Whats all this noise about idle time?

limited on idle time some states do an execption for extreme weather,and yes some changes in logs also. they now require a half hour break to be logged in your day.

 

The big no idle emphasis is from the crappy companies that get away with the policy as so many drivers are willing to burn up or freeze without a complaint to the boss. Some area's don't allow idle but most places don't care. If a company won't allow idleing then they are a worthless company to work for. IMO

 

I won't tolerate excessive idle time. Especially since I have an APU on the truck. It's ridiculous IMO in this day and age when you can put an APU on the truck.

The reduced wear and tear from limited idling is worth more than the price of that APU will ever be.

Anyone that says idling doesn't cause wear on an engine has their head in the sand.

 

how picky the company is about idle time depends on the company. many companies now run trucks with either apu's (better) or bunk heaters (worse). both eliminate the need for idling for heat, but bunk heaters arent so great for cooling (in my experience only has fan not a/c). apu also gives you outlets to run your tv, laptop, etc.

log rules changed a few (?) years ago, and change again soon. rule changes for now include 11 hour drive time instead of 10, break changed from 8 to 10 hours, and all work (11 hours drive time) must take place within 14 hour clock that starts when you go on duty and stops for nothing. split log eliminated (well, not quite. you can split the 10 into 8 and 2, both in sleeper, but the 8 must come first. almost never advantageous to use it...once you have 8 hour break in might as well wait another 2 and have the full 11 hour drive time back). also added a "34 hour restart" rule, meaning if you take a continuous 34 hour break your cumulative working hours reset to zero, giving you the full 70 hours to work in the next 8 days.

NEW rules take effect in july i think. these include a requirement to take a 30 minute break somewhere during the day. you can no longer drive 11 hours straight once this happens, without taking that short break. thats no big deal, i think most do that anyhow. biggie is the 34 hour restart changes. you will be required to include 2 10 hour breaks that cover certain overnight hours (1am to 5am i think), and the 34 hour break must include 2 of those time frames as well. squirrellier and squirrellier al the time. guess thats what you get when you put a schoolteacher in charge of the dot.

 

If a company has an idle policy then they should be mandated to install some sort of APU on the trucks or they aren't worth driving for. I hear celedon is bad about no idle and no apu. Pitiful.

 

even when you dont consider wear and tear on the engine, doesnt just the fuel savings pay for the apu in about 2 years? i just dont get why all large companies dont have them. and i agree with volvo as well. any company that chooses not to install an apu on the truck has NO ROOM to talk about fuel savings or idle time. when the fuel saved pays for the apu in approximately 2 years, (thus making it cost the company less than zero) saves on engine wear, and is more friendly to the environment, any company not using them is short-sighted, driver unfriendly, and just plain stupid.

 

a lot of states ,especially north eastern ones,and Cali ,have a no idle or 5 min limit and they enforce it.

they don't care if it's -3 or 110 outside.

I just don't run up there anymore.

my company has no apu or idle rules. if it's too cold or hot, I'll idle.

 

there are some, even on the board here, that claim the APU actually uses MORE fuel in an evening than the main engine.

 

I burn .3-.4 gl/hr at proper idle speed