Question About Freightliners

Forget the last part Jay, lol, I forgot you already did all that, lol.

It has been pretty good so far, a bit stressful learning the right way to do things or just getting into a rythm i should say. But i am liking it. I was in Alabama yesterday and it was 90+ degrees down there with high humidty slapping you right in the face, lol. How was your first week? You head out with a TE this week correct?

Hey chef, how did it work out for ya? Just started with Schneider and finished up my first week. I can tell some hot night are on the way and am a bit worried about it. Thanks!

Call the maintenance shop. I find it odd they wouldn't have opti-Idle for their trucks. Perhaps your truck is messed up and needs fixed.

Or possibly they just have them set up that way on purpose? Im sure its a possibiliy these days with all the computers in them.

Call the maintenance shop. I find it odd they wouldn't have opti-Idle for their trucks. Perhaps your truck is messed up and needs fixed.

I am surprised one of the Schneider guys on here hasn't chimed in yet. There are some people on here who have worked for Schneider for awhile.

I've got a 2016 Freightliner that will NOT idle at all, and yes, our trucks are set not to idle, although some seem to. If it's too hot or cold and our apu isn't working, they pay for a motel lol.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

I've got a 2013 or 14 Freightliner. To bypass the auto shutoff when parked and idling I have to: Turn off, then turn on cruise control. It has to go from on to off to on. Then hit the DEC/SET button on the steering wheel. Idle will jump by 1 or 2 hundred RPM and engine will run all night. I will still get the occasional "inter trip idle" message on Qualcomm but it keeps idling. In Mobile right now 100% humidity and in the 80s.

Guess I am just spoiled. We have Opti-Idle, Bunk Heaters, and EPUs , although my EPU doesn't work. Hasn't the whole time I have had it.

My bunk heat and a/c works fabulously. Keeps the entire cab comfy if I leave the sleeper curtains open and just close the curtains around the windshield.

Back when it was still very cold, my heat stopped working one night, but I keep a 0 degree rated sleeping bag for cold emergencies. They immediately routed me to our​ main terminal , got me a hotel room while they rebuilt my bunk heater. It didn't take long to repair.. just a couple hours.

If you are in a cascadia you have opti Idle. Opti Idle is set by having the truck turned on, transmission out of gear, place range selector to "high", and engage cruise.

You have a digital thermometer in the sleeper area correct? It should say "Detroit Diesel" on it. If you have it, you have Opti-Idle. Just set your opti-Idle. Set your temperature, and leave it be. It will take care of the rest. Your truck will start and turn off as needed.

Not all Cascadias come with opti-idle. It's an optional bit of kit. Without it, the ECU can be programmed to allow the truck to idle between certain ambient temperature ranges. With Interstate , our trucks are set to idle above 70° or below 30°. That temperature is taken from the underhood temp sensor that provides the outside temperature that's displayed on the instrument cluster, so in real-world practice, the truck will actually idle above about 65° outside air temperature and below around 25° because of the extra heat from the engine.

As Fatsquatch pointed out, not all FL come with Opti-Idle. At Prime, they don't want the drivers to idle their trucks. If your under bunk heater or APU isn't working, they want you to get through a terminal so they can get them repaired.

Ernie

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.