Swifts new Idle policy

I think we're sacrificing enough being away from home all the time, missing family events, and living in a space smaller than a jail cell. I would do it if I had to keep the job in order to survive. But if there are any other choices out there, I will go where I can stay cool. I wonder how much money these big companies would save if they didn't run the a/c in their offices. Those are some large buildings.

 

I know some of you fellow truckers will disagree with my assessment of the idle issue. But here goes; First of all, the frenzy to control idle, and all the subsequent anti-idle laws does not seem to be going away. Like another post said earlier, a well rested driver is a safe driver. I'm not sure how all of these inhumane, barbaric, and unsafe policies and laws came to be, but its time we drivers say enough is enough! I myself, minimize idle whenever I can. Last week, my over-idle percentage was at 1.97%. I believe that all drivers should do their part with minimizing their idle time. However, we also should be safe out there! When its unreasonably hot, or cold, there should not be intimidating nasty-grams coming in over the qualcomm. Dogs have more rights than we drivers do. When we can't sleep because its 100 degrees in the truck, shut yourself down. It IS against the law to drive when you're unsafe. Maybe the large trucking companies that are unreasonable about idle time will get the message when their loads don't get there on time.
I know, they will intimidate even worse then. But at least the driver won't end up in a ditch, or mated to someone's bumper.
At the least, something has to be done about this unfair, draconian, and onerous trend in the trucking industry!
Like I said, I minimize idle whenever I can. But there's times where its impossible not to idle. I can't afford idleaire, a motel very often, and don't have an APU.
All of these companies profess to care about safety. You hear it constantly. Actually all most companies care about is maximizing their profit margins. Safety is more of a theory rather than a reality.
If they REALLY cared about safety, they would craft reasonable idle policies, such as temperature parameters.
Lets say over 80 degrees, and under 40.
The same with California and other states that have unreasonable and even deadly idle restrictions.
Something has got to change! Eventually more drivers will be unsafe, more will die, and more will endanger the lives of the motoring public.
Personally I'm sick of what is occurring in the trucking industry, its being ruined by many factors-idle policies and laws being 2 factors. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

What is up with the no idle during break? DOes that mean that if i get in an accident with not being properly rested,mean i can sue them for forcing inhuman working conditions.If u can,t do it to animals,and knowing it would indanger safe working conditions for the employee,and other persons on the roadways.what happened to OSHA

 

I agree with you Zero--- Let them shut those a/c units off in their offices and see how that goes over!! I would Guess not to well- Point is you need to be comfortable to do a good job- Meaning if those office workers working in a building where it is 90 degrees outside and they had no A/c im sure they would not be happy campers- Also im sure they run their a/c at home when they sleep--Why you ask-- TO BE COMFORTABLE AND GET A GOOD NIGHTS REST!

The laws are a joke- they expect to have us drive 11 hrs and then try to sleep in a cab that is hotter then the ouside temp--Well when people start getting killed because drivers cant sleep because it is to cold, hot, or what have you, then maybe that will open their eyes--

Just my thoughts-

Drive safe-

IWX

 

and where is this link? I get sick of people ragin' on a company, then dont have the johnson to post a link to show proof.

As far as idle goes, let me tell you my story. I had weeks where i was in the low single digits for idle. I was lowest in my terminal on a couple of occasions. I even got a message over my QC saying that for the months of april and may, my idle was an impressive 12%. but that 6800 other drivers were at 8% or lower. (most of those are team drivers, i bet) Now i'm under the 20% but yet they seem to be complaining i'm at 12.

Now last week, they had me running around GA and AL. Now i can sleep if its 85 degrees out, i can normally catch a breeze with my sleeper vents, pop in my breezeway screens, and turn on my clip on fan. But when i cannot get a breeze, its 90+ and high 500% humidity....sorry, but i have to idle. If i dont, i wont get good rest, and thus be unsafe on the road.

Now when i'm not sleeping, i will idle the truck to get it cool, then ill turn it off till i feel it warming up again. you DONT need to sit and run the truck for 10 hours when you only end up sleeping for 6.

Now i sent my DM an email saying that i do my best to not idle, but when i do....it is cause i HAVE to or i wont get good rest. I asked for any suggestions, which i doubt ill get, since he has never driven a truck before.

 

Oh...not sure if anybody has hit on this yet, but idle is figured based upon engine time....not miles. you may run 600 miles in 10 hours. and if you idle for 5 hrs...you're at 50% idle. And its not idle anytime the truck isnt moving, it is driver controled idle....meaning when the parking brake is on.

if i am wrong on that,...someone please set me straight.

 

It's not always idle when the brake is on. If you turn the truck on and let it run till the automatic shut-off, it's not idle. That's what, five minutes? It counts as warming, not idle. I use that trick all the time if I'm awake and just sitting around. When I need a little boost of heat or cool, just turn the truck on and let it shut itself off. Granted, it wears out the starter, but that's Swift's problem, not mine.

 

forgot about that warming phase. HOWEVER, if the auto shut off kicks in, and you restart the engine right away, it goes right back to counting toward 'long idle'

 

If there so conserned about profit margins,why don,t they take addvantage of the alternative energy sources,to cut cost in the long run..solar,thermal,and wind...and invest money into the trucks for driver comfort,green friendy,andcost savings,it cost money to start,but the rewards are greater in the long run