job nicely.