TMC Truck Parking

Ask the company.
You don't say where you live...but since there is a Kwik Star near by, I am guessing the Midwest, since Kwik Star is a Midwest store. So if that is the case, the company may have to be assured that the truck could be plugged in during the winter.

 

Is it co. equipment or your own? you need to think about security if u drop trlr, vandalism, etc. I've had reefer fuel stolen occasionally, and last summer by Ft Wayne at that Flying crap someone pulled in and got 75-85 gal. of my tractor fuel as I slept. Manager said they had no cameras in parking lot. Long ago when leased to Landstar, I dropped trlr for a few days in TN by a hole in the wall, jerks stole 2 tires and wheels off one axle. Also at truckstops I always worry a little about somebody backing into my rig, never know. I always ask for permission of a store manager/personnel if parking rig or especially if dropping a trlr is OK. Good luck.

 

TMC will allow you to park at a truck stop. If under a certain degree they will ask you to idle OR plug in. If your at a truck stop, just idle. I'd let the staff know youe leaving your truck, but it shouldn't be a problem. AT TMC you cant remove the truck from the trailer.

 

So; as strict as TMC is in any other way....they don't care if you idle a truck over a weekend while home? Cool.

What happens if the truck gells up, and stalls....and you are not there to catch it....and the batteries become drained because the key is on? Is TMC gonna have an issue with that?

 

If its under a certain temp, they require you to add anti gel that they will provide. Do to the hot return line, if you keep a truck running its not likely to gel. If you turn it off, the fuel has a chance to cool and that's when you have trouble. You get one free jumpstart per year. If the truck has a mechanical failure that causes shutdown though, I would think they'd make an exception. Fuel gelling is driver error for not properly adding antigel. I own my own rig now. Its 6 degree out and my truck has sat for a day without any fuel additive. I bought the fuel in the north though. Im sure if i turned the key right now, she would start right up. that being said, it would not have been a bad idea to add anti gell. TMC is not confident their trucks will start int he cold, anitgel or not which is why they leave um running.

 

Oh, they do care....in fact they require it. In the old trucks it was Idle under 15F. Im not sure about the new trucks, but i think they are lower.

 

How exactly does a trucks fuel gel when it is idling? Just wondering this one since I have never heard nor seen it happen, especially when a winter additive is in the tank with the fuel.