Confused About Ideling Vs Apu's
Topic 5587 | Page 1
You won't go 14 hours without air or heat. The hardest thing is trying to sleep and the truck keeps shutting off if you don't have an APU. For winter, the trucks I've had, either stay running when it's cold enough, or have bunk heaters to keep you warm. In the summer, on some trucks there's a trick to keep it running, others stay running when it's hot enough. Most OTR trucks I've seen have APU's or will stay running when it's hot enough. But, there are exceptions.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
Lol @ the tricks to keep it running. Mine you have to depress the clutch to the clutch brake slowly, release and then press resume on the cruise control repeatedly till you hear the engine rev. Then...good to go!
I've read that Swift has a "Smart Idling System" What's that exactly?
I've read that Swift has a "Smart Idling System" What's that exactly?
the ones i am in (old and busted training trucks) have an idle override switch, if not flipped it cuts off after 5 minutes of idle. Granted i am in the trucks too messed up to sell.
Some Newer trucks have epu's. An extra set of batteries to run ac/heat with an auto start type feature. Mine doesn't have either and I do have to idle some. I have a 13 Freightliner and if I turn on the cruise control and hit the decel bitton once it kicks the idle to 700 rpm and it runs as long as I want it to. I wish it had one of the features but wasn't a deal breaker. Just something to learn to work around.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
Epu's:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
Hey Bill, I am with you on the A/C in the south and heat in the North. I will say this, If the company I drive for did not have apu`s, but still had an idle policy, I would have to look elsewhere. If that is a concern for you I would make sure I asked any possible employer prior to taking the job.
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.
My volvo has a 5 min. Auto shut down but at 4 mins. It gives you a warning and you simply push in the clutch and it overides it. According to our safety dept. If you are logged in sleeper berth they can't say anything about your idle time given that it is either too hot or too cold for you to get adequate rest to drive safely. A well rested driver is a safer driver is the reasoning.
Sleeper Berth:
The portion of the tractor behind the seats which acts as the "living space" for the driver. It generally contains a bed (or bunk beds), cabinets, lights, temperature control knobs, and 12 volt plugs for power.
My volvo has a 5 min. Auto shut down but at 4 mins. It gives you a warning and you simply push in the clutch and it overides it. According to our safety dept. If you are logged in sleeper berth they can't say anything about your idle time given that it is either too hot or too cold for you to get adequate rest to drive safely. A well rested driver is a safer driver is the reasoning.
i seems most companies are like that, some DMs will get on you about your idle ut as soon as you say you cannot sleep because of hot or cold they drop it.
Sleeper Berth:
The portion of the tractor behind the seats which acts as the "living space" for the driver. It generally contains a bed (or bunk beds), cabinets, lights, temperature control knobs, and 12 volt plugs for power.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
I pay for all my fuel so they can like it or not, its my choice.
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In my reading I have read that some companies don't have apu'sIn in their truck and there is an ideling policy. How do you survive in the southern united states in the summer or in the northern united states in the winter . 14 hrs is a long time in a truck with no power or ac/heat
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.