Not idling in the winter, is it just me?

[evertruckerr]

Am I the only one who loves the cold. I will not idle a truck unless the temp hits 0, and that is only to keep the truck fluid moving. Even when it drops to the single digits, my breathing keeps the truck interior around 25 degrees. Two blankets, sheets and a heavy duty sleeping blanket keeps me toasty and I sleep like a baby. Jumping out of bed to start the truck in the morning is a slightly different story, but it sure wakes me up.

I'm not even an O/O, so it not because I'm cheap. But I do enjoy having one of the lowest idling% in the fleet.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Waiting till single digits to idle the truck, yes it's just you :shock: :P I idle my truck if the temp is going to be below about 40 degrees :wink:

[GMAN]

I can't handle being that cold, especially while I sleep. I don't even like the cold period. You should really enjoy the weather we are having across the country right now.

[Useless]

Twenty years ago, I would have been in your camp; as I continue to make more trips around the sun, my tolerance for temps that low has waned!!

[JoeyB]

I like it cold too. I remember many mornings my wife and I woke up to find the inside of the bunk covered with frost from our breath. I wired an ignition switch up in the bunk so when you turned it to the right the Southwind Heater fired up (anybody remember those?), and once that had done it's job and cut off, I'd turn that switch the other way to fire the engine right up. In a few minutes the cab was reasonably warm. Now we could venture out of the sleeping bags. I mean, I like it cold and all- but we must be civilized!

[classicxl]

i like to be cold also but waiting till it is 0 degrees is a bit extreme.

[yoopr]

If you don't idle up here or have ESPAR or something like it you'll die for sure

[Karnajj]

Am I the only one who loves the cold. I will not idle a truck unless the temp hits 0, and that is only to keep the truck fluid moving. Even when it drops to the single digits, my breathing keeps the truck interior around 25 degrees. Two blankets, sheets and a heavy duty sleeping blanket keeps me toasty and I sleep like a baby. Jumping out of bed to start the truck in the morning is a slightly different story, but it sure wakes me up.

I'm not even an O/O, so it not because I'm cheap. But I do enjoy having one of the lowest idling% in the fleet.

I believe I have one of the highest idling% in the fleet but that came from the summer more than the winter.

[Highwayman]

I pretty much idled all the time I was in the truck.

Being away from home was bad enough, I wasn't about to do without the comforts of home.

Unless of course there was a significant fuel bonus involved....

[Uturn2001]

I believe I have one of the highest idling% in the fleet but that came from the summer more than the winter.

I know that feeling. I used to get messages about my idle % all the time in the summer. Then again I often seemed to take resets in places like San Antonio, Phoenix, Barstow, Las Vegas, etc in the summer. 110 in the daytime and 85 at night. And they wonder why I idled the truck.

[Useless]

I know that feeling. I used to get messages about my idle % all the time in the summer. Then again I often seemed to take resets in places like San Antonio, Phoenix, Barstow, Las Vegas, etc in the summer. 110 in the daytime and 85 at night. And they wonder why I idled the truck.

I heard that!! If I can't rest or sleep in comfort, then driving becomes more dangerous; road and highway fatigue is just as dangerous as driving while drunk or stoned.

If companies are truly concerned about wasted fuel and increased engine wear, (BTW; both are valid concerns!!) then they should have APU's installed in their trucks.

I am an employer and a business owner, (not in trucking) but I will not have my people unnecessarily risk personal safety for the sake of profit!!

[kcfalcon]

Well uturn things have not changed much.
Still get the messages all the time, I avg about 37, however I
did ask my travel agent about it one time.
His response was typical of Knight
I could care less about your's, I make it an issue
With the guy's I want to.
So things have not changed much after you left..lol
Hope all is well with you.

[Cluggy619]

For me, it's not so much of the cold or heat, but the movement of air. If the air is still, I feel like I'll choke, and can't sleep. I use the idleair in some t/s, but not all t/s have them. So I'll idle for that purpose. i just don't trust the batterys to hold up all night if I run a 12v fan without idling.

Of course now, it's a moot point, with me being local. But when I go OTR (wife is driving me nuts), it will be a concern.

Am I the only one who loves the cold. I will not idle a truck unless the temp hits 0, and that is only to keep the truck fluid moving. Even when it drops to the single digits, my breathing keeps the truck interior around 25 degrees. Two blankets, sheets and a heavy duty sleeping blanket keeps me toasty and I sleep like a baby. Jumping out of bed to start the truck in the morning is a slightly different story, but it sure wakes me up.

I'm not even an O/O, so it not because I'm cheap. But I do enjoy having one of the lowest idling% in the fleet.

Dude are you trying to get driver of the year or what?

If so, Crete only respects the miles. Put up 150k+ in '07 and you're in :wink:


Seriously though. I can handle the colder weather but not the heat. I wont be idling very much when I get my own truck. I'm still trying to decide whether or not to get an APU.

[LadyNorthStar]

I idle...all winter. Yup, don't care, its damn cold. My truck idles all winter even when I ain't in it if its not in the shop.
Actually it got shut off outside for the first time today, we seem to be having some kinda Chinook.

[yoopr]

Chinook's are good but We're gonna bottom out up here around Friday. No Chinook

[allan5oh]

Yup, hate idling in winter! Definitely need SOME heat up here in the cold white north. I love my espar!

I love it when mr big cowboy 18 wheeler is bitchin about the price of food, while his big c15 cat is idling outside

Or the goof that's bitchin about the price of fuel while he's idling fueling up

I could go on...

[tootie04]

Yep...that is us too. We dont idle unless it is below 15 outside. Me, him and 2 minpins stay warm under the blankets....the dog water freezes though!! :shock:

He gets up and starts the truck about 1/2 hr before we get up. I love it cold BUT I hate to be cold!! Go figure!! :?

tootie

[Nomad_]

Well I don't do OTR, but I had my first attempt at cranking up the landing gear when it was 15 below (w/windchill factor) and icy this past weekend. Must have taken me 10 minutes. It brought out some of my old football injuries (shoulders and knees....lol). I had to start cranking in the outer position for sure.

As far as sleeping inside the CAB goes, I imagine I could see myself not idling at times. I do like the cold. My windows are usually down if it is between 17 - 30 degrees.

[mi_rookie]

I love the cold too. I have not actually driven yet, but I can imagine I will idle more in the summer than winter and most winter idling will be to keep the truck fluids warm.

The snow and cold made class a little difficult last night. We spent about 1/5 hours out side watching each other drive around the cones. Had a blast and can't wait to hookup a trailer.