Why Do You Idle?

I'm not big on idling for many reasons, especially since an exhaust leak that I didn't notice prior to one night when it almost caused me to not ever wake up again.

Ever since then, I've been using a Carbon Monoxide Detector in the sleeper.

One thing I've learned to do that makes it much easier to sleep without idling when it's a little warm but not brutally hot (and only in an area where it's safe to do so):

(1) Look for a parking spot where you can nose into but no one can park in front of you (like facing the curb along the grass line).

(2) After shutting your engine off, open the hood so the heat escapes upward instead of cooking the firewall and floorboards of your cab.

(3) Put in a set of Breezeway Window Screens, a reflective sunshade in the windshield, and then use a small box fan to create a nice breeze into your sleeper. Open your sleeper vents and enjoy a good night's sleep. The sound of the box fan will usually create enough 'white noise' to help you sleep better.

 

I have a solution to the problem!!!
Pass legislation that requires truck makers to offer as standard options on a all new trucks Auxiliary power units.
It's the same thing done to the auto industry with regards to emissions standards and a fuel economy.

 

I got a swelled head because i thought you were talking about my idea!

 

i agree with you about government interference! Besides the government would never pass along like that because it makes too much sense and might actually make a positive change!

 

Easy fix. Instruct the shipper to ship less freight! 1 less pallet of Widgets is not that big of a deal. Sometimes the customer is actually wrong!!!

Here's a random thought! I wonder If OTR drivers were given a better quality of life, didn't have to put up with so much garbage, would we see better, more professional drivers???
Like the old saying goes "garbage in, garbage out."
Or "you always get what you pay for!"

 

Pretty basic math
No idle = 1,000,000 miles
I've been run'n Espars, Proheats and APUs for 20+ years now.
1 gal per 8 hrs vs 6-8 gal per 8 hrs
At $3 a gal, the units will pay for themself in a year.
A lot of states are run'n programs that will pay half the price on an APU and prorate a payment plan for you based on your fuel savings.
I shut my truck off even if I'm just out of it for a minute. Last time I checked, starters were still cheaper then fuel.

Leav'n them idle all night is older then Old School.

...and yea, it drives me nuts when the dude next to me cranks it up to 1k when it's 60 degrees and I get to listen to his fan clutch kick in all night long