You know what I can't figure out? How the hell does OSHA have nothing to do with truckers? I've worked in factories before that if the inside temperature of the plant was too high (about 100-110f), they shut the place down until the temperature dropped. Yet, they can make laws that can easily kill someone by not allowing a truck to idle to keep the heat/ac going if it's needed. Hell, good ol' Cali even restricts APU's. That's flat out stupid and it's the main reason I've never been to Cali, nor will I go there.

 

Like I said I never had an idling ticket or seen one issued in Cali at a T/S or shipper/receiver ,and I idled every minute I was in the truck in temps 85or better...80 if was sleeping b/c when I sleep I do so with winows/bunk vents closed to keep from being woke from outside noise . The real issue is cheap OTR companies who want to have their cake and eat ...that is want no idle or a system that is close to no idle ,but yet have no apu on the truck ...heck some will not even reimburse for idleaire .


I got in trouble at GTS b/c I was above 30% of total run time per week ,which is only 3.5 hrs a day at 50mph avg running 2500 ...I had many 1200 mile weeks at GTS ,which only gave me about 1hr a day idle time sitting in 90-100+ degree summer weather . I was "idle counciled" and asked to sign a charge back agreement plan, and refused politely while commenting on the very comfortable 68 degree administrative office ,and how a driver sitting 50% of the week making no miles/money should be atleast able to do it without heat stress...I will never work for company with an idle "Plan" like GTS ,as its a clear sign that company suck 100% all around .

 

I'm not a company driver, so I choose to idle, or not idle. In the summertime I drive at night and use Idle-Aire in the day, until it is cool enough to turn it off. All other times of the year there is no reason to idle, so I don't.

 

It's impossible to always just drive at night freight just does'nt run this way...And if you drive the south June-Aug then it's often still 90-95 even at 0400 and humid ,so for most it's never cool enough during these months...And unless you drive only South of the Mason Dixon line Nov-Aprl I think most would feel the need to idle in winter...As temps of 45 degrees and less are not optimal temps for human living Never mind being a nut job who sleeps every night like he was stranded on a moutain pass sleeping in a sub zero miitary sleeping bag or huddled under 4 0r 5 down comforters ...I can't stand sleeping with my face covered which is needed in a40 degree or less cab to keep your throat from getting sore from sucking in cold air while you sleep ...

 

This past summer our company had 2 drivers that had to pickup loads in southern CA after unloading in west TX. With the scheduling of the unloads/loads, they were both going to have to sit for at least 36 hrs. So they did the right thing and called the boss about the company reimbursing for Idleaire. That was quickly declined. They then asked if the company would reimburse for motels for them. Again - declined. So they both called dispatch, cancelled their loads and deadheaded back to WV. When they arrived, they both emptied out their trucks and moved on.

Sorry, but if you're a company driver who is force dispatched (and forced to sit that long in the CA summer heat), the company needs to do the right thing. What was really bad about that situation is that both drivers had great paying loads going to TX and had great paying loads coming back. The company could easily have covered the cost of it.

 

i've seen local law enforcement in el centro, ca patrolling the lots for idling trucks. i've also seen them, at times, handing out tickets for excessive idlers at both t/a's in ontario, ca. i haven't seen them much in wheeler ridge, ca, or in frazier park. i imagine they're bonkers in the bay area. bay area is full of stinky, dirty hippies.

i can do just fine in a truck that's anywhere from 30 - 95 degrees. during the summer, i often don't run the a/c because i'm a freak like that. hot temperatures don't bother me one bit. it's the cold temperatures that drop below 30 degrees that i don't like one bit. NYE of last year was spent freezing my ass off near edmonton, alberta.

 

what I dont understand is if a truck has to idle to keep the fuel from gelling and starting too rough in the cold weather states yet their not team drivers and its a company truck with no APU.. why do states keep making anti-idiling laws? Some things I will never understand (unless there are other ways.. i'm not yet a driver).

 

More often than not it's greed on the corporate end ...I've even heard GTS and other bottom feeders say they are not yet installing APU because ...get this ,the technology is'nt proven effective ...And California has'nt approved all APU...


To say an APU is unproven Tech is laughable,and proves corporate headquartes thinks every trucker a moron , Because there is'nt one spec of modern unproven tech on an APU infact saying you don't know if they work is like saying it's not certain if you turn your a/c or heater on at home if it will work . It's just better politics to give these excuses than saying an APU costs money, but telling you to not idle ,and sweat and be cold is free money .

 

I can definitely understand a small fleet not installing apu's @ 7-8k each, but when you think of a company like Swift or Schneider that buys 2-3 thousand trucks a year, you know for a fact that they'll get those apu's for a whole hell of a lot less money preinstalled at the factory.

Like you said - it's corporate mentality...

If/when I buy a truck, I'll figure the cost of the truck PLUS an apu.

 

Spending time feezing in a truck with a working heater in a non emergency breakdown is just plain silly on the drivers part .