I have always calculated the idle time on a 24 hour clock rather than running time.

 

How idle time is calculated varies from company to company.

Some use the 24 hour clock. With others it is figured by the hours the engine is running. Unfortunately, most seem to use the latter.

 

If you consider that most drivers are not going to be in their trucks 24/7 hitting a 30% or less idle time really isn't that difficult to achieve unless you are in extremely cold or hot temperatures for days on end. You can usually still be comfortable and keep idle time down. You might be surprised at how much idle time you can save by simply turning your truck off when you go in for a shower, pay for fuel or stop for a drink or food. Minutes here and there add up. Carriers are primarily after those who never seem to turn their trucks off. I think most want drivers to be comfortable. I believe you can do both other than certain times of year.

 

On all the trucks i had with Qualcom you could scroll through the menu and see what your fuel mileage and idle was and it changed in real time and the qualcom definitely figures the idle time based on the run time of the truck, you can watch it go up and down as the truck is sitting or moving when it is on and/or running.

 

I watched the co-manager of the flying j in Jackson, MS hassle 3 Marines for getting a little shuteye waiting for a bus in the drivers lounge. The lounge had tons of free seats and the Marines weren't bothering anyone. I called the lady on it right in front of everyone and shamed her into leaving our soldiers alone.

 

I used to run over the top of the Great Lakes year round from NH to WI and it was freakin cold in the winter. I don't think I ran over 30% except for the occasional week when a real, like sub 20 below, cold snap hit.

If companies are going to run way north in the winter and far south in the summer and they expect the idle to be down they should by generators for the trucks and stop hassleing the drivers.

 

Way to go!