Why must you idle?

What is comfortable for one person is not for another, 72 degrees seems fine outside, but it can get stuffy in a truck different makes and models absorb/release heat differently.

"A study published in the journal Pediatrics, a Stanford University professor found that the temperature inside a car increases 19 degrees within 10 minutes and 40 degrees within a daytime hour, regardless of outside temperature. The sharp increase is due to the greenhouse effect -- the sun's rays pass through the windows, but the interior heat cannot escape."

It absolutely pains me to see drivers giving into the idle restrictions being set by the moron companies like Schneider. Do you even have a slight clue what serious irreversible damage heat causes to the body over time? Heat screws with the body's makeup down to your basic cells. On top of this, regardless of if you get to sleep or not, heat robs your body of actual sleep. It causes heat exhaustion. Its a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. In fact, I discussed this with a doctor and they seem to think that it should be within reason to get a doctors order to require companies to provide air conditioning to maintain driver health, thusly forcing the company via American's with Disabilities Act to comply with basic driver comfort, but a driver shouldn't HAVE to get a doctors note. These are million dollar billion dollar companies drivers are bending over to, suffering long term health effects for a few hundred measly dollars a week cutting your life span shorter while subsequently robbing you of both present and future time with your families.

Coupled with the poor eating habits and lack of exercise that occurs in the trucking industry one must wonder how many accidents ARE a direct result of these idling policy. Its a hard thing to prove, but I guarentee it's happening. Sadly its going to take a MAJOR accident cause by heat stroke to change it, unless a lawsuit is filed against one of the big guys and won. I've actually discussed this with a very good lawyer, whom believes that due to the PROVEN effects of heat long term, coupled with the many ways to provide a comfortable environment, and of course DoT regs.

He also suggested that rather then try to get a law passed, to bring the matter up with DOL or OSHA, whom handles such issues.

 

I've run into trouble when typing sarcasm too. No worries.

If the wiring wasn't able to handle the amperage.........well, you did say it was a Volvo.

 

I think I figured it out....


I was in Dodge City, KS a couple days ago sitting at the flying J. Nice day & I had my windows down & the truck shut off....

I just now got the last fly out of my truck.... Those little buggered tormented me for 2 days & they hide well.... So I have come to a conclusion.... I'm going to idle to keep the flies away.... Is that justifiable?

 

No, you started this thread so now you can just go purchase a fly swatter and deal with the flies. muwahahahahahaha

Menopause is justifiable for idling.

 

Show me the law.....

 

go ask your wife

 

Or I can just take a shower....

No seriously, I was thinking that today while I was chasing that last fly around my truck.... I should of idled & those buggers wouldn't of been there. Anyone who's been to that Flying J in Dodge City knows that there are about 3 cattle wagons per other freight truck.... Plus it is surrounded by meat packing plants & slaughter houses.

 

That quoted law is good enough for me.

 

I thought so!

Sunday I was sitting at a GM dock in Carson Ca.........idling. Some martin drivers started talking to my hubby and asked why we got to idle. He pointed out that we have a "clean" truck and thus can idle in CA. I then rolled down the window and bluntly said "I have menopause.......I idle". The men went hysterical with laughter and decided they supported the idling. They then all told my hubby they understood his "pain bro" as they have menopausal wives themself.

 

No, I idle for comfort and to keep my fridge running food/milk cold/ etc etc. To keep running lights on, to keep idiot Swifty/Werner/Schnieder from backing into me(if possible)... Fortunately my boss IS an ex-driver and has NO problem with me idling the truck(In fact, he's known to buy hotel rooms if the AC or heat doesn't work).

With this said, I could also point out some idioticy in routing for shorter mileage that requires more fuel, I have the numbers for proof(thus, be hard to justify any anti-idle policy if push came to shove).

Therefore, why would I want to find a different carrier, with a stupid anti-idle policy?