Idle Air

Its not like they blocked off those spots to do something important like resurface the lot. They did it to install something that was moot to begin with. And after it was up and running it was STILL a pain in the ###. If you use it, you have to head into a spot (which I don't even do in my personal vehicle) and if you're not equipped to use it, you can't park in one of their spots and NOT use it. So I say screw them, I'm glad its gone.

 

Idle Aire? Two things to consider:

Idle Aire was designed in a time when the average driver didn't have a lot of creature comforts. The fee sounds great for all you get, but will you actually use all of these features? Do you already own or pay for these features without using Idle Aire?

Times have changed. The average driver now owns a wide variety of inexpensive items and carries them wherever he/she goes. We carry cell phones, TV's, laptop computers (if we use 'em), and have internet coverage through our cell phone plans. What most of us do NOT have is a comfortable climate for sleeping. So we pay for all the Idle Aire luxuries we won't even touch in order to have the necessary heat or a/c for the mandatory-10. If you don't mind paying the fee for all those unused Idle Aire luxuries instead of a reduced price for simple climate-control, then Idle Aire might be for you. The 2nd thing to consider could be a deal-breaker for some drivers.

Just how clean are the Idle Aire hvac systems? Do they pass germs into your cab? Are you allergic to pet dander? Do you enjoy 2nd-hand smoke? Idle Aire insists that they clean the filter 1x/day, and that they spray Febreze Odor Remover directly into the intake vents of each cab's unit after every driver leaves. I know for a fact that this is not 100% true nor is it 100% effective. Odors get trapped in the yellow hose and filter, then feed into your cab when you operate the climate control. If odors are trapped, are germs? They don't use Lysol. They use odor remover.

Each time we attempted to enjoy Idle Aire, we were choked out by clouds of 2nd-hand smoke. We used Febreze as they suggested until we discovered that my husband is one of thousands who are fatally allergic to Febreze. The attendants apologized each time by saying that our unit must have been ove-looked, but never offered a refund or a discount.

My final word on this is that if you want to pay for all the toys, why don't you take that money over to the Motel 6 or wherever. It's approximately the same price, but you get a queen-size bed, a clean shower, 2 complimentary pots of coffee, and a swimming pool to work out some of those pothole injuries.

 

Good bye, good riddance, fare thee well idle aire. You will not be missed.

 

When it first popped up at the Petro in Knoxville they where having you back into their slots.

One of their reps. was trying their best to get me to hookup for free.
I kept turning them down..
I told them I would not fit into their parking spot. Huh they said.
Well I'm 15' high and your crossbar is to low.
They told me there was no way I could be that high as legal hgt. was 13'6"

I said did you ever hear about oversize loads?

Then I pointed out that backing in was going to be problems.
They stated they would spot the trks. in. Ok so you miss guide the trk. and then you pay for the damages correct?

What are you talking about?
Trust me it will happen.
I also explained to them I have Sat. Tv./ Internet / and phone.

So for a few more dollars I can get a room and be better off.

Told them also cost prohitive as well.
That started the war..
I told them then it was going to fail.
This was to one of the main big wigs there trying to sell us on their product.

Just took awhile longer, but good bye Idleaire...

 

Woke up in the sleeper one morning in Illinois - It was below zero - (but i was with my then-girlfriend) - Engine and reefer were both off. One would start (I forget which), the other would not. So I jumped one off of the other.

 

Everyone flaps their gums about APU's but read these forums about the larger training companies. They all tried APU's and found it was just easier to hire drivers that would suffer and not idle. Great solution. If I were job hunting I would get an Idleaire guide and see which companies paid for their drivers to use Idleaire as opposed to "just don't idle." A lot of drivers were made comfortable using Idleaire when their APU or air conditioning/heating was out due to mechanical failure which happens on a regular basis. So for everyone who made life hard for the Idleaire company and employees, enjoy when you are sitting there in 90 degree heat with the windows down looking at the dead overhead metal or holes in the ground.

 

There were far too few IdleAire locations to be able to count on being able to find one to park at . My carrier would pay for IdleAire but I only used it a half dozen times in 2 years . Two of those times the heat was inadequate .

 

IdleAire was worthless since our company pushed to be at the docks, not truckstops.

 

Honestly, I've been driving for 21 years and still can't understand why all these new drivers get so bent out of shape over parking a truck. I got along fine without idling for a lot of years before they showed up, I'll get along fine when they are gone, and I doubt I will need to threaten fire and brimstone to park a truck. Unbelievable.

 

Not just new drivers but they are a bit worse. They think that they should be able to pull into any stop anytime of day and park like it is a right. I have never counted on being able to park in a particular place. Hoped maybe.