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Heavy-Duty Truck Idling Characteristics: Results from a Nationwide Survey

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  • Lutsey, Nicholas P.
  • Brodrick, Christie-Joy
  • Sperling, Dan
  • Oglesby, Carollyn

Abstract

Heavy-duty truck engine idling results in significant costs, fuel consumption, emissions, noise, and engine maintenance. Two promising alternatives to idling, grid connection ("shore power") and onboard auxiliary power units (APUs), are being pursued by industry and government. Their attractiveness is uncertain, however, because of limited information about truck operations and driver behavior. A nationwide survey of long-haul truck drivers was conducted to characterize truck operations and driver behavior better. Key variables included usage rates for accessories, duration of idling, and engine speed at idle. It was found that long-haul truck engines idled for an average of 34% of total engine run time, roughly 1,700 h per truck annually. But these averages are deceptive. Approximately 10% of drivers reported idling 10% or less of engine run time, while another 100;" reported idling more than 54% of engine run time, with differences related to season, truck ownership, company idling strategies, and driver experience. The mean annual fuel used during idle was estimated to be 1,600 gal per year, but the standard deviation was 1,300. An estimated 25% of drivers consumed more than 2,300 gal of fuel during idle (worth more than $3,000 per year in U.S. dollars), and 10% of drivers consumed more than 3,400 gal per year. These findings suggest that grid connections and APUs have the potential to provide large energy, environmental, and possibly even economic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutsey, Nicholas P. & Brodrick, Christie-Joy & Sperling, Dan & Oglesby, Carollyn, 2004. "Heavy-Duty Truck Idling Characteristics: Results from a Nationwide Survey," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt5d45132d, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt5d45132d
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ruzzenenti, F. & Basosi, R., 2009. "Evaluation of the energy efficiency evolution in the European road freight transport sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 4079-4085, October.
    2. Rodier, Caroline J. & Shaheen, Susan, 2007. "Commercial Vehicle Parking In California: Exploratory Evaluation of the Problem and Possible Technology-Based Solutions," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt3202c818, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    3. Lutsey, Nicholas, 2009. "Assessment of out-of-state truck activity in California," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 12-18, January.
    4. Pérez-Martínez, P.J. & Vassallo-Magro, J.M., 2013. "Changes in the external costs of freight surface transport In Spain," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 61-76.
    5. Contestabile, Marcello, 2010. "Analysis of the market for diesel PEM fuel cell auxiliary power units onboard long-haul trucks and of its implications for the large-scale adoption of PEM FCs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 5320-5334, October.
    6. Nawei Liu & Fei Xie & Zhenhong Lin & Mingzhou Jin, 2020. "Evaluating national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement and economic competitiveness of fuel cell electric long-haul trucks," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 477-493, March.
    7. Lutsey, Nicholas & Brodrick, Christie-Joy & Lipman, Timothy, 2007. "Analysis of potential fuel consumption and emissions reductions from fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs) in long-haul trucks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 2428-2438.
    8. Rodier, Caroline J. & Shaheen, Susan, 2007. "Commercial Vehicle Parking In California: Exploratory Evaluation of the Problem and Possible Technology-Based Solutions," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt9gd1f4gm, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.

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    Keywords

    Engineering; UCD-ITS-RP-04-38;

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