Leaving My First Company
Topic 137 | Page 1
Wait, what??? You can't idle your truck when it's 20 degrees??? How do they expect you to stay warm?? Help me out here, guys??
Hey, that's a bit of a bummer that you weren't able to find a way to work things out at your first company, but no big deal for you, really. I mean, you were there two years and got some great experience under your belt - kudos to you for sticking with your first company that long and ending on good terms.
You also landed a job before quitting your first one, gave a two week notice, and spoke with drivers at the company you were considering - even more bonus points for managing that situation very well.
It will be a great experience to work for a new company - see what life is like elsewhere. I'm sure after two years out there you had a great idea of what you were looking for in a company so I'm sure things will work out great for ya there.
Wait, what??? You can't idle your truck when it's 20 degrees??? How do they expect you to stay warm?? Help me out here, guys??
Guy, depending on the truck you may have a Webco heater that will cook you, an APU system to provide warmth or the EPU/battery. I believe the OP probably had the EPU and the heater + the CPAC could have been too much for the battery. Connects with the no idle policies some companies have.
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.
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
Wait, what??? You can't idle your truck when it's 20 degrees??? How do they expect you to stay warm?? Help me out here, guys??
Guy, depending on the truck you may have a Webco heater that will cook you, an APU system to provide warmth or the EPU/battery. I believe the OP probably had the EPU and the heater + the CPAC could have been too much for the battery. Connects with the no idle policies some companies have.
Ok..so some trucks have a separate heater from the one that runs off the engine? I understand the APU heater, but what is a Webco? Sorry to sound like a noob..just don't know much about how these trucks are set up..
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.
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
Most trucks that do not have APU's have a Webasto or Espar heater, which are just two brands of diesel fired heaters that have a small pump to pull up fuel out of the tank and then ignite a small amount with a fan blowing behind it to get it into the cab. They work well for heat, but they also use a good amount of battery power which in conjunction with my CPAP , kills the batteries early and I could not idle the truck to restore battery power, which was my problem.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
Most trucks that do not have APU's have a Webasto or Espar heater, which are just two brands of diesel fired heaters that have a small pump to pull up fuel out of the tank and then ignite a small amount with a fan blowing behind it to get it into the cab. They work well for heat, but they also use a good amount of battery power which in conjunction with my CPAP , kills the batteries early and I could not idle the truck to restore battery power, which was my problem.
I get you now..okay..just wasn't sure about how the heater thing worked. Sucks that your CPAP drained the battery like that..hope you land a good gig with a new company..
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
Good luck jhill, I was ready to leave, but things worked out for me when they offered me this new regional run.
I don't see how the guys with cpaps do it....I don't have one and when I wake up in the am my dome lights won't come on my batteries are so drained just running the heater. Glad I don't sleep in my truck much anymore.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
The real bummer is CA.....the idling law states 5 minutes, no more than that. TSB has asthma,so he uses a nebeulizer, which only operates if the temp in the truck is 55 or above. It takes him roughly 10-15 to do his treatment. But CA ignores the medical issues, where the feds gave a freepass, if you need to idle for medical reasons. And the guys with the ticket book don't wear uniforms, or drive cars with signs on em. So they park and time you, then come and give you a $350.00 ticket....we know...we've had to pay one already. So be careful in CA. And they also have regulations about APUs....ANd the emissions from them. I'm not sure what they are, but I know they have em.
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.
APUs:
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.
Good luck jhill, I was ready to leave, but things worked out for me when they offered me this new regional run.
I don't see how the guys with cpaps do it....I don't have one and when I wake up in the am my dome lights won't come on my batteries are so drained just running the heater. Glad I don't sleep in my truck much anymore.
Bet that thing is a B**tch to push start.. 
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
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Choosing A Trucking Company Health Concerns Life On The Road Sleep Apnea
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Well, I left my first company of almost two years last Monday because of their ambient temperature sensors not allowing my truck to idle between 20 and 30 degrees causing my CPAP not to last properly during the night was not safe for me or anyone else on the road. They were not willing to provide a solution or remove the sensor, so I parted ways on good terms after working out a two week notice after I already had another carrier that hired me. I am getting on a bus tomorrow morning to go to Tupelo, MS and start orientation with my new company Tuesday. They are a smaller carrier that only has around 400 trucks and I believe from talking with some of their other drivers that I will be much happier with my quality of life in the truck even though I will be taking a slight pay cut. I will be sharing how it goes along.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated