Methodology for characterization of long-haul truck idling activity under real-world conditions

Real-world data are used to quantify the activity of long-haul sleeper cab trucks during extended idling and estimate baseline fuel use and emission rates, and to assess reductions achievable with idle reduction techniques. Twenty new in-service trucks equipped with auxiliary power units and shorepower capability, divided between single drivers and team drivers, were monitored for more than a year. Data were collected from each truck using existing electronic control units, additional installed sensors, and a satellite uplink. For single drivers, there was an average of 2130 h of idling per truck, of which 1520 h occurred for stops of 7 h or more. The auxiliary power units were used 59% of the time for all stops and 68% for stops of 7 h or more. Team drivers averaged only 770 h of idling per truck and 29% overall auxiliary power units usage. There was substantial inter-driver variability, demonstrating the need for adequate sample size to reliably characterize activity patterns.