How to cut down on winter Idleing?

flatbedin · Nov 26, 2006

I am getting ready to hit the road. Until the owner and I sign our purchase agreement for the truck (I will be running 6 months for him first to learn more about the industry) I was wandering if any of you guys had good tips to drasticaly cut down on winter Idle time? Such as buying a small generator, or how many times can you actually hook up to land line electricity while on the road? Any other tips would be wonderful, as I want to be able to consume as little fuel as possible.

Thank You

Tennesseahawk · Nov 26, 2006

If you're paying fuel, I advise you to ask the owner to get a generator. If that's out of the question, get LOTS of blankets if you don't want to
use fuel. The Colonel suggests using a small propane heater. Personally, I find it doesn't take enough bite out of a really cold night, it's dangerous, and it still smells like propane with ventilation.

Last winter, it was cheaper to get a motel room (depending on where you are) than idling all night and day. Same with Laredo in the summer.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

Fr8 Shaker · Nov 26, 2006

A zero degree sleeping bag is great. You can get one for about 30.00 at gander mountain. I also use the small propane heater. One bottle will last about 22 hours. It won't make it real warm but it will take the chill off. Just make sure to crack a window open about a 1/4 inch.
Preferabaly on the side the wind isn't blowing.

Best of Luck
Fr8 Shaker

Crazynuff · Nov 27, 2006

> A zero degree sleeping bag is great. You can get one for
>about 30.00 at gander mountain. I also use the small propane
>heater. One bottle will last about 22 hours. It won't make
>it real warm but it will take the chill off. Just make sure
>to crack a window open about a 1/4 inch.
>Preferabaly on the side the wind isn't blowing.
>
> Best of Luck
> Fr8 Shaker
Make sure you get a carbon monoxide detector . There have been several posts warning that cracking a window could allow carbon monoxide in from vehicles idling nearby . Check out Idleair . They are setting up at more and more T/A's and Petros .

ATeam · Nov 27, 2006

Land line electricity, also known as shore power, is hard to find when hauling freight. While a tiny few truckstops offer it, other trucks often take up those spaces even if they are not using the hookup. When you have spare time, RV parks that allow commerial vehichles in have shore power, but you must pay to be there and most close for the winter in northern states. Shippers and consignees sometimes have outlets on the building walls that could be used for shore power but it would be bad form to use them. You are not there to make yourself at home. You are there to pick up or deliver freight.

For maximum mobility and comfort, a generator is the way to go. Of course there is a price to pay for that mobility and comfort. It is the price of the generator and the time and expense of maintaining it.

Paul56 · Nov 27, 2006

>I am getting ready to hit the road. Until the owner and I
>sign our purchase agreement for the truck (I will be running
>6 months for him first to learn more about the industry) I
>was wandering if any of you guys had good tips to drasticaly
>cut down on winter Idle time? Such as buying a small
>generator, or how many times can you actually hook up to
>land line electricity while on the road? Any other tips
>would be wonderful, as I want to be able to consume as
>little fuel as possible.
>
>Thank You

If you are really keen on cutting idling time, but cannot get the owner to agree to install a generator... you can always purchase your own small portable generator. Place it under the truck and use it to power devices inside, but be sure to lock it with a length of chain or cable.

Not for the above purposes; however, we carry a small portable Honda generator onboard for emergency situations. It is amazingly quiet and runs forever on one tank of gas. The tank holds about 1 gallon of regular gas, we carry an additional 5 gallons. I estimate the unit could run steady for almost 4 days with that amount of gas.

Now, depending on how cold it is where you plan on running you may have troubles cranking over the diesel in the morning. There are a number of places we go where we will not risk shutting down.

Paul56 · Nov 27, 2006

>northern states. Shippers and consignees sometimes have
>outlets on the building walls that could be used for shore
>power but it would be bad form to use them. You are not
>there to make yourself at home. You are there to pick up or
>deliver freight.

Some customers may permit a hookup, but always wise to ask first. We have some very accomodating and interesting customers.

Heck, we have a customer that will let us park the truck inside their facility if we are not turning around and heading out right away. Another customer always insists we stay for a meal on their dime when we drop by... etc, etc, etc.

I find it is always very beneficial to establish a genuine relationship with the people we do business with and spend time getting to know them and their operation. We get to know many of the folks on a first name basis. We are the ones who are remembered, not those who simply drop/pickup and run... and they know we are reliable and take care of their freight.

Ok, enough horn blowing for now.

:+

aquawarrior7 · Dec 3, 2006

How ventilated does this type generator need to be?
We have a big box on the driver side that for some reason the previous owner decided to put the batteries in. I am wondering if it would fit do you think that would be a good place for it.

>
>If you are really keen on cutting idling time, but cannot
>get the owner to agree to install a generator... you can
>always purchase your own small portable generator. Place it
>under the truck and use it to power devices inside, but be
>sure to lock it with a length of chain or cable.
>
>Not for the above purposes; however, we carry a small
>portable Honda generator onboard for emergency situations.
>It is amazingly quiet and runs forever on one tank of gas.
>The tank holds about 1 gallon of regular gas, we carry an
>additional 5 gallons. I estimate the unit could run steady
>for almost 4 days with that amount of gas.
>
>Now, depending on how cold it is where you plan on running
>you may have troubles cranking over the diesel in the
>morning. There are a number of places we go where we will
>not risk shutting down.

OH AND WHY DOES THE GLOW PLUG OR WHATEVER HEATS IT UP ENOUGH TO START IT NEED THAT MUCH ENERGY?
We have LED lights now that take less energy why do I have to almost have my truck not start lol