As we enter summer time with day after day of scorching heat in some parts of the country, I think about drivers and how glad I am that the industry has come up with a variety of solutions to help keep them cool during their non-driving hours. But are we providing enough of these tools for those drivers who are delivering all the goods we need and want?

To start with there are some pretty basic things that can be done starting when the vehicle is spec’d and continuing through driving and parking practices. White paint for the exterior reduces thermal load. Pre-cooling the truck prior to turning off the engine means whatever auxiliary cooling system you use won’t have to work as hard to keep the bunk cool. Windshield curtains can keep the hot sun out of the truck. Parking on concrete instead of asphalt helps as well.

It was not that many years ago that on hot nights trucks would idle, burning fuel in an effort to make sure the driver was cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Fortunately those days are gone. Needlessly idling wastes fuel and puts a dent in fuel economy. And even with fuel prices at today’s low levels, it doesn’t make sense to idle and waste.Diesel APUs, battery HVAC systems, truck stop electrification, automatic engine start/stop systems are various options that fleets can choose from when figuring out how to keep their drivers cool in the summer so drivers get the rest they need.

Whether it’s hot or cold, you’ll rest easy knowing you will sleep comfortably with a NITE® no-idle system. Then you’ll love the NITE® Phoenix. It has the highest cooling power of any battery powered, no-idle system out there.They are the best-selling battery-powered no-idle system on the market. Operating in scorching hot areas? It has the highest cooling power of any battery powered, no-idle system out there. Longest cooling capacity of any battery-powered no-idle system on the market. As a result, no matter how hot it is outside, it will be cool and comfortable in the sleeper.

Article excerpt courtesy of American Trucker