LETTERS
Idle Conversation
Great article on idling equipment (Deb Whistler's editorial June HDT). As a salesman for a full-service truck leasing company, this is something that I have tried to educate my customers on for years.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of alternatives to running a truck when your driver is trying to get some rest in 95-degree temperatures.
I have a friend who is an owner-operator. He recently called me and told me of an experience he had with IdleAire (somewhere in Arizona). He loved it and thinks it is the way of the future for over-the-road drivers. He believes truckstops will soon look like drive-in theaters with large areas devoted to these hookups.
I send out articles of this type to my prospects and customers to keep them educated on ways to more efficiently operate their fleets.
John Cole
AIM Nationalease
Idling Is A Huge Issue
I am the general manager of the International Truck and Engine business unit at Bergstrom Inc. in Rockford, Ill. Founded in 1949, Bergstrom is a climate system designer and manufacturer with facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. In the States we market to the commercial vehicle industry to include heavy truck, construction, agriculture and school buses. We are the primary source of climate systems to International, Kenworth, Mack, Caterpillar, CNH, IC Corp., Thomas Bus and Blue Bird, among others.
I recently read your editorial in the June issue of Heavy Duty Trucking regarding "Idle Conversation" and this is a huge issue in today's marketplace.
Over the past decade we at Bergstrom have researched and developed a number of potential solutions to the idling challenge/opportunity. The years of research and development have led us to a product called NITE (no idle thermal environment). More on this system can be found at www.nitesystems.com. We have hundreds of these on the road with small, medium and large fleets including Wal-Mart and Schneider National.
I believe your readers would find much of the research and progress we've made very interesting and helpful to their efforts to reduce idling. Our system is self-contained and is driven by a hermetically sealed, electrically driven compressor. The unit is relatively small in size and weight with excellent capacity. Economically it offers paybacks not found by other industry offerings.
Steve Rosella
More On Idling
Although you have addressed issues that concern all of us, I think your point is incorrect when you say "excessive idling is the problem." Years ago this was true, but today many fleets have come on board with the idea of eliminating idle time and are taking action to prevent it from happening. It's a simple solution with electronic diesel engines, which have been operating for six years or more.
These engines can be programmed to shut down after a predetermined and adjustable time via a laptop computer.
There may be some who still idle unnecessarily but I would guess that the majority of truckers ceased this practice long ago because of the ill effect it has on the pocket book.
Brad Barker
Shop Supervisor
Park City School District
Benefits For Years
A "Smart Spec'ing" article from HDT, October 1999, called Get The Spread Straight is something I tore out of the issue and have in a "weight" file.
I needed info today on Bridge Law and referred to this article. It was well-written and clear, and resolved a conflict that two people had about the law.
When you folks put out good articles like this, the benefits go on for years.
Danny R. Schnautz
Clark Freight Lines Inc.
Pasadena, Texas
Hours Of Service
After quietly sitting in Risk Management Seminars and reading article after article telling me how bad we in trucking were and how good the new hours of service rules will be for drivers and the motoring public, thanks for your insight.
For our small safety award-winning fleet, these new hours of service rules are of great concern both to me and our drivers.
The knowledge that we could and will have a higher number of tired but legal drivers on the highways is a scary thought.
As a team that has involved trucking management, drivers and law enforcement officers, our industry has worked hard to begin changes in practices that have resulted in safer conditions and fewer collisions.
As of Jan. 4th, much has changed; more or stronger legislation isn't going to make our highways safer. It's the commitment to local communities and employees that has - and will continue to be - that driving force.
Your comments were on the mark and hopefully people out there were listening.
Paul Kimball
