Why can’t truckers kill their engines? People who are not truckers find it strange to see scores of huge rigs at truck stops idling. Why do they do these things when it is detrimental do the environment and other people? Idling is a contentious issue in many states and even among truck drivers. Some consider it rude while others can’t do without it.
So why do truckers keep their engines running? The main reason most truck drivers idle their engine is for climate control. If a truck does not carry an Auxiliary Power Unit, keeping warm or cool can be difficult. You can only understand this if you experience it firsthand. In the harsh winter and summer night, truckers need to keep their engine on to avoid freezing or frying to death.
Environmental advocates, states, and the rest of the population consider idling truck engines a grave sin. With the level of pollution in the environment and their effect on the climate, how can some people leave their diesel engines on for hours? Truckers also know the effect of burning fuel indiscriminately. Fuel is expensive, but circumstances force many truckers to keep their engine running.
Reasons Truckers Keep Engines Running
Climate Control
Climate control is the main reason most truckers leave their engines idling. Truckers, especially long-haul and OTR drivers live in their trucks. During spring and fall the weather is suitable for sleeping and most people won’t need to use their heater or air conditioning. The situation is different in summer and winter.
When you have to sleep in your truck in sub-zero temperatures or extreme hot weather, you have no option but to use your truck’s climate control. Most drivers idle their engine to keep the heater fan or air conditioner running at full blast before they can sleep in extreme weather. People who lead normal lives also keep their HVAC systems running during this period, but the noise is far away so nobody notices. Truckers do not have such luxury.
More companies now equip their trucks with APUs i.e., Auxiliary Power Units which provide energy to run the climate control systems in the truck. Trucks with APUs need not keep their engines running since the generator can power everything in the sleeper cab. If your truck lacks an APU or other alternative energy source, the only option is to keep the engine running.
To Keep the Engine, Fuel and Batteries Warm
Do you know that fuel can freeze? Even with the best anti-freeze agents on the market, many drivers have learned the hard way to keep their rigs running to avoid a broken engine.
In winter, engine blocks can freeze so hard that they break. Your engine or battery can also become too cold to start the engine when you are ready to leave the truck stop. Drivers have been forced to park at the top of an incline for fear their battery may fail when it’s time to go.
It’s not that truckers willingly pollute the environment. If the engine breaks in winter or the battery does not start, not only will the company incur losses, but the freight will also be in jeopardy. Running the engine is a small price to pay for the potential number of things that can go wrong if the driver switched it off.
Ignition Malfunction
Sometimes, the workshop will do a shoddy job and leave the trucker to bear the consequences. If a trucker’s starter won’t work, it is best to leave the engine idle when you are not driving. It is impossible to push a huge rig and jump-starting with another battery may not be readily available. Many truckers would rather keep the engine running than risk a failed ignition system.
Habit
Sometimes, the driver has the habit of keeping the engine running and won’t be able to sleep without the noise. Truckers are one with their rigs; it is their home where they eat, sleep, have fun and connect with loved ones while on the road. Some drivers need the constant vibration of the engine to snooze. Others can’t relax without the noise.
Truckers have reported using the engine’s noise to drown out other noises at truck stops. Reefers, i.e., refrigerated trucks make more noise than most because of their generators and compressors. If you are stuck between two reefers, you might as well forget sleeping for the night. To avoid such a fate, truckers keep their engines running to distract themselves from the louder noises from other rigs. It’s like correcting evil with evil, but it works.
Before you judge truckers for polluting the environment, put yourself in their shoes. You realize that most truck drivers don’t idle their engine for fun. It’s a necessity most of the time.
Disadvantages of Keeping Truck Engines Running
People fighting against truckers running their engines nonstop do so for several logical reasons including:
Climate Change
The ozone layer continues to deplete at an alarming rate, causing global warming and extreme climatic variations. Catastrophic flooding, record-breaking droughts, melting glaciers and many others are some ugly side effects of climate change. And the transport industry is a leading producer of greenhouse gasses such as CO and many others.
Diesel engines burn fuel, releasing carbon mono-oxide and other harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. These gasses increase the greenhouse effect, endangering our planet and pushing us to the brink of an apocalypse. The less fossil fuel we burn, the faster we can reverse global warming and its consequences.
Noise Pollution
Among truckers, idling engines evokes strong emotions for and against the practice. The truckers who dislike idling say it causes noise pollution and shows an utter disregard for the peace of others. And it is true. It’s difficult to sleep when engines are rumbling and vibrating all around you. However, truckers who run their engines nonstop do it for logical reasons.
Waste
Gas is expensive, especially if you are an owner-operator. Running the engine consumes half a gallon of diesel for every hour. That amounts to 2 gallons every four hours. If you ask truckers who leave the engine on, they will tell you it’s better to burn the fuel than freeze or fry to death. Health trumps monetary considerations any day.
Engine Wear
Idling a diesel engine for long hours takes a toll on its usefulness. When you keep running your engine, it wears more quickly and reduces the life expectancy. It’s better to run your engine while hauling cargo and making money.
How to Reduce Idling of Truck Engines
Now we know truckers don’t run their engines out of malice, what strategies can help reduce the number of hours they idle their powerful rigs? The following tips can help.
Better Insulated Trucks
One important step towards reducing the practice of keeping engines running among truckers is to build better trucks. If their rigs offer enough insulation or ventilation during winter and summer, most truck drivers won’t idle their engines. Truck manufacturers are trying to make this happen but they have to do more.
Installation of APUs
Auxiliary Power Units help to power the amenities in a truck including climate control systems, entertainment, refrigerator and others. Trucks with APUs and inverters need not idle the engine.
The APU will also keep the engine and battery warm while you sleep. However, you may have issues with your fuel.
Fuel Treatment or Heater
Most drivers idle their truck to prevent fuel from freezing over and gelling. This is a serious problem and could cost you far more than running the engine. Most anti-freeze work well but biofuel freezes at a higher temperature so be careful. Fuel tank heaters can also help keep your diesel in liquid form before your next shift.
Awareness
Maybe many truckers don’t appreciate the dire situation of global warming and pollution. More awareness of burning fossil fuels may help reduce the practice of idling truck engines to the barest minimum in the industry.
Do Truck Drivers Have Beds in Their Trucks
It depends. Trucks with a sleeper cab have single or double bunker beds. These are trucks used for line haul, regional or OTR operations. Not only do trucks with a sleeper cab have beds, but they also have basic amenities to keep drivers comfortable while on the road. Trucks also have air conditioning, heater, fan, cooking equipment, refrigerator, entertainment systems and more.
Owner-operators customize their trucks with bespoke fittings and trimmings. Some drivers will equip their sleeper berth with exquisite beddings, toilet, and even chandeliers. It will surprise you to find out that many trucks have luxurious living spaces behind the driver’s seat. Only a few people get to see these beauties.
How Cold To Idle Truck?
It depends. How much cold or heat can you endure before running the heater? However, it is advisable to idle when the temperature drops to single digits or you risk your fuel turning to gel.
If you treat your fuel and have an APU to keep things warm, you may not need to idle your truck. The APU will keep the battery and engine warm and the heater running. All things equal, cranking the engine to life won‘t be a problem.
