My dad's volvo (company truck, not sure what model) has a system in it where the heat and ac are run off of batteries. There is a voltage control on it, so that when the batteries get down to a cerian level, it starts the truck automatically. I asked him about it, and he doesn't know much about it, but did say that it has a security feature, so when the truck turns itself on, noone can drive away with it.
Aug 11, 2008 Rating
thanks by: RIcky
yeah that helped a lot. i always wondered that... glad to finally have it answered. thanks a lot.
Jul 23, 2008 Rating
Just Think About It... by: MiNuS...
Just think about when your in your car with the AC on...then you turn the car off and park to go in a store for 15 minutes...come back and it's hotter inside then outside the car...i'm not a driver but if you think about it...then you'll know why they idle...i'm sure when your in the house in the summer you don't feel good sitting in the house with no AC on...or when you first start driving in your car waiting for the AC to get cold...temperatures can change a persons comfort zone...being in a good temp most of the day will make you more happy and active then only having a good temp while driving...and when your parking in these places you never been at night you don't want to have your windows down...
Jul 18, 2008 Rating
this is my explanation of whay trucks idle so much by: The Crazy Trucker
What's happening Ricky,
Man I think back in the day, when fuel was real cheap it might have been cheaper to leave the truck running for short periods instead of shutting them down and restarting them during short stops. Of course the air pollution wasn't as big of an issue and there was no where near as many trucks as now.
Now, its a tough habit to break, even though it may very well conserve fuel and money to shut them down even if only stopping for a few minutes I can't say for sure.
We mostly leave them running to keep the cab inside at a comfortable temperature. Remember, most of a trucker's life during downtime is spent in these trucks. Most drivers also have appliances that you would find in a kitchen in the cab of the truck. The have coffee makers, toaster, croak pots, tv-dvd units, etc that all need power. So this requires a certain amount of idling also.
I agree though that we do leave them idling way too much for extended periods of leisure time that we are not even in the truck.
Some companies give bonuses on lower idling time and fuel consumption as incentives to reduce idling.
There are companies that make generators to install on trucks so that they don't have to idle to heat or warm the cab of the truck. They also provide electrical power for appliances inside the truck. This replaces the need for idling.
There is also a company called Idle Aire out of Tennessee that is working with the truck stops and trucking companies themselves to provide a service that through units they install at parking spaces.
These units generate heat or air and electric power to the cab of the big truck to make life as a trucker comfortable during down time. It also delivers cable tv, high speed internet, and long distance phone service.
I think as time progress idling will be made more and more of an issue by everyone. It already is by some states like California and New York where you will get a fine for idling in excess of a certain period of time. I hear in Dallas city limits they have also passed an idling law.
I hoped this answer your question about big truck idling.
