In The News

Get comfortable in your cab, and save some money, too

For today’s professional truck driver, the truck is more than just a workplace. It’s a driver’s home away from home, and the more comfortable the cab of a driver’s truck is, the happier and more productive that driver is likely to be.

And, with technology improving rapidly, today’s drivers often can make their trucks more comfortable without increasing expenses. In fact, with careful planning and proper maintenance, drivers can even save some money while increasing their creature comforts.

“Drivers are just like you and me, they want to be comfortable,” said Ray Lawrence, president of Espar of Michigan, which specializes in idle reduction equipment. “And if they’re anything like me, the older I get, the more comfortable I want be — at the right price, that is.”

Thomas Shondel, operations manager for Thermo-King Sales and Service in Richfield, Ohio, said having the right equipment is essential for drivers who want to be comfortable on the road and during down time.

“That truck is their home,” Shondel said. “If they don’t have heat or don’t have air conditioning, it’s like not having heat or air conditioning in their house.”

Lawrence said most drivers’ top priorities when it comes to comfort are temperature control and auxiliary power. Using the right device can allow drivers to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter and at the same time eliminate idling.

“With fuel at $4-plus a gallon, the math gets pretty easy,” Lawrence said. “... Let’s start with heat.  By far, the best, most economical, most comfortable heating product is a fuel-operated heater.  For us, that would be the Espar Heater.  In the case of our Airtronic D2, this little heater runs 20 hours on a single gallon of fuel.”

Espar of Michigan features a savings calculator on its website at esparofmichigan.com

Lawrence noted that the average straight truck or tractor will burn a gallon of fuel an hour while idling.

“If you idle 50 hour a week at 1 gallon per hour, it costs you $200, just in fuel,” he said. “In six weeks the cost is $1,200. An Espar Airtronic D2 will pay for itself in six weeks.”

“The most economical thing as far as heat goes is an Espar heater,” Shondel agreed. “They are the top of the line.”

Another device that both Lawrence and Shondel recommend is the Auxiliary Power Unit, or APU.

 â€œThese are the Cadillacs,” Lawrence said. “They heat, air condition, heat the  engine, charge the batteries and in most cases give 110-volt power to the cab.”

APUs aren’t inexpensive, with a price tag of $9,000 or more. But their fuel consumption is very low compared with idling.

“Obviously, return on investment on an APU takes longer,” Lawrence said.

“Again, using $4 a gallon and 50 hours of idling a week, your initial $9,000 investment will take about 45-50 weeks,” Lawrence said, adding that his estimate didn’t account for fuel used by the APU or required maintenance.

Lawrence cautioned drivers who interested in APUs to make sure and perform routine maintenance on the units.

“You can’t just hang it on the side of the truck and forget about it,” he said.

Auxiliary batteries and inverters are also good devices to have,

“A good auxiliary battery setup including a good AGM battery and inverter will provide 110-volt power without the need to run a generator or APU,” Lawrence said. “In our case, we install an Odyssey PC2150 with a smart separator to monitor and manage battery charging so your starting battery is always ready to go when you are.”

Besides the obvious benefits of better comfort and lower fuel expense, Lawrence said having the right equipment can make a significant difference in a driver’s ability to get the proper rest, which in turn can enhance his health and his productivity.

Having the right equipment to reduce idling also benefits the environment and can help drivers comply with more stringent regulations on idling as well.

Of course, every driver is different, and what is important to one might not be as meaningful to the next. But even the most budget-conscious driver can benefit from having the right equipment.

“Best does not always mean most expensive,” Lawrence said. “If an operator is idling their engine, they are already budgeting $200 a week for fuel.  The money is already being spent. It just needs to be spent on a more effective solution for their needs.”

Also visit: EsparParts.com