News on idling alternatives and increased efficiency in trucking. Auxiliary power units, other idling alternatives, and new anti idling tech explored.
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On October 6th the EPA’s SmartWay program recognized some carriers and shippers for their dedication to cleaning up our environment. The 2009 SmartWay Excellence Award Winners included the following carriers;
Bison Transport Inc.
C.R. England, Inc.
Celadon Trucking Services Inc.
Challenger Motor Freight Inc.
Covenant Transport, Inc.
Gordon Trucking Inc.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
Knight Transportation, Inc.
Anti idle sign.
If you are laying over in Philadelphia anytime soon, it’s not just the government that you have to look out for if you plan to idle. A Natural Day, a blog about all things green in Philly, is encouraging readers to report you at IdleFreePhilly.
I can certainly understand the reasoning behind their mission, clean air is a wonderful thing, but I dread what they will be focusing on after we all stop idling the main truck engine. Can your APU be much further down on their list than your main engine?
Thermo King announces the addition of another new feature, a controller with more programmability, to the industry-leading TriPac™ Hybrid Auxiliary Idle Reduction and Temperature Management System (APU). The new feature allows customers the opportunity to customize their TriPac system even further to match the unique demands of their business and is standard on all new TriPac systems.
Thermo King TriPac Auxiliary Power Unit
With this latest feature, Thermo King has added selectable functions to its controller for the TriPac system that allow the driver or fleet to select the parameters that the TriPac system will automatically control after a tractor on/off cycle. The TriPac system can now be programmed to monitor battery and coolant temperature only after the tractor on/off cycle, or, if the driver/fleet prefers, the system can also monitor cab temperature and automatically maintain the previously selected set point.
The addition of this feature resulted in part from customer comments, which indicated that some fleet managers wanted to ensure that the APU systems wouldn’t accidentally be left running during down times or over weekends.
Tags: APU, Thermo King, Thermo King Tripac, Tripac
Thermo King TriPac Auxiliary Power Unit
One of the biggest factors in choosing an anti idling device for many truck operators is the engine tie in. Some just are not comfortable having the same coolant run through their APU as runs through the drive engine because they feel that there is an increased risk of a coolant leak. Although I don’t agree with the severity of risks as some with a tied in system, in my book you don’t get much more foolproof than a properly inspected hose, I will admit that in the case of a hose rupture or, God forbid, a radiator rupture it would be great to still have the use of your APU for the (many) hours it takes the hook to show up.
The amount of integration between an anti idling device runs the gamut from excessive, like the Willis that integrates into the trucks coolant AND A/C AND engine fan, to completely independent, like the Rigmaster. Unfortunately, as easy as it would be to offer the option to be integrated or not per the operator’s wishes, very few manufacturers will let you have it your way. This is not Burger King.
My personal favorite unit, if you only need an alternator/inverter combo instead of a dedicated generator, Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: APU, Thermo King, Thermo King Tripac, Tripac
Here is the press release.
Commercial diesel vehicle owners warned of idling restrictions Grace period over
SACRAMENTO: Air Resources Board staff hit the road this week to begin enforcing recently enacted anti-idling program for diesel engines that will reduce particulate matter emissions throughout the state.
ARB staff and local air quality officials throughout the state will enforce the idling regulations by monitoring sleeper berths and commercial on and off-road diesel vehicles where they operate. First time violations, idling for greater than five minutes, will receive a minimum civil penalty of $300. Subsequent penalties can be from $1,000 to $10,000. Owners, renters or lessees will be responsible for the penalty.
“Turning these engines off should be second nature,” said ARB chairman, Mary Nichols. “It saves money, reduces pollution and protects the health of the driver and everyone working or living around the engines.”
Regulations limiting idling of on-road commercial diesel-engine vehicles to five minutes have been in effect for several years now and for sleeper berth trucks since January of 2008. The regulations addressing the idling of off-road diesel vehicles became effective in June of 2008. Industries were given a grace period allowing them to inform themselves and their staff of the new requirements.
In a case where an off-road vehicle is observed idling for more than five minutes, enforcement officials will contact the operator and site supervisor to determine the reason. If the reason is not exempted, as some clauses of the regulation allow, and the instance is a first time violation, a $300 per day citation will be issued to the owner, renter or lessee of the vehicle.
Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death, and other health problems.
Each year, based on California emissions in 2000, diesel particulate matter contributes to 2000 premature deaths, thousands of hospital admissions, asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms and lost workdays. Diesel engine emissions are responsible for the majority of California’s known airborne cancer risks, cause visibility reduction and potentially contribute to global warming.
This fall the ARB will consider further measures to reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks. Over the past 10 years ARB has adopted regulations affecting cargo-handling equipment, transport refrigeration units, truck idling, off-road equipment, harbor craft, port drayage trucks, onboard incineration, and ships at-berth. ARB’s cleaner fuel requirements for on-road diesel trucks, railroad and ship engines have reduced pollution around rail yards and ports.
For more information on ARB’s efforts to address diesel emissions go here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/diesel.htm .
DENTON, TX (August 21, 2008) – Peterbilt Motor Company customers will receive up to an estimated 1 percent fuel economy savings when Paccar becomes the first company to make a new, full synthetic axle lube standard on its Class 5-8 models in the United States and Canada starting this summer.
Peterbilt will introduce Cognis EMGARD® FE 75W-90 into production at its plants in Denton, TX, Nashville, TN and Ste. Therese, Que. The unique lubricant technology has been tested utilizing industry standards and “real world” fleet methodology, with results indicating up to a 1 percent fuel economy improvement, equivalent to approximately $900 annually (120,000 miles, 6.0 mpg baseline, $4.75/gal).
FE 75W-90 provides customers performance advantages over current synthetic lubricants with reduced gear wear and extended maintenance intervals, resulting in increased uptime. In addition, the lubricant provides improved fluid flow to protect gears in extreme cold conditions and withstand the stress from high temperatures, extending component life.
“Providing customers technological solutions that improve their business’ operating performance is essential in today’s economic climate, with managing fuel costs playing a critical role in the overall success of trucking companies,” said Larry Reding, Peterbilt Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing. “Peterbilt strives to provide the latest technologies to optimize fuel economy, and the Cognis synthetic lube helps customers offset rising and unstable fuel costs by providing end-users significant and quantifiable fuel savings.”
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals. The company’s North American Headquarters is in Cincinnati, Ohio. More information is available at www.cognis.com.
Tags: kenworth, paccar, Peterbilt, synthetic lube
In the column to the left are the articles. In those articles I plan to write about each individual unit. I will try to be as comprehensive as I can possibly be and really dig into the specs of each idlealt.
I will post as much info as I possibly can and I will be as accurate with it as I can be. I use the manufacturers web sites, pdf documentation, calls to them, and some info from dealers. This doesn’t always work out and sometimes things will be just plain wrong. If this happens, feel free to post a comment on that page and I will investigate.
Also, if you go to a static page and no article has been written about it, feel free to post a comment anyway if you have any particular questions about a unit.
Hello,
My name is Chris and I am the founder of idlealt.net.
I am building this site because, like many of you, I hate to see how much more I am spending on fuel this year than in years past. On top of this, there is really no good information source for APUs and idling alternatives. Since I do a lot of sitting between loads, i probably listen to my Rigmaster run more than I listen to my XM.
Hopefully the time I spend on this blog will help someone make an informed descision. $10,000 Is a lot of cash to flush down the toilet.