Idling At A Truck Stop

Why do some trucks just idle for hours at a truck stop? What purpose does it serve?

I'm at a truck stop right now inbetween two idlers. They aren't reefers, they are just stopped without shutting off their engines.

Truck stops are disproportionately noisy, in general, I'm learning. Last night, I stopped at a highway rest stop. Everyone was quiet. It was the best night of sleep I've had since I've been on the road.

So they can run their AC/Heater whichever needed. Run various other electronic devices

Code Red, that's right, many drivers think they need that a/c running all night.

I don't run my engine at all when I'm parked. Here's the secret: the outside air cools off at night!

Tonight I'm in southern Georgia with a little fan next to the sleeper vent.

I know, Casa Grande, AZ, maybe doesn't cool off so much. But generally, you don't really need a 500 hp air conditioner.

CodeRed wrote:

Truck stops are disproportionately noisy, in general, I'm learning. Last night, I stopped at a highway rest stop. Everyone was quiet. It was the best night of sleep I've had since I've been on the road.

Earplugs, the little orange squishy ones, a truck drivers best friend when parked for the night between two reefers. The plugs and a small DC powered fan help to block out the drone of the engines.

I've gotten so used to the APU and reefer going on and off that if I don't hear something for awhile I jump up. Did it on hometime.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

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.

Truckers usually idle trucks when they don't have APUs. During the peak of winter and summer if you don't havs an APU , you either idle the truck or freeze or burn to death.

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.

I have opti idle my truck cuts on and off as needed

I idle when I have to keep my windows up in the hot weather. I turn the truck off when I can but if I'm sitting next to a cattle truck, the windows are up

Just pulled over for the night in south Dallas right now and it is about 85 degrees outside. Why would you want to sweat? Sure would not be able to sleep at all in that. Truck is going to be idling all night long.

Friend of mine idles no matter what the temperature is outside. Says he needs the rumbling of the truck to get him to sleep.

Because either they can't afford an APU or are just to cheap to buy one. Begging for an idling ticket in some states.

So they can run their AC/Heater whichever needed. Run various other electronic devices

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.