Where do you park it and plug it in?

I haven't needed to plug in a truck since I have been driving, but I park at home and have the option if I needed to. When I parked at the terminal, sometimes I was not able to get to one of the plugs, and if I had any doubts about the starting, I would just give the truck a snort of ether before starting, and never had a problem firing up. The key to doing that is to do it immediately, rather than crank it for a while and then hit it with the ether. You want to have the engine cranking over with full power from the batteries when you snort it.

The current truck hasa built in diesel fired engine and cab heater that I can set the timer on and have it warm up the engine about 2 hours before I plan to go out and start up the truck. it also heats the cab, and uses so little fuel I will sometimes leave it on at night so I don;t have to deal with a cold truck in the morning.

 

that sounds good. I don't know what you mean about the ether. I don't know if we have an engine heater but we do have a bunk heater. We're driving a 2004 International Eagle.

 

No plug ins on the road unless you go to a camper or rv park (not for semis though go figure). Idling is the solution. Idle for a few hours then shut it off each day. This will keep the batteries charged and the engine warm as well as the fuel heated (for trucks that have heated fuel tanks).

 

You didn't forget about me did you Jason?

 

Nope Dennis I havent. The load I had would have worked but the moderators didnt relay my number in time. I am sorry but I havent had anything back thru your area lately. If something comes up I will give you a ring or msg you here. I have read that you are seriously looking at Roehl. You may want to check out Gainey for training, school, etc. They have a terminal in Hanover Pa. So you might not have to go a thousand miles away. Other than that there is a trucking school in Reading and Harrisburg called AAA trucking. I believe the cost is $5500.00 with $2000.00 down and you can finance the rest at 20%. The school is a 4 week program and my wife is already half way thru. I put the 2 grand on a 0% credit card (introductory rate for 1 year). Always better to go through a private school rather than thru a company if you can help it. It gives you more options overall. For comparison sake I spent almost 8 grand for an 8 week course in Manchester NH back in 1991. The prices now are considerbly better. Either way best wishes.

 

Thanks Jason.
Well I kind of wanted to experience Wisconsin anyway. Their CDL program is only $2500 for 3 weeks. Paid back beginning at 60K miles and complete at 120K miles. After the CDL thing they pay $60 a day for 2 weeks for evo 1 training, then $65 a day for 2 weeks evo 2 training, then I get my own truck and am on full mileage.

 

Ether is sometimes called starting fluid; just remove the air filter, and blast some down the intake. Ether is ridiculuosly flammable, so it gets the motor going ASAP.
But if you have a fuel-fired bunk heater (like an Espar unit) then that is what Burky was talking about; it heats the coolant as well, warming up your engine.

 

Old thread, but kind of what I was searching for. You might have some luck asking a nearby farm if you can park and plugin there. I was actually searching around to see how much electricity one of these engine warmers uses. I can park it in the oil well drive right through the woods and plug in, or probably could at our farm.

Another thing worth mentioning... I was going to Quincy today for my DOT physical and realized I passed the place. I turned onto some side road to turn around and saw a sign that it was parking for local trucks with permits. It did a little loop-behind and opened to a big dirt lot. Not sure if they had electric or not, but maybe there's something like that near you.

 

Where does one get ether?

 

Ether is starting fluid.