Gone are the days when truckers could idle their engines for hours to heat their cab or provide electricity…Fuel these days just cost too much. Cutting idle time means more money in your pocket. well, almost gone. It’s becoming much more difficult (actually illegal in many places) and expensive to idle, given new anti-idling laws and the rising cost of fuel. These three technologies allow truckers to eliminate idling for long periods of time while saving a significant amount of money.
Automatic Shut Down/Start Up System
An automatic shut down/start up system or device does exactly what it sounds like: it can automatically shut the engine down or start it up based on certain factors determined by you, such as when the cab reaches a specific temperature or the engine’s been running a set time period. The price tag of a system usually costs between $900 and $1,200.
Auxiliary Power Unit
Installing an APU can provide climate control and electrical power in your sleeper cab without idling during your downtime. It’s estimated an APU can save approximately 20 gallons of gas a day and extend the life of the engine by nearly 100,000 simply by reducing long-term idling. Since installing an APU can cost thousands of dollars (a bill many truckers have to foot themselves), the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a proposal that would provide truckers with federal tax credits of up to $3000 for idle-reduction systems.
Battery-Powered Devices
There are several different kinds of battery-powered devices designed specifically for commercial trucks. Most allow you to plug in space heaters, portable air conditioning units, and other on-board appliances.