Thursday, April 9, 2009

Anti-Idle Laws Mean I Go Back To The Shelter

Okay, time for me to put in my two cents about this global warming thing.

First, I just wanna say that it is affecting both Matt and I already, even though the polar ice caps have not melted and we are not flooded out of our truck. No. Both of us, myself for certain, will be out of the truck long before then. And here's why:

Several states are passing legislation to outlaw truck engine idling. That means that when Matt and I park for the night at a truck stop, rest area or other approved truck parking area, the engine will have to be shut off during our D.O.T required 10 hour rest period.

"Oh, that is wonderful," you may say. "We will all breathe easier, and the sun will shine brighter, and roses and lollipops and all that crap-ola!"

What many of you non-truckers, or 4-wheelers as Matt likes to call them, fail to realize is that we actually live in these trucks, and in order for the interior of the cab to warm up to temperatures comparable to the ones in your own bedrooms at night, the engine must be running. You know, like in your car for instance.

Now to be fair, I should point out that most states will allow the trucks to idle when the temperature drops....TO 40 DEGREES!!! Other states will only allow idling at 32 or even 25 degrees or less! Now ask yourselves, how cold does it have to get outside before we turn on the furnace in our own home? And at what temperature do we set it? How warm do you think it gets in a truck with the engine off when the outside temperature is 40 degrees? Not very. And how rested will we be after sleeping in the freezing cold? Do you really want us on the road after that?

Technology has been very slow to catch up to the chicken-little-global-warming-hysteria. Yes there are things called APU's (auxiliary power unit) that attach to the sides of trucks which handle the interior cold and heat admirably. In fact our company has installed them on some of the older trucks, while Freightliner and International have sold us new trucks which have in-cab heaters that don't require engine idling. Problem solved, right?

NO! The APU's have these really expensive air filters which collect a lot of pet dander and hair and then require expensive maintenance. So expensive, in fact, that our company will not allow pets in trucks that have APU's. The same goes with the new trucks and their in-cab heaters. NO PETS ALLOWED. So Matt and I will be idling our old truck whenever we feel it necessary, and skirting the law in our outdated idle-only heat and A/C source, risking fines of between $300 and $500 per violation. The only alternatives would be to get a hotel room every night at $75 a pop ($60 + $15 pet fee, that comes to around $2,250 per month, and NOT reimbursed by the company), or running over our legal D.O.T. hours of service to get to the next idle friendly state and risking fines of $1,000 or more and months of imprisonment, OR sleeping with the engine off and catching pneumonia and even possibly freezing to death. Did I fail to mention that within 2 years most of the anti-idling states will no longer allow idling at ANY temperature? I will have to vacate the truck and return to the shelter, or Matt will have to find a local driving job in the middle of a nasty recession (which will not improve anytime soon if Obama imposes his Nazi-like Green Plans on industry).

Factories in third world countries and cow flatulence produce more green house gasses than us trying to keep warm at night. If these attitudes of idiot state legislators continue and more stupid laws are passed, trucking will become just another job that Americans won't do. Add it to the list of picking lettuce, construction, factory work, custodial duties, housekeeping, etc... Do we really want illegal immigrants who cannot speak English driving those big 80,000 lbs semi trucks down our nation's highways? And if not them then who? Ex-felons? Hate to tell you this, but that's already happening. Can you picture an ex-felon in every semi truck? They were felons in the first place because they couldn't control their impulses. Can you picture the road rage element?

Matt and I both love clean air and clear water and believe in a certain intelligent level of government regulation and oversight. But hysterically cramming it down our throats with "the sky is falling" attitudes means that some will be trampled upon in the ensuing stampede. I thought these liberals believed in no one left behind. Only when it suits them, I guess.

5 comments:

Hobo said...

Buster I hope that the DOT wakes up sometime soon and figures out that without trucks and good drivers like Matt to drive them nothing in this or any other country gets to market. Maybe they think is all "beamed" there like on Star Trek.
My food source tells me he knows just what you are talking about with the no idle laws and all, but he wonders if that would apply to a generator on the truck like he had. Then in the sleeper you had a heater and a AC that ran off the electric, and the generator was not idling so maybe it would be allowed.
I hope that you and Matt get to stay together because I know that neither of you would be happy for a long time if you were separated

Buster Kitty said...

It's those stupidly expensive filters on the generators (APU's) that will keep me from staying in the truck. That's what happens when they shove this nonsense down our throats overnight. Thanks for your support.

Anonymous said...

Why not enquire about the real answer to anti idling for long haul trucks? The SOLUTION - a very lightweight Unit (just 16 kilograms. Made in Australia by the Kool Ideas Company. This unique, revolutionary device is battery driven! Recharges during driving time. Suitable for heating/cooling of both the driver cabin and sleeper cabin. Very affordable. World best technology by far. Contact via website: www.koolideas.com.au

Anonymous said...

Just found your site. I am from the Northeast- probably from a city/state that has helped pass the laws that are negatively effecting you.

I have never understood the need to idle trucks overnight. Why run a big gas/energy wasting engine that is meant to pull a truck and cargo just to keep a cabin warm? There must be some plug in or other solution!

I am FOR inti idling- but only in those states that offer an alternative - as in FREE power for your use generated by non polluting sources.

I don't want to negatively impact you- but I do want cleaner air and a better planet for my kids.

Diesel particulates are bad for our health! (hence the new Clean Diesel rules)- And on the (real- read any science magazine worth it's salt!) Global warming front- we should lead by example. Just because the third world pollutes doesn't mean we should.

My family is doing it's part- we take public transit- and often times it is cold damp and wet. Mostly though- it is a convenient and logical choice.

I Do think that we should not be draconian here- if we make a law for the common good- we should help out the folks on the front line (like you) that it effects. I would give you a free tax credit on your APU.

Actually- There IS one.

http://www.myettnews.com/2009/08/house-bill-would-give-tax-credit-for-apus/

Anonymous said...

O say 2 all who have no regard 4 the truckers and support the anti idleing law do not feed or use anything transported by truck so what if if family dies of hunger and no clothes they will breath clean air grow some balls and but all the stuff out and see how long u survive without trucks and truckers America stops