[rakusa]

What does 30% idle time mean? Hot weather would increase idle time a/c needs when not driving so is 30% enough for otr in the heat? Thanks

[Jay B]

Originally Posted by rakusa

What does 30% idle time mean? Hot weather would increase idle time a/c needs when not driving so is 30% enough for otr in the heat? Thanks

No it is not enough, but all the BBR's will respond that it is because "real truckers" don't need air conditioning, heat, showers, teeth, pay, hometime, family, etc... All they really need is a seat at the all you can eat buffet to maintain that 450 pound body on $250 take home per week.

[Colin]

30% idle time means the truck has been sitting (idling) 30% of the total time it has the engine has been running.

You drive 50 hours in a week, you are then allowed 15 hours of idle time. Yes, less than two full nights of sleep.

[freebirdrfd]

30% means that they are a cheap P.O.S. company that can't afford fuel, and they don't care about there drivers. it also means that only newbies or drivers that don't know any better AND/OR drivers that can't find a better company, will work for them.

[Malaki86]

My last company wanted low idle time last summer. It normally wasn't a problem in the northeast. However, when I took a trip to El Paso in August, they raised holy hell because i had a 50% idle time for that week. Let's see - 100+ temps in full sun - yup - the truck stayed running. The really sad part was that I called the owner and asked if they'd reimburse for IdleAire for that week to save the idle time. He flatly said no. He also told me to not idle the truck. Ya, right.

[Ford390pwr]

So just for fun, what kind of idle restrictions do other companies have? I have seen posts talking about idle times and below is what I have heard.....

Schneider 15%
Swift 25%


This does not surprise me, they have low pay so why would they waste money on fuel to let a driver be comfortable. I bet they don't shut off the A/C in the corporate offices!

[Orangetxguy]

Originally Posted by Jay B

No it is not enough, but all the BBR's will respond that it is because "real truckers" don't need air conditioning, heat, showers, teeth, pay, hometime, family, etc... All they really need is a seat at the all you can eat buffet to maintain that 450 pound body on $250 take home per week.

Now that is a rather disingenuous response!

[rakusa]

Originally Posted by Orangetxguy

Now that is a rather disingenuous response!

I hope you mean the $250 take home is the disingenuous part. I start training with Central Refrigerated in one week so any knowledge regarding pay expectations with them is appreciated so I am prepared for the worst. I mean whats a newbie to do?
How do all those under the 30% idle time do it when in hot area's for days on end? Guess I'll just have to deal with it if nothing else, sucks for sure Thanks again all...

[Jackrabbit379]

Originally Posted by rakusa

What does 30% idle time mean? Hot weather would increase idle time a/c needs when not driving so is 30% enough for otr in the heat? Thanks

If it was me, I would idle whenever it's needed-like sleeping. I be darn if I'm gonna try to sleep in the heat, or cold for that matter.

When I was a kid, it seemed like every truck never shut off. Now days, they want ya to kill it as soon as you stop. :lol:

[Jay B]

Originally Posted by Orangetxguy

Now that is a rather disingenuous response!

Adj. 1. disingenuous - not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time"- David Cannadine; "a disingenuous excuse"

sar·casm (särkzm)
n.
1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.


serf (sûrf)
n.
1. A member of the lowest feudal class, attached to the land owned by a lord and required to perform labor in return for certain legal or customary rights.
2. An agricultural laborer under various similar systems, especially in 18th- and 19th-century Russia and eastern Europe.
3. A person in bondage or servitude.