No Idle Laws
Topic 3453 | Page 1
In cold weather you should be fine if you have a bunk heater, in hot weather you will sweat unless you have an APU. A lot of companies don't because they are expensive. I specifically looked for a company with APU's for that reason. Even if it's legal to idle your company will most likely have a idle police that would prevent you from idling to much. One recruiter I talked to said they want you to use the driver lounge at truck stops in hot weather rather than idle, but I don't see getting good rest in those conditions.
Best bet is ask the recruiters about their idle policy. Just one thing to consider when choosing a company.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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.
APU's:
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 have drove for 3 of the major carriers and had no APU and was never told to use the drivers lounge. How do you sleep in there? Sure they mention in passing about the fuel mileage but I have never been threatened with my job over it.
Though I guess the companies I have worked for know that a well rested driver is a safe driver and you can only get sleep in your truck with the air temp at a comfortable level.
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 have drove for 3 of the major carriers and had no APU and was never told to use the drivers lounge. How do you sleep in there? Sure they mention in passing about the fuel mileage but I have never been threatened with my job over it.
Though I guess the companies I have worked for know that a well rested driver is a safe driver and you can only get sleep in your truck with the air temp at a comfortable level.
So if it was 90 Degrees overnight middle of summer how do you keep it cool all night. You would have to idle all night is this ok cold weather you can always warm up with blankets but sweating all night would not be getting. Rest enough to be safe never mind the smell that will accumulate
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 idle my truck to stay comfortable. In the summer I idle of the AC. In the winter time I have a bunk heater. I have not had one uncomfortable night yet in 16 years of driving
Indeed the APU versus No APU thing is way overblown. In 15 years of driving I've never had a truck with an APU and neither have most drivers. They're not very common. Generally speaking only a handful of the major companies have them. I'd say 95% of the trucks on the road do not.
You'll be able to idle when you need to 95% of the time. Once in a great while, like in California, you wouldn't dare idle. They're extremely strict about that. But the overwhelming majority of the time you'll be able to idle.
Some companies will indeed give you a fuel bonus if you keep your idling under a certain percentage of the time but I never cared about that. I cared more about being comfortable than I did about making an extra $30/week. It's no different in your home. You can turn the heat off at night and have everyone packed under blankets to stay warm but you're not going to do that. You're going to spend the extra money to be warm in your own home, which is what your truck will be on the road.
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.
That's what I get for listening to the complaining drivers. I thought it was strict with most companies to the point I stopped talking to recruiters from companies that don't have APU's. My bad, that's what I get for going over to that other forum occasionally.
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.
APU's:
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.
For what it is worth. Maybe another Schneider driver can chip in here.
I was in Elizabeth NJ this past winter and ran into a Schneider driver. We got to talking about APU's and idling your truck.
This is from him, not me. But he told me, due to so much idling happening and so much fuel being used, they changed their policy. You can not idle your truck unless it is less than 10 degrees in the winter. And there is zero idling in the summer. Open your windows they tell the drivers.
If they idle their truck and it is above 10 degrees outside, the fuel cost is taken out of the driver's pay.
Like I said, this is what a driver told me. Not my words. So please, if there is a Schneider driver reads this, please chime in.
Keep it safe out there, the life you save might be your own. Joe S.
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.
APU's:
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.
My company has 100% APU's but instructs drivers to idle the truck if legal in extreme hot or cold because idling puts out more heat/AC than the APU does. I like having the APU though because you never have to worry about all your gadgets, lights etc running down your battery even when it's perfect temperature for you. I really don't understand why people pass idle laws anyway for clean idle trucks.
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.
APU's:
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.
that's what I get for going over to that other forum occasionally
I love that people bounce back and forth between us and them. Makes us look better and better every time! 
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Choosing A Trucking Company Dealing With The Weather Idling Laws Life On The Road Truck Equipment
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If you can't idle what can you do in extreme hot or cold to stay comfortable