Truck Idling Trends: Results of a Pilot Survey in Northern California

Recently public agencies have been promulgating idling bans in an effort to mitigate the environmental effects of heavy-duty truck idling. In order to make rational choices, regulators, manufacturers, and consumers will need to compare idling reduction strategies, such as truck stop electrification and auxiliary power units. Truck driver behaviors, such as idling time, idling location, and accessory use will significantly influence the cost-effectiveness of the various technology options. Truck driver attitudes toward idling and idling alternatives will influence adoption of the technologies. A pilot survey of 233 line-haul truck drivers was administered in Northern California as the first step in assessing truck driver behaviors and attitudes related to idling. Initial findings reveal that line-haul truck drivers idle primarily to power climate control. Line-haul truck drivers in California require an average of 4-6 kW of power for a stereo, a CB radio, a light, a refrigerator, and the climate control found in the average truck. The majority of truck drivers are receptive to idling alternatives and two-thirds of truck drivers surveyed reported they would support a program to reduce idling. Truck drivers reported they make frequent stops for a variety of reasons, and they have difficulty accurately recalling idling durations and locations. In addition to the personal interview, idling monitoring, truck driver logs, and focus groups will likely be necessary to obtain the data necessary to compare auxiliary power units to truck stop electrification.