At Status Transportation we are continuously reviewing alternatives on how to maximize owner operator pay. One very cost effective option is to invest in technology to help you to lessen diesel consumption like APU Units. For this reason, we have taken the time to review multiple idling alternatives to help you debunk the myths on the cons of investing in an auxiliary power unit.
If you are on the market for an APU, you will be likely to bump into websites that list the advantages or the lack of benefits to buying an auxiliary power unit. Regardless of the information out there the incentives should not be measured only by reduced fuel consumption, which by itself it is a very good benefit that has a direct impact on your bottom line, but also by reduced engine maintenance and reduced CO2 emissions which are good for the environment. That last point by itself should be a very good reason to install an APU unit installed on your truck.
Are APU Studies Reliable?
There are some articles based on studies which may not be very accurate. For example, a 2005 study conducted by the North Carolina Solar Center concluded that there was not a real difference between using a base engine or an APU when idling. How can this be you may ask? Volvo received $350,254 out of the $500,000 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the NC State University for designing an APU Prep Kit, evaluate the performance of mobile idle reduction technology (MIRT), fuel, maintenance, engine life savings, payback times and user reactions.
The APU Prep-Kit designed by Volvo was not used by field study trucks during the study, although Volvo later in 2008 received 572 new truck orders with the Prep-Kit option selected. There is no denying Volvo did a great job at designing a Pre-Kit that paved the road for standardized mounting locations on semi trucks and better methods for more secure mobile idle-reduction technology installations. As far as the results of the study, the same report does state that the sample of trucks in the study is not a nationally representative sample, and these only represent a portion of those trucks currently on the road. Therefore, we can conclude the results of this study do not have real world application because the sample is skewed.
Idle laws
At this moment, there are an estimated 15.5 million trucks operating in the United States. According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there was a 76.4% percent change in U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Domestic Freight Transportation from 1990 to 2013. For this reason, many states have adopted commercial vehicle idling regulations. For example, commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 lbs or heavier are not allowed to idle for more than 5 minutes within California's borders. Idling is allowed only when stuck in traffic, when necessary for vehicle inspection or if your truck meets idling emission standards and is not located within 100 feet from a residential area. Fines for violating idling laws start at $300 or can be as high as $1000 per day.
What Options Are There For Cab Comfort?
The safety department at Status Transportation reviews FMCSA rules and regulations to help owner operators to stay compliant. FMCSA's 11-hour rule limits United States drivers to drive a maximum of 11 hours per day in a 14-hour work day. Due to extreme weather conditions in different parts of the country, it is crucial for drivers to idle during their down time, which depending on the weather could mean the engine is on idle for another 10 hours straight. At a rate a gallon per hour on idle multiplied by 10 hours per day, in one month we are talking about close to 300 hours just on idling, but with an increasing number of states adopting no-idle laws, what options do owner operators have for cab comfort? The same state that is known for imposing strict environmental protection laws, which is California, also has some very useful suggestions. For example, the California Environmental Protection Agency recommends using fuel-fired heaters (with some restrictions), truck stop hookups for heating and cooling, or using an auxiliary power unit. Yes, you read that right, the CEPA recommends using APU units and they not only do it because they are environmentally friendly but from experience at Status Transportation we can tell you it is also cost effective. Let's examine the other two options suggested by the California Environmental Protection Agency so you can compare the savings.
Anti-idle Systems
Diesel-fired heaters are useful if you are looking for a quick solution that will help you to preheat your cab and it's easy to install. The downside to these is that they do not offer a cooling option and you need to buy a separate unit to pre-heat your engine.
Truck stop AC hookups are becoming more common and some of these options like idleair even offer movie streaming and internet access. Pilot and Love's truck stops offer it for around $1.50 per hour. At the moment their website only lists 32 locations so although the extras make it a very attractive option it is not very accessible unless you happen to find one on your way. Unlike APU units or diesel-fired heaters, IdleAir is limited to AC and does not have the option to pre-heat your engine.
APU Unit Savings
The convenience of an APU unit is that it goes wherever the driver goes. APU units only consume 0.30 gallons of diesel per hour compared to 1 gallon per hour on idle. This means drivers can have the comfort of staying cool during the summer or warm in the winter only a fraction of the cost compared to idling.
Auxiliary Power Units can be categorized into two types: integrated systems and stand-alone. As the name implies, stand-alone systems are separate from truck components and act as a backup by having their own engine, condenser, generator and power outlets. These systems are typically installed on the side of the truck under the sleeper in a weather resistant enclosure. Integrated APU units take advantage of the trucks resources recirculating the truck's coolant to provide heat inside the cab and for the engine. These units use everything except for the truck's AC compressor. There are hybrid units that tie to some of the truck's resources and also have their own components but the majority of units can be categorized as integrated or stand-alone.
For example, The ACEMCO Auxiliary Power Unit is an integrated non-intrusive unit to the truck's OE systems. ACEMCO APU's have a stand-alone 3-cylinder diesel engine mounted on the side of the truck inside a lightweight fully insulated aluminum enclosure. These units not only solve your AC needs but also help to charge your truck battery when the voltage drops below a given point. Like an integrated APU system, this unit has its own radiator & condenser, HVAC unit, coolant vent tank and an in-cab display module.
As you can see there are multiple idle-reducing technologies available to owner operators who are looking for ways to extend their truck’s engine life and save money on diesel consumption. Although out of the mobile alternatives, auxiliary power units are by far the most convenient and cost-effective in the long run.
Depending on your budget you can find new or refurbished units at a very accessible price. Status Truck & Trailer Repair in Atlanta, GA is an authorized ACEMCO distributor and also sells refurbished auxiliary power units. We ship all over the United States and Canada and have a wide variety of refurbished units from manufacturers like Thermo King, Rigmaster APU, HP 2000, Carrier, Rig Master, Storm power systems, Tripac, Green, and Comfort Master.
Being a 100% owner operator company, Status Transportation reviews different ways to help our owner operators to succeed in the transportation industry. We recommend investing in an APU unit that will help you in reducing operational costs and save your hard earned owner operator pay.
Call us today and let us help you find the APU unit that best meets your needs.
Erik C.
Status Transportation
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