Truck Idle Time
We take fuel economy seriously. We have a bottom-line incentive to do so, as fuel is one of Allied Waste's largest costs. We are also committed to taking measures to improve air quality in the Treasure Valley, as evidenced by our recent conversion to biodiesel fuel. We've taken the following measures to conserve fuel and minimize our carbon footprint.
Currently, our corporate policy requires that all engines be programmed to shut down after five minutes of idle time. To reduce that time would create operational inefficiency and would prohibit drivers from completing their routes, thereby extending the amount of driver hours and miles on the road.
We also limit time in the morning for doing the pre-trip warm-up. Years ago, drivers would start a truck for a half hour to warm it up and do your paperwork. We've reduced this time. We idle for only the minimum amount of time required to have it warm enough to have the defroster working and to build enough air pressure to release the breaks.
Finally, we check tire pressure in the mornings and at night (twice a day). Inflating tires to the right tire pressure can increase fuel economy by 3 to 4%.
