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No Truck Idle Risking Health and Safety of Truck Drivers |
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Written by Allen Smith
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:41 |
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Trucking companies are so concerned with the environment that they have teamed up with the Smart way EPA program, creating their own strict limited idling rules for their drivers. This program gives awards to companies that are most compliant and “eco friendly”, and many times you will see these company trucks proudly displaying their partnership with Smart Way, sharing their enthusiasm for caring for “Mother Earth” and fuel conservation….But here comes the truth….the other side of the coin.
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Summer once again is coming - No relief for Truckers |
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Written by David Jeffers
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Saturday, 01 May 2010 17:33 |
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Once again the hot summer months are rapidly approaching, and yet more states have adopted anti-idling regulations. Enforcement has been increased due to budget shortfalls and the need for increased revenue. Where is the relief for the company employed truck driver?
Last January, IdleAire which was the only in-truck climate control alternative for drivers who's companies do not provide APU's has gone bankrupt and ceased operations. As usual OSHA and NIOSH seems to be ignoring the situation, and our elected officials keep signing these anti-idling laws all over the country. I can assure you that none of them sleep without heat or air conditioning. Maybe it's time to boot them out of office!
Currently the HOT political topic is "Driver Fatigue"! Ask yourself how much rest can a truck driver get while sleeping in an aluminum truck sitting in the sun with no air conditioner. There are some states that do allow idling during hot or cold weather. However others don't care about the safety or health of truck drivers at all. California does not allow a truck to idle past 5 minutes ever, no matter how hot or cold it gets. In California, it's not just a ticket, it can be treated as a major crime with civil and criminal penalties. Then you have Maricopa county in Arizona, which is one of the HOTTEST places in America - No Idling! Some cities and counties in Colorado the penalty is fines up to $1,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment. Connecticut has fines up to $5,000 but does allow you to idle if it is less than 20 degrees, but no provision for summer heat. Some other places with zero tolerance for idling during summer are, Florida (after 9-30-2013); Atlanta, GA; Maryland; Massachusetts; Missouri; Nevada; New Hampshire; New York; Texas(many cities and towns including Dallas) and Virginia (in urban areas).
There are other states that only allow idling for 5-10 minutes per hour. I guess truck drivers have to wake up every hour to cool off the truck. How ridiculous is that?
If you live in one of these places, I encourage you to contact your lawmakers and ask them to change the law and allow the idling of trucks during hot weather so the A/C can be used while a driver sleeps. A good restful sleep is the best way to fight FATIGUE!
Below there is a link for PDF files with a list of the current idling laws by state. Please take a look. If you are a trucker, download the "cab card" version and keep it with you.
Here are this year's (2010) updated idling laws by state.
Idling Laws by State (full page)
Idling Laws by State (cab card)
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Washington state labor investigation looks at carrier’s APUs |
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Washington authorities cited and fined one large motor carrier this summer after finding that the carrier didn’t provide consistent in-cab heat for a company driver.
Gordon Trucking of Pacific, WA, was fined $1,000 in June by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. The state alleged that Gordon didn’t ensure its company practices were adequate to make the workplace safe.
“Employees aren’t provided a means to keep warm in cold temperatures at high altitudes while driving delivery trucks,” the citation read. “Employee truck idle is automatically disabled after approximately five minutes.”
Gordon equips many of its long-haul trucks with bunk heaters and APUs. The complaint alleged that when the
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Written by David J
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Wednesday, 09 December 2009 18:28 |
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For months, even before the December 12, 2008 vote to implement massive rules affecting the trucking industry, CARB (California Air Resources Board) board members knew that their lead researcher Hien Tran had lied about his education. Hien Tran claimed he had a PhD from U.C. Davis, in fact he lied to his supervisor when asked to provide proof of his education (see email). Yet the board members of CARB chose to cover it up. Tran's research has lead to the current policies being enforced by ARB currently and massive upgrades that the entire trucking industry is facing in the very near future. Hien Tran has been demoted but not dismissed from
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Anti-Idling a Truckers Nightmare |
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Written by David J
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Monday, 08 June 2009 17:00 |
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DOES THIS DRIVER LOOK LIKE HE IS GETTING MUCH REST?
Location: Coachella, CA - Outside Air Tempurature 101F - Tempurature inside the Sleeper? UNBEARABLE!
Do you have a car? I know ridiculous question right, of course you do! Now think about the last time you parked your car in the sun while you went shopping or were at work. How hot was the interior of your car when you got inside? 120 degrees, 130? Higher? Was your steering wheel so hot you had to use your fingertips to steer? With the current Diesel Anti-Idling laws being passed nationwide, we expect our Truck Drivers to try to sleep in their sleepers in those very same conditions! No A/C, No Heat! See the
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Anti-Idling the impact on drivers |
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Written by David J
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Friday, 10 April 2009 17:00 |
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With global warming a major issue in America, and going "green" is politically correct policy, the truck drivers are the people who pay the ultimate price. With fuel prices ever fluctuating, idling a diesel engine to provide heat and A/C for the drivers is expensive, and the industry is coming up with new ways to deal with it. Unfortunately a major percentage of companies will not spend the money for these new technologies. What is the result? Companies see anti-idling laws as a way to save money on fuel, their drivers however are forced to sleep in extremely hot or cold trucks, and many have suffered from heat stroke or frost bite. Yet after their 10 hours of supposed rest, they need to stay awake and drive another 11 hours toward their destination.
What happens if in a northern community during winter and the temperature is say 10 below zero and all the power goes out for that community? Well the Red Cross steps in and offers warm shelters for those people affected. Or in the other extreme, during an extreme heatwave you hear on the news about how many people have died from heat stroke.
Truck stops and travel centers in America are not generally located in nice safe neighborhoods where it is safe to leave your windows rolled down when it is hot. And truckstop electrification has not even come close to expectations. Trucks are made of metal, what happens to a metal container sitting in the sun? Click here to see how hot it really gets. Why are there laws against locking animals or children in cars when it is hot out? Yet the citizens of America don’t realize how these laws affect our truck drivers who are forced daily into that same situation. Anti-Idling laws are here to stay. Laws need to be passed to FORCE the trucking companies into taking proper care of their employees and pay for equipment to keep our truckers comfortable while they sleep.
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/documents/420b06004.pdf
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckernews/specialreports/idling_laws_affecting_truckers.shtml
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