Idling Alternatives for
Truck Climate Control, Electrification

• don't idle and do without both climate control and electrification (no matter the temperature, humidity, smells, noise, insects, etc. even if window screens are used);
• connect to shore power such as CabAire or IdleAir if it is available (but pay for it, possibly out of your own pocket);
• plug into external electrification (that is, run a power cord from the truck to an electrical receptacle outside the truck -- although this may not provide climate control);
• install and use a diesel-powered auxiliary power unit (APU);
• rely on a battery-powered climate control device (until the charge on the batteries run down -- although this may not provide electrification);
• install a generator (assuming you have the room to mount one on your truck and that it will provide the functionality you need); or
• go outside the truck (such as the driver's lounge at a truck stop, one of your trucking company's terminals or get a hotel/motel room).

We plan to discuss APUs as idling alternatives separately, including aspects such as the payback, weight-related issues, maintenance, repair, portability and tax deductibility.

Assume for a brief moment that a driver wanted

• climate control and electrification (the creature comforts of setting up his or her "home sweet home") and
• a way to help his/her trucking company save money once idling costs are calculated,
• but his/her company is not willing to foot the bill to pay for an APU even when summer heat makes a hot truck.

Besides providing our empowerment idea, we have envisioned this proposition.

Trucker-Focused Media

As a courtesy, we are providing links to a number of articles on the subject from Land Line Magazine:

• Shore power (June 2002)
  If you want to eliminate idling, all you have to do is "plug in"
• Stop Your Engines (December 2005/January 2006)
  A buyers' guide to idling solutions
• Idling reduction options (August/September 2006)
  List of manufacturers
• Gen sets & APUs (February 2004)
  List of manufacturers
• The ABCs of APUs (August/September 2006)
  Parameters and Specifications
• More miles (February 2006)
  Getting the best fuel mileage possible takes a lot of knowledge and discipline
• New Day, New Way (August/September 2007)
  Idling-reduction solutions
  List of manufacturers
• A winner in the war on idling
  Idle Free
• American Idle (August/September 2008)
  Solutions: Products provide creature comforts
  Products and manufacturers

Money saving tip: From a health-preserving standpoint, we do not recommend that OTR drivers suffer in a hot truck. Instead, we recommend that you explore viable, low cost idling alternatives. Because you may seldom be parked at a truck stop that has systems like Idle Air, a truck-mounted system like an auxiliary power unit (APU) that is not dependent on the charge on a set of batteries works best.

Return from Idling Alternatives for Truck Climate Control, Electrification to our Truck Operations page or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.