I am posting this on Swift thread because it is Swift specific. And now because things change and any threads touching on it are outdated. I have been unable to get a reliable answer on the following. Frankly, I do not want to ask someone "too official" as then if they answer with a formal company policy of "No" then I have no recourse but to follow that. It is/was my understanding that as a company driver with Swift, that we can use a plug in only, 400-watt MAX size inverter. However I had a driver say "...oh no, they are not allowed at all, only O/O's can have them..." So, Swifties, is it an official yes or no or is it a "don't ask, don't tell, don't be stupid" unofficial policy that is ignored by Swift? Or is it something that can cause me a problem? Thanks a lot!
Aw, c'mon swifties, don't leave me hangin' on this! Shrek, Nana, Injun, Blue Bonn, Oldnewbie, Fewe ...where are ya'? I need some of your experience on this!
The "no inverter" policy started back in 2003...a couple company trucks burned to the ground...one in a truck stop and one in the Phoenix yard, and within days of each incident. It was determined that a faulty inverter was the culprit in both cases. The truck stop one was a 450 watt, plug in, that shorted and the driver not with the truck at the time was unavailable to quell the flames. The second at the Phoenix terminal, was determined to be an inverter that shorted out at the battery box...having been improperly wired by the driver. No one has been able to answer the question why it isn't specifically written into the driver manual or Swift policy manual. But it is part of the orientation presentation...and at one point it was a part of the check list for truck assignment. But to this day it is the following driver policy..... If you have one and you put your truck in the shop...and the shop finds it....odds are the driver will be terminated. So tuck it away, hide it, carry it with you in a brown paper bag.....just don't get caught using it!
If you need one, go get one. I don't know how this stuff gets started but the myth is being perpetuated quite well here. I have two inverters, a small one up front (unknown wattage) for my cell charger and Sirius. It is carpet taped to the dashboard in full view of anyone who climbs inside. The second is a 400 watt for my laptop and scan/fax/copy/printer. It is usually on the floor in front of or just inside the reefer box and plugged into the reefer plug. It's not always as obvious as the other one but the power cords to it kind of gives it away and if someone were to look, it's there. I've been in every shop I can think of, some many times, and many times for electrical problems. No one has ever said a word. Don't buy one at a truck stop. Inverters don't have too many moving parts but the truck stop suppliers manage to make theirs to last only a few months, at best. I bought one at Costco that was less expensive and has lasted almost 3 years. I bought the small one at Walmart and it has lasted over 3 years.
The latest Swift University training course "Equipment Fire Protection" has a section on inverters. The key to understanding what is authorized or not is knowing what they mean by "installed". An installed device is one that has it's own circuit. A plug in type of inverter, one that uses cigarette plug for power is not considered to be installed. You can have an inverted installed on a company truck if you have a doctor's note saying that you require one. You need to go thru your DM to have the shop install it. I am an O/O leased to Swift, so I can do what I want. I use a 2500 watt inverter for my coffee maker. The coffee maker draws about 800 watts, and I found that the 1500 watt inverter just couldn't handle the load as well as the 2500.
No. I'm not answering, I'm tired of answering questions and then getting a pm from non Swift employees insulting me. Sorry but I'm a bit cranky about things at the moment.
