Idling and IdleAire
You may start noticing IdleAire representatives writing down information on trucks that are idling in the truck stop parking lot.
IdleAire is doing a survey of idling trucks and, as part of the survey, IdleAire reps will be writing down DOT numbers and unit numbers of the idling trucks. According to IdleAire customer service, IdleAire reps will be writing down the information on idling trucks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until further notice. IdleAire employees received and email with the information about the idling survey.
IdleAire is an equipment intensive service installed at many truck stops. Truckers who pay for the service can use air conditioning or heat that is piped into the truck through the passenger window of the cab. The IdleAire service module (the round mass at the end of the giant yellow tubes hanging over the IdleAire parking spots- the part that snaps into the truck window) also provides household electricity, high speed internet access, satellite television and phone lines.
A general paranoia among truck drivers may mean truckers won’t like the idea of IdleAire tracking down “the idlers.” But, according to the employee email, there’s nothing for truckers to fear.
IdleAire customer service says the email indicates that the information will only be used by the IdleAire sales department. IdleAire sales will use the information to contact the parent companies of the idling truckers and try to drum up business. They say they won’t be tracking any specific trucks that are idling.
If you ask the person doing the survey, you may get a different answer, though. One IdleAire employee said she thought it was a survey IdleAire was performing on behalf of the Federal DOT. We hope the truth isn’t found somewhere in between. A list of Federal DOT numbers and unit numbers of trucks that are idling might be dangerous information if it fell into official hands.
IdleAire Customer Service can be reached at 877-738-7024
8th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
I feel that if they want to drum up new business they just have to call the company. What do they need DOT numbers and unit numbers for? Who made them the idle police? Something about this stinks, who is to say that this not a setup, I for one along with alot of other drivers feel the same. We have enough people regulating the what, where, how and when’s of our lives as truck drivers. This sounds like the beginning of another CRASH or PATT movement.
11th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Dear Coops Admin:
We wanted to reassure you and your readers that IdleAire’s “lot surveys” have two internal business purposes only and have absolutely nothing to do with US DOT or any other federal or state agency. We do these lot counts on a regular basis, noting all trucks/fleets present, regardless of whether they are idling or not.
First, this gives our Fleet Sales department specific, quantifiable information to use to persuade the identified fleets using our sites to consider providing basic IdleAire services to their drivers if they are not already.
IdleAire reduces fuel, maintenance and engine wear & tear expenses for the fleet (or any truck owner), while improving the comfort, rest, communications and entertainment for the driver. And, in addition to cost savings, fleets are also recognizing IdleAire’s positive benefit to drivers and the impact on recruitment and retention. In fact, over 1,800 fleets have signed agreements to allow their fuel card to be used to pay for basic services at the discounted fleet rate. So, if drivers see an IdleAire employee doing one of these lot counts, don’t be shy. Please offer any details about your fleet that would help us get the fleet signed if you’re interested in greatly improving your life on the road.
Second, the lot counts give us a regular opportunity to see if there are fleet trucks at our locations that are not using IdleAire even though the fleet is paying for it. The next question is, “Why not?” Most often we find the answer is the driver didn’t know … and it is part of our site employees’ job to identify trucks from fleets that are paying and make sure the drivers know of their fleet’s pay status with IdleAire … and get the drivers hooked up. And it also tells our Fleet Implementation team when they need to go back and work with a specific fleet that IS paying for IdleAire for a broader information and implementation process with that fleet’s drivers.
As far as any federal or state agency is concerned, if they want to do any sort of lot counts they need to work that out with the truck stop owner and do them on their own.
We regret bursting anyone’s conspiracy bubble, but we hope this resolves any questions anyone might have about this IdleAire activity and our intentions for doing it. We would also invite Coop Admin to visit our corporate headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee, to discuss this or any other subject in more detail.
15th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Personally I will never use Idleaire, even if my company paid for it. I wish they’d hurry up and go out of business and stop tearing up perfectly good parking places all over the country. Seems to me like most drivers agree on that.
17th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I am not one for goverment helping me run my business. How ever with the current driver mind set it might not hurt for companies to have a little added pressure to start schooling drivers on the need for less engine run time. INVEST in gen sets or use idle air. Quit wasting fuel because you can. Ignorance is intolarable.
4th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Truck drivers need to realize that the future is here! Idleaire is creating jobs and improving the air quality,saving money on fuel. If americans are not working, who buys the products we haul?? So stop crying over nothing and do your job. idleaire still allows drivers to park in their spaces even if they don’t use service.