When your APU goes out and company doesn't allow truck idle

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NeckIsRedSoIsMyBlood@reddit

Tell your company to install Bronco Power Boost in your truck. I can get you a slight discount on them if you mention me.

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My truck shut off all night due to a guy not priming my filters right. Didn’t know what was going on but that night I talked to God. When I woke up i was so cold. Never again will someone make that mistake for me

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Correct_Writer_3410@reddit

Wedge a sturdy trailer broom handle (detachable head) in between the accelerator and seat belt and another hard surface e.g. the seat belt hook on the driver's side wall. With the accelerator down a Cascadia should idle for several hours at least, and stay warm for some time after even if it does shut down. Or most of these idle prevention things will let you idle indefinitely if it's cold or hot enough. There are workarounds like this but really the best way is just let your company know and have you get routed to a terminal ASAP to get it fixed (or at a truck stop). And they should put you up in a hotel every night until the heat works. If not, get a new job, turn the truck in and tell them you're quitting with no notice. At the very least report it next time you find yourself at a terminal and hold up your loads or whatever to get it fixed and use workarounds meantime.

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LovecatsdogsIam@reddit

Tbh I’d be pissed. Like okay cool, so you want me to sleep in a fridge and still be sharp tomorrow? Makes zero sense. I’d be blowing up maintenance nonstop.

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SanDuskyMclusky@reddit

My Cascadia's idle will not turn on unless the battery is low on my apu, I guess I don't have the details correct. But the heater does not work at all un cold weather, it blows cold air, but when the idle is on it gets warms. My trick is I turn the microwave on and plug in a toaster and keep the battery draining, the idle will kick on for a while after that. Probably not great but I've been ignored everytime I mention it.

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possibly_lost45@reddit

Solution is a brick on the fuel pedal

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Tomokomon@reddit

That don't work anymore 😆 bro I have tried literally everything to make an internal run. Brick on the pedal. Both brake knobs pushed in .. idle up. Everything. It shuts down no matter WHAT... The only way to trick to 100% bypass those idle restrictions is to put a hand warmer on the outside air temperature sensor. Since most companies have a temp range they allow idle below 32° above 68° is typical. Just gotta get the probe hot and it will idle

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skeletons_asshole@reddit

Yeah the internationals were hell for this at my last job. The Cascadia at least had semi-functional opti idle and a few loopholes, the internationals were just like “fuck you”

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Tomokomon@reddit

Oh most definitely. I eventually got a 22 Freightliner and on that bad boy I can just push in the yellow knob and it will run indefinitely. At least on mine. The only thing I miss from the international is it didn't rock the whole damn truck when backing up like the freightliner does lol

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skeletons_asshole@reddit

Weirdly all the internationals I’ve driven were hard rockers 🤘 lol I think it depends on what drivetrain you have. I miss the creep mode on the Freightliner, my 579 now just wants to drop the clutch and go straight to “aaaaugh!”

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Tomokomon@reddit

Man there's times when I'm backing up in the frieghtliner and it shakes so violently my microwave fell out of its mount 💀

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skeletons_asshole@reddit

Try shifting into the other reverse gear, I always got a little less hop-skip with the low one. Then again, mine was a pile of shit and liked to try and reverse in the higher gear by default

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Allie_Lane@reddit

Nope, that doesn't work anymore. Some trucks need to be put in gear or they shut off after a certain amount of time. Some need changing throttle response, or in other words, revving. A brick is too static.

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cyrax99@reddit

Ever seen those button pushing gadgets? Someone rigged one up on a video I saw that hit the "engine shutdown override" button like every 30 seconds or so. It had a little mechanical arm that came out, it was powered by the cigarette lighter. That button stops the truck from shutting down on EVERY TRUCK, those widgets are the solution.

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Allie_Lane@reddit

I may be misremembering, but i think the truck i was in either had that on the steering wheel, or it needed a blip on the throttle. I know for sure it didn't have the button on the dash that those devices hit. For context, it was a '19 KW T680.

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Mnemorath@reddit

It every truck. I’ve driven ones where it’s useless. I’ve pushed the button and it still shutdown.

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skeletons_asshole@reddit

Yup - company can tweak the settings however they like.

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Tomokomon@reddit

I use an electric hand warmer it lasts 8 hours and is like $17 on Amazon lol

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StructureBetter2101@reddit

I would have just lit the truck on fire, that would have kept me warm long enough while waiting for the taxi to my new job.

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Safe_Fail_568@reddit

I’ve tried to wedge it with a water bottle and the truck still shut off after 30 minutes or so

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Rodeo6a@reddit

Set your trailer brakes and put in gear and idle. It will never shut off.

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Tomokomon@reddit

Doesn't work on all trucks. My international would shut off while in gear and both knobs released making it so it thinks you're sitting there ready to roll and it will still shut off if you aren't hitting the pedal every 3 minutes lol

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Safe_Fail_568@reddit

I tried that too. I think I tried everything possible one night

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Emergency_Ad1152@reddit

Make a robot that presses the pedal every 10 mins

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AKWV80@reddit

Your truck won't idle in freezing temps!? That sounds illegal

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bostonbean@reddit

That is when the company owes you a Motel

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Many-Strain-7225@reddit

If your hooked to a trailer and it's not wet or icy just release your tractor breaks. The truck won't shut off because it thinks you're driving.

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Fisting-Tony@reddit

You need more blankets. Cover in layers

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NoCheesecake6669@reddit

Dead head towards walmart get u 10 degree sleeping bag, hot blanket and thick freeze socks!

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DirtyDraws247@reddit

Chock tires, release parking breaks... That sometimes works

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flubberflucks@reddit

Find the sensor that reads the temperature outside, mine was located on the drivers side mirror. Then heat up a rag with a little water on it in the microwave and heat up the sensor until it reads whatever temp your truck will idle at, mine was above 96 degrees and as long as you don’t open the driver door the truck will idle. My apu didn’t work either.. brand new truck on top of that. We had a no idling policy also but I never got a call about it. A driver not being rested from heat or cold is a safety concern and that’s exactly what I was going to say to them.

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joezupp@reddit

If you have an automatic trans you can set the parking brakes in gear and bump the idle up. The truck is not supposed to have idle shut off after 5 minutes in gear. I don’t recommend this, but it works.

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foreverlost1nsea@reddit

I spent the whole winter last year without apu and idle shutdown of like 5 minutes. I ended up sleeping in 2 sleeping bags, fully clothes with a ski jacket. Never again

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Alarming-Inspector86@reddit

That sounds illegal

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ScaryfatkidGT@reddit

For real… they’d be buying me a hotel, letting the truck idle or I’d be gone… Schneider lets you idle under 20° but if it’s say 22° your cooked… or… froze?

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Supart91@reddit

Freezer burned 😂😂

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Rabberst@reddit

Frooked

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Odd-Conflict7383@reddit

It is. Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, “employers must protect drivers from serious cold hazards, meaning inadequate heat in extreme winter conditions can become illegal if it creates unsafe environments, requiring mitigation like heated clothing or ensuring defrosters work for DOT compliance.”

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Bozhark@reddit

What? Trucks don’t ac/heat requirements? Thats wild

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RectumRavager69@reddit

Realistically if the AC isn't working a reputable company is getting it fixed as soon as possible. But the heat has to work because a working defroster is a safety feature and they will absolutely put a truck out of service if it isn't working. A day or two without AC is about as long as anyone should tolerate.

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LuRkEr_ReKuL@reddit

It’s not that the heat doesn’t work, it’s just that the engine shuts down after idling while stopped for five minutes. The engine will not run longer than that unless the truck is moving. So that cuts off the heater. An APU (small generator) will run your HVAC without the engine, but he said his APU was down.

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HAAS78@reddit

At least with freightliner and westernstar, if you release the truck brakes the idle timer wont activate. If youre trailer brakes work you could only set them and be good, theoretically.

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verticy4228@reddit

The company i work for, in gear, in the seat, in gear at a complete stop with parking break released, 3 minute timer. 22 freightliner is what I drive. It is how they adjust the parameters.

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HAAS78@reddit

Wow. Didn't even know that was an option. Im a fleet mechanic and we have freightliners and WS. We have idle timer disabled on all our sleepers.

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Specific_Effort_5528@reddit

Not A.C just heat

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OneMetalMan@reddit

>Under OSHA’s About that.....

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Specific_Effort_5528@reddit

I'm happy that where I am in Canada no heat is essentially an out of service. You really can't work without it. You'd have to pay me a lot lot lot of money to freeze my ass off like this. Right to refuse unsafe work boys and girls 👍

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SolidFun5456@reddit

Set trailer brakes not tractor. Only shuts off when parking brake is set.

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CobraWasTaken@reddit

It's worth a shot but these days those tricks don't always work anymore. Some trucks will do an idle shutdown while you're in gear with your foot on the brake at a stoplight.

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JobberTrev@reddit

Yep. Once my truck shut down because I was waiting too long to make a left turn in Chicago.

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SheepherderHopeful55@reddit

Yup I had that problem with a loaner truck that I was using

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Taco_Hurricane@reddit

For my own peace of mind id chock the wheels too.

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Successful-Worth-390@reddit

If you set the trailer brakes, not even the most certified of forklift drivers are making that thing move.

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

*rams the trailer a few times because the driver parked it too close and I can’t pull the dock plate and I don’t feel like waiting for the spotter to come over.* Only takes two or three rams, then I can pop the dock plate.

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Successful-Worth-390@reddit

How do you ram it from the inside of the warehouse?

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

Place I worked at was cheap, the dock doors are wide open, I can climb out of the dock very easily from all of the dock doors, even if a trailer is in there. I lift my forks up and I just ram the metal frame of the trailer two or three times, and on the final ram when my forks are on the frame I floor it to get a bit of leverage on the trailer. I set the brake and hop off, with my forks still pushing the trailer, and that usually allows me to pull the dock plate. Takes 1 minute, versus the 5 or 10 it takes the spotter to come over. I learned it from my supervisor.

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yardbirdtex@reddit

You know someone owns those trailers, right?

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

I don’t do that to trailers owned by independent people.

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yardbirdtex@reddit

Yeah I figured that one out, thanks…

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

That’s not to say the independent guys don’t ever get their trailers damaged though. We ran fast, combine that with shitty dockplates, shitty, rainy weather, snow covered dockplates, and wet trailers that have metal flooring, and it does mean that sometimes we find the brakes don’t do anything and we slam into the trailer. We were a less than 10 man crew, with 60 trucks to unload with only like 6 hours to do it, and a million pounds of freight to move on our shift. If you didn’t move fast you’d get swamped.

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The_Chimeran_Hybrid@reddit

LTL company, they’re our own trailers. If they gave a shit about their trailers they would have repaired the trailer walls more so they don’t have plastic and metal poking out destroying the freight, or stabbing us as we drive in.

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yardbirdtex@reddit

Fair game then. I’m sitting here imagining you ramming your forks through my nice privately owned trailer and it just got my nuts in a bind. Take care, and stick a fork through something for me.

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stephenforbes@reddit

You still better check them. I once had a trailer where the brakes were not holding the truck and trailer on an inclined rest area! parking lot.

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RectumRavager69@reddit

Depends entirely on whether or not it's loaded and the condition of the trailer brakes as well as whether you're on an incline or not. It's technically illegal to use only the trailer brakes to park for that reason, and if you have to do that you're supposed to chock the tractor wheels.

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Taco_Hurricane@reddit

Oh intellectually I know I'm more likely to tear the king pin off the trailer before I move it significantly. Chocking the wheels is only for the peace of mind. Course I also solved the problem by driving local in a day cab.

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SuperMover69@reddit

The company i work for has the truck shut off after 5 minutes of stopped traffic with brakes released and foot on the brake while in drive. Depends on how the company has each individual truck set up.

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charonco@reddit

This only works at some companies. My current company, it works. At my last company, it would only idle for 30 minutes before it would shut down.

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Responsible_Egg_3260@reddit

Your brakes will surely be frozen when you wake up though

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Nebraska716@reddit

Disk brakes wouldn’t be. Drums probably

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Responsible_Egg_3260@reddit

Discs will freeze too. We have constant issues at my work with both styles getting frozen solid when parked in the winter. No one ever pulls their trailer brakes when parking in the winter, but obviously the cold weather causes air loss and the brakes will set eventually anyways. What do you do 🤷‍♂️

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Nebraska716@reddit

I’ve never had one of my disk brake trailers freeze up. Drum brakes have problems every winter. If it happens to disks it would be much rarer than drum

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thprk@reddit

Disks can get stuck too. It needs extreme cold but can happen. And they can't get unstuck like drums going a couple inches back and forth.

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John9250@reddit

Not always. I’ve seen videos of drivers sitting at a stop light and the truck starts the idle shutdown countdown. Fucked up

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No_Board7626@reddit

That doesn't work on all trucks. It depends on the truck and how they have the settings done in the trucks computer.

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Strife3dx@reddit

Some trucks still shut off, so dumping the air bags gets you a hour

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Wrong_Year_5406@reddit

Dont tell me you’re with western express

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rydawg2727@reddit

If your in an international theres actually a way to bypass that fuckass auto shut off… push the tractor park brake, set cruise on, peush set and pull the tractor park brake out, the rpms should go up and the truck will idle infinately

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victoriousDevil@reddit

They got words for people like you.

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LetMeReload@reddit

I was training the winter of last year and we went up to Minnesota and for some reason his apu didn’t kick in. Dude it was - outside. I woke up and you could see the heat/breath coming from me!!! Coldest night ever!

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opinionated_penguin@reddit

Same lol. But I was working a contract for Walmart DC in Columbus that payed really well and if I took the truck to a terminal for them to fix it, they would’ve had to put someone else on the contract so I told my company that it actually started working again. Slept fully clothed in a sleeping bag with balaclava on my face like a psycho

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AYoRocSSB@reddit

No bunker heater in the back?

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1luckysobz@reddit

You don't deserve that Driver.

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Lavasioux@reddit

I did 2 winters like that- sleeping bag inside sleeping bag in a snow suit. Woke to gallon water jugs frozen solid. It was an important part of my life and a great achievment to know that I had a choice. It wasn't an ideal cozy choice, but fuck if i had to put up with any shit i didn't choo choo choose. 😁

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FinzClortho@reddit

They can get a hotel for you if the APU doesn't work and the truck will not idle, or they can come get the truck.

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Will-Phill@reddit

100% I would have Quit!!! Not Going! lmao

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Shoddy_Narwhal4439@reddit

Volvo?

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Myterryfolds@reddit

Dude what. Holy shit you could have died man

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Turbulent_Stay_2960@reddit

Id been on a plane, train, or automobile to the house after the first night.

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One-Mastodon-6334@reddit

I would’ve driven home and called them to come pick up their truck lol 😂 fuck that

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ShoddySpace5680@reddit

Yup, when I was with Western Express, the same damn thing, bro if we didn’t have those sleeping bags, we’d be cooked or actually frozen

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RJonesLore@reddit

For anyone with this problem, I have found the [solution](https://a.co/d/1ymkDyr).

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Ninja-Storyteller@reddit

Yep. Switchbot is great. I know some companies have even turned the override button off, but mine never did, so I got a pile of Switchbots. Lasted me about two months per bot.

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RJonesLore@reddit

2 months? You know you can replace the batteries in them, right?

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Ninja-Storyteller@reddit

The arm gets so weak it can't push the override button anymore, even with a fresh battery.

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mindsunwound@reddit

Ooooh I hadn't thought about putting it on the lane departure nuisance button

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RJonesLore@reddit

Yep. Mine is set to disable after 15 minutes. So I have my SwitchBot set to 15 minutes and 1 second.

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USS_peepee@reddit

Truck brakes off, trailer brakes on.

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randomloststuff@reddit

DISCONNECT THE TEMP SENSOR IN DRIVER SIDE MIRROR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!1!!ONE!!!

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Sleyson88@reddit

Just….bring a small space heater from home? Am I the only one who prefers this and a fan over the APU?

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Exotic_Bathroom5382@reddit

That sounds like a good way to burn the truck to the ground.

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Infamous_Champion_17@reddit

Happened to me in Utah. Woke up with the flu and throat was hurting.

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revelation6viii@reddit

You can't get the flu from being cold, it's a virus you picked up from someone else.

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Phraates515@reddit

Doesn't the company need to get a hotel then? Cant expect you to sleep in negative degree weather.

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daixso@reddit

Yeah glad my company let us idle when it was less than 40 or above 70 if the APU was out fuck that

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LucHighwalker@reddit

For those who need it this winter. 1) Find the outside thermostat for your truck. (for a t680, it's a little nipple under the driver side mirror) 2) Turn truck on. 3) Take a lighter and apply hear to thermostat for about 5 seconds. 4) Turn truck off and back on. 5) It should now idle. I know this works on a t680, probably other trucks too. Will most likely work on a 579 since they run the same software.

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PLEBESsiete@reddit

Pff turn that truck on son

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JediKiller15@reddit

I'm in that situation right now! 🙃

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xoutlawtrucker@reddit

What happens to me all the time is I turn on bunk heater, and it shuts off on me in the middle if the night. Sometimes I go over the 600 minutes, and sometimes it just randomly shuts off because it thinks the key was turned (it wasn't)

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bobmonkeyclown@reddit

Usually means maintenance if it starts to randomly shuts off.

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xoutlawtrucker@reddit

Brand new truck with 40k miles. Heater has maybe 12 hours on it. I hope not. Truck has spent enough time in the shop already.

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bobmonkeyclown@reddit

Then it can just be software issue. Sometimes fuel will gel up in the lines if its cold enough, they're pretty small so doesn't take much.

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december151791@reddit

600 minutes?

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xoutlawtrucker@reddit

10 hours is 600 minutes

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december151791@reddit

I know that part. I was asking what that means regarding your heater.

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cyrax99@reddit

Guess it works for 10 hours only, since your daily reset is 10 hours. Its their way of making sure drivers dont sleep past the 10 hour reset.

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warwgn@reddit

You can change the settings on how long the bunk heater will stay on. I reset mine to run unlimited. I turn it on when I park on Friday night to go home for the weekend. When I get back on Monday morning, the cab is still warm, and the snow is melted off the windows.

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Bredda_Gravalicious@reddit

i drove a truck with AC and heat like that, it was awesome. if the batteries got low the truck would run to charge them. just like you said, snow would be melted off the windshield. parked inside the steel mill where it's hotter inside in the summer and the AC would be keeping it 70° without idling while i was securing my coil. i didn't have a fridge but it was good for keeping that running too. goddamn i miss that truck.

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december151791@reddit

That's just fucked...

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TruckinTuba@reddit

Thats when you idle anyway, last year I didn't shut my truck off for over a month

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Victorious1MOB@reddit

🤯

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TruckinTuba@reddit

Mind blown? 😂

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Victorious1MOB@reddit

Yup. And I don't miss OTR

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TruckinTuba@reddit

I wasn't OTR at the time 😅

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tdfitz89@reddit

I can override that anti idle feature with my PTO. Gotta do what you have to do.

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strasserwm@reddit

This is exactly what my equipment manager told me to do the week my APU was out. Does this work on every truck?

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Immediate_Regular@reddit

No. There is no universal solution. On Cascadias a better solution is to tape chemical hand warmers to the ambient air temperature sensor then wrap in foil. Some others can do the trailer brake trick. Some can do a trick with setting cruise control even when stopped to trick the idle shutdown.

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bobmonkeyclown@reddit

Setting cruise was a thing even before idle shut off. It being used to disable is less trick and more to encourage driver to idle at a higher rpm. This burns fuel more efficiently and lubricates the engine better.

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Bredda_Gravalicious@reddit

PTO engaged doesn't disable idle shutdown on our trucks.

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On_the_hook@reddit

When I worked for AAA we had one extended cab freightshaker M2. After 10 mins with the PTO on it would shut down. It was a panic buy after someone totaled a truck and they didn't know about it until after.

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lyfeisbeautifawl@reddit

Been there

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Jg6915@reddit

Our company (1.500+ trucks) would rather not have a truck idle for heat but if your heater is broken you can bet your ass you are allowed to idle for heat. No one should sleep in the cold.

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Blaze1991c@reddit

Just unplug the ambient temperature sensor. Its usually in the mirror or behind the grill. It will cancel out the idle shutdown.

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DismalBuddy9666@reddit

You muricans dont have webasto? No one idle their trucks here in norway and we have propper winter

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NJNeal17@reddit

No APU? Hotel room. No? Wrong employer!

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scarycarey-iv@reddit

i feel like this should not be legal 😵‍💫

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Defiant_Network_3069@reddit

Chock your cab tires Lock your trailer brakes Release cab brakes Idle truck Tell manager kiss your ass.

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Pm_Me_Mtn_Bikes@reddit

Still turns off after 35 min

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ProjectWrigley@reddit

I’d be finding a new career, idk how you truckers put up with this shit! That’s just inhumane and disgusting. I’d fully crash out on everyone involved.

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AcanthisittaNo7338@reddit

They'd be paying for my hotel room then fuck them im not freezing. 🤷

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Cool_Thanks_4934@reddit

They make gadgets that you stick on the dash that will flip the idle switch constantly. Automatic.

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brashaadt09@reddit

When they shut off the power to their homes I’ll stop idling my truck. Until them screw em

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DartByTheBay@reddit

Sounds like an osha violation

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Crazyscorpion77@reddit

Schneider gave me a truck that didnt have APU power in the middle of winter

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jose_guapo_@reddit

Yeah but they come equipped with a bunker heater. You just didn’t know how to use it?

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Crazyscorpion77@reddit

Best yet no one told me and I had zero power

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jackdaniel2000@reddit

This happened to me but it was like 90 degrees out.

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Alaskan_Tiger@reddit

I'd keep it running there's better places out there

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SuguoDerp@reddit

Quit, companies that do that to drivers should go out of buisness.

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B-Run35@reddit

U better idle

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

Shit, nope, hotel. If I wanted to deal with that I'd go work for Western Express.

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Current_Put_2950@reddit

My company turned on idling remotely when my apu went out until they could get it fixed

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cyrax99@reddit

Yeah, that's what a decent company does. Anyone sleeping in a truck deserves A/C in the Summer and heat in the winter. Trucks are very fuel efficient now, idling doesn't waste substantial fuel. That is the absolute least they can do for the hard working people out staying on the road for weeks on end, sleeping in their trucks. Im lucky, cause although im gone two nights a week, we do hotels at my job, I drive a day cab only.

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RectumRavager69@reddit

The 579 I'm in uses the same amount of fuel as an APU when it's idling and legally I shouldn't be able to get a ticket for idling it overnight. I still shut it off in the more uppity states though unless it's stupid hot or stupid cold in which case I just don't give a fuck. Some guys have to have the truck idle for their cpap so you can't legally tell them to shut it off when they're on their 10 and honestly I'm strongly considering paying a doctor to say I have sleep apnea so I can idle as much as I want.

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charonco@reddit

The stupid sleep center put me on one of those things for about 3 weeks until I could get to a real doctor who said that I didn't need it. I couldn't sleep with it on but you have to run it for 4 hours a day. I just wore it while I was driving for 4 hours a day.

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Bredda_Gravalicious@reddit

where would one get the plug and software to change the settings for idle shutdown and speed governer?

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AleTheMemeDaddy@reddit

I used to override my idle shutdown by enabling cruise control and "increasing" the speed while parked. I raises the RPMs slightly, and stops it from shutting off. It saved my ass in the cold! My driver leader wasnt happy, but I was a good driver and they let it slide when I explained the situation. I also didnt do it every day!

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LetMeReload@reddit

Dealing with this rn. I can run my truck but my apu won’t turn over. Keeps giving me code 20 so now I’m h ew sing to the terminal 🤦🏾‍♂️. 2025 thermo king

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Numerous_Living_3452@reddit

I get that its wild you cant idle for warmth in emergency scenarios but with all the posts ive seen about this dies noone just buy a jackery or some other kind of power station for such scenarios?

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Wrong_Ad3544@reddit

Disengage the parking brake, but keep the trailer brakes on chauk The wheels and your truck should stay running I don't care if the company has a no idle policy. It's life-or-death. That trump's your company's policy

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AYoRocSSB@reddit

Use the bunker heater

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potsour@reddit

"Doesn't allow" 😂😂😂 watch me.

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ZebraHour@reddit

I'd hate to drive to Greenland with no heat :S

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Odd-Bullfrog-9125@reddit

I ran a box truck nationwide no sleeper and the winters were my favorite tbh. Nothing a sleeping bag, sweats, and a puffer jacket wouldn’t fix. The summers were the hardest as you can only get so naked

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corn0099@reddit

probably sick from drinking loves coffee

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Spite_Squatch@reddit

National Carriers had me in a truck with a bad Apu and sleeper HVAC system. I was a new driver and I had no choice but to put up with it. The second I had enough experience I went over to USXpress and it was a totally different experience. They had their fair share of equipment issues but they treated me very well, paid me a lot more, and got me home every weekend.

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RosehPerson@reddit

If youre connected to a trailer *and on level ground*, set your trailer breaks but not your tractor breaks. It cant shut down on its own

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blumhagen@reddit

And then you get to deal with frozen trailer brakes. Just release all the brakes and chock wheels.

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VGPreach@reddit

Shoutout schneider, i've had my truck shutdown in traffic even with both brakes released and in drive

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RosehPerson@reddit

Bro I started with them and they were the WORST

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icodyonline@reddit

Depends on the settings. The company I drive for has it set where the truck will shut down even with the brakes released.

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RosehPerson@reddit

Jesus christ thats dangerous

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Alarming-Inspector86@reddit

Perfect what could wrong with that

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HighwayStar71@reddit

I've had it shut down on the interstate in stopped traffic with my foot on the brake. These companies are so FN stupid.

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skeletons_asshole@reddit

Try leaving the tractor brake in and pulling just the trailer brake - my truck would never shut down if the tractor parking brakes weren’t set. God bless the new company that has no idle limits though, because that was pure hell especially in the summer

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Hxncheaux@reddit

Why do folks continue to work for outfits like this? The LEAST they can do is make sure you comfortable at night while sleeping. I wouldn’t say a word, but that truck would be back on their property before they realized it.

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AdDapper5653@reddit

Yep, I’ll find someone else to pay me money.

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CalyTones@reddit

It's Walmart isn't it?

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Dual-use@reddit

Ive seen a guy before that just wedged a 2x4 between the gas pedal and the drivers seat, then went to sleep. The engine wad screaming for help and with the fan kicking in shortly after the noise level was insane even a few spots over. Typical mega carrier managerial bs. Lose a Dollar because you try to save 2 pennies. And of course zero consideration for those that actually generate the wealth

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LetterheadIcy1744@reddit

Most of the time if you release tractor brake in an automatic. You can set the rpm’s high on cruise control and keep tractor set it will think the trucks driving so you can idle

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OutcomeSalty337@reddit

Sleeping bag, and insulated coveralls come in handy til you get it fixed.

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bealiobealio@reddit

2015 Peterbilt no APU, idled all night. I was in Moore, MT last night...nothing severe, like 10 F but I was no covers in undies with my rear ac set max heat but at 1 airflow still sweating 😅

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FoxDie-6@reddit

Hotel. They said no? You need to find another job. If truckers were heavily unionized this wouldn't even be a discussion but we have allowed our profession to be exploited by capital owners.

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Aromatic-Scratch3481@reddit

If your truck has a button to stop the idle shutdown, nuy a "switchbot" and program it to press the button every 59 seconds if you dont wanna hear the beep when the idle shutdown countdown starts, or just short of the time it takes to shut down and sleep away. I did it all summer for welfare expidited.

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Tomokomon@reddit

This is why I got smart. and located my outside air temperature sensor located in the mirror if you snuggle an electric hand warmer up to it it tricks the computer into thinking it's 130 degrees outside! and let's the truck idle all night! Internationals have it behind the mirror (point driver mirror straight down and inward) it exposes the tiny probe. The Freightliners have it sticking down out of the mirror housing it looks like a tiny nipple / bump protruding from the housing.

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chiselplow@reddit

This is modern day slavery. Americans have no worker protections and seem to have developed Stockholm Syndrome for it.

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ajg00011@reddit

Get about 10ft of wire, a small marker light bulb, and a 12v plug and solder it together. Then tape the bulb to the outside temp sensor on the mirror and plug it in. The truck will think it’s hot out and will idle. It worked well when I was over the road.

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AlfredoSlut@reddit

My dispatcher liked to threaten to route me to a terminal for idling too much. I just ignored them and they stopped complaining.

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Strife3dx@reddit

I personally would not work for any company with such rules.

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Whitehoneybun666@reddit

Me currently I could idle the truck but don’t trust the pos to make it through the night (max force) also none of the windows are sealed I be freezing

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ramanw150@reddit

I've had my apu go out and the thermostat on the engine at the same time. I was near Chicago and it was -17. It was just awful. Had to wait 4 hours to get into the shop.

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Alternative_Edge_775@reddit

Company pay for hotel or driver quit

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Artemismane@reddit

Praying everyone is safe and warm out there this weekend. Thank you to every driver reading this.

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PanglossianParadise@reddit

Thank you for appreciating us! I'm driving Maine to the West Coast starting tomorrow and looking at the temps.. I'll be fine but I'm super concerned for everyone that'll be in the ice.

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railsandtrucks@reddit

Not sure on the newer trucks, but I had an "issue" on the Volvo I drove where it kept idling, I had it at a dealership for a different reason and when I got the truck back the next day I was wondering why it wouldn't shut off. Took it back and the tech came out and said it was a sensor or something that he had forgotten to hook back up, so he ducked under part of the truck, plugged it back in. Naturally I had him show me what he did, and about a day or two later when I got pissed at the truck not idling enough to keep me comfortable I crawled out, unplugged it and left it that way. Dispatch gave me a hard time a few months later "why is your idle time so high ?" but I just shrugged it off and played dumb, and was a bit more strategic about it from then on.

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Saffyr3_Sass@reddit

No I go right to the yard if there’s one nearby or call them and say you’re charging them for a hotel room tonight find one by a truck stop or one with truck parking. No way man.

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delawder29@reddit

My employer did this. I drove up to the maintenance bay, describe what was going on and HOW FUCKING ILLEGAL IT IS. 1 hr later my truck was taken care of. I could finally idle. I only idled when it was absolute necessary.

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MOBIUS__01@reddit

I’d be in a hotel

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mactrucker@reddit

Sounds like my propane heater accidentally tipped over and burned up the truck, im lucky to be alive.

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R34CTz@reddit

This kind of shit needs to be illegal. Fuck your fuel savings. People basically live in your trucks making your company money. Stop being greedy. My last job didnt limit idle at all. The never mentioned it. I would turn it on when leaving the house and it would stay running until I got back which was usually 12-14 days later. I never turned it off unless I was at a Blue Beacon getting washed. This daily job i have now, even at 20° the damn thing tries to auto shutdown. I just keep tapping the throttle every 2 minutes or so. It needs to be turned off. The timer is ridiculous.

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CammyKooma@reddit

1. LOWER LANDING GEAR ON TRAILER SO SHIT DOESN'T MOVE. USE WHEEL CHOCKS FOR EXTRA SECURITY 2. RELEASE TRACTOR BRAKES . 3. PROFIT

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Uk-One-7665@reddit

Literally having that problem now. My company turned off the idle shutdown so I can idle until I can get it fixed. Anything less I’d quit, went 3 nights without heat in Minnesota. Not happening again.

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driven_dirty@reddit

This weekend is gonna be shitty up here. High of -11.

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Typical-City1455@reddit

Just go get a hotel and make the company pay for it, I guarantee it'll be cheaper for them to either fix the APU or remove the truck idle shutdown

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carlos_damgerous@reddit

Man I know you guys gotta do what you gotta do to feed yourselves/family but I just don’t think I could get down w/ a company that wouldn’t let me idle w/ a broken APU. You’re not gonna be worth a damn the next day, putting yourself and everyone else at risk b/c you didn’t get enough rest.

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Duress01@reddit

You hand needs to be holding a phone looking for job listings

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nasdawg77@reddit

Well I'd be looking for a be company of i were you.

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voicareason@reddit

I *rarely* use the bunk heater unless it's morning and chilly(<32°). And if the ac goes down *anytime*, welp, truck's broke. Won't be moving til it's fixed. If you dont have heat, demand it. It is a right.

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EbonTitan@reddit

I quit hirschbach because of this. 6 months new in the industry, my apu stopped working, dead of winter. And every time it got fixed it stayed working for like 2 days. Absolutely freezing my ass off, while also not making enough money to support family at home and literally just eat enough to survive out otr since I was constantly in the shop and had nothing to show for it. Decided fuck this i quit. Drove that truck 17 hours straight back home abandoning the load, and started driving local. Haven't looked back since. Fuck mega carriers

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warwgn@reddit

No diesel bunk heater? No APU or engine idle needed.

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rdasphoto@reddit

Chock your wheels, set trailer brakes, release tractor brakes, enjoy a good night of sleep. This happened to me a few times with the same situation.

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coldafsteel@reddit

I like my electric blanket. I run it (and all my electronics) off a batter bank instead of truck power. Charge the battery during the day while running. It makes for overall better sleep, and I have used the battery to jump the truck.

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