APU And Air Conditioning
Topic 25276 | Page 3
I’ve never had an APU as a company driver, or on my own truck. I’ll idle an engine to have either heat or A/C if the outside temp is below 50, and above 75 degrees. I’m not going to freeze or burn up when I’m trying to rest up for the next day. Being rested improves the efficiency of me! These motors are highly efficient at idle, too, and only use just over a gallon of fuel an hour.
Do you have to idle yourself, or do you have one of those smart idles that kicks on once temp > 75? If a smart idle only kicks in at 75, might the temp be 95 inside cab? How do you guys deal with some of the ridiculous 5 minute idle laws?
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
Since the main engine is not idling, how does an APU provide air conditioning?
How do you guys get around the 5 minute idle laws?
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.
BTW, Jamie, what exactly do you have on your truck?
I have an APU and inverter, absolutely love it. Plus I've put the TV to use by watching king of the hill or something every night before bed.
Do APU's really breakdown often as companies claim, and as their reason for not having them?
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.
The problem is, states, and even cities are becoming more and more hostile to idling.
https://cdllife.com/2019/list-can-help-keep-getting-fined-idling-long/
So, what are drivers suppose to do? Drive without sleep due to no air?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I have never experienced any authority being hostile to my idling. Even in California and the Northeastern states. I still remember my first trip to California. I was worried about the heat with it being in the summer. I pulled into a truck stop and everyone was idling their trucks for comfort. All the modern trucks have the "clean idle" California certification decal on them and the DEF system keeps any black smoke from escaping into the atmosphere.
No one has ever tried to stop me from idling my truck at night while sleeping. I've never even heard any driver who claims to have experienced this. I've talked to people who were afraid to idle because there was a sign saying it was not allowed, but I've never heard a first hand account of anyone who was required to stop idling their truck.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
The California clean idle cert negates the idle time laws, as far as I understand.
I just got the truck (Schneider) with the APU , and inverter. Makes a big difference to me because my old truck shut off after 5 minutes if the outside air wasn't the right temp. Believe me, those arbitrary numbers had nothing to do with my comfort. I need my truck cool inside to sleep comfortably. Also, although my plug in cooler was nice, it took up a lot of room, and I sometimes didn't trust some of the food because the truck ran out of battery overnight most of the time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
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I believe Schneider trucks will sustain idle if outside temp is 72 or above
Somebody correct me is I’m wrong on that number