It's no secret that long-haul drivers leave their trucks running to control cab temperatures and power auxiliary devices. But the comfort of these drivers comes with a hefty price tag – 960 million gallons of wasted fuel and 180,000 tons of pollutants spewed into the air annually.

Heavy-duty diesel trucks aren't the only vehicles on the road contributing to this problem. Drivers of delivery vans and small trucks often idle their engines at stops along their daily routes, wasting fuel — and money — while emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But with fuel prices skyrocketing, many WDs are encouraging drivers to break the idling habit.

"We tell our delivery guys not to warm up their vehicles in the morning or to idle at any stop — period," says Don Poole, vice president of Consumer Auto Parts in Milford, Mass. "This policy has always been on the books, but we began to really enforce it four or five years ago."

Poole says the decision to revisit this policy simply was a matter of economics, but adds that the company is interested in doing its part for the environment and strives to make its delivery fleet as efficient as possible. Still, isn't it better to "warm up" a vehicle before driving it, especially during New England's harsh winters?

"Reducing idling time gives the transportation sector a rare opportunity to create a win-win-win situation," says Dennehy. "That is, a win for their wallets, a win for the nation in increased energy efficiency and a win for the environment."

While vehicle idling as a whole is decreasing, the installation of remote starters is rising. According to Mike Bacon, a marketing manager with Webasto Product North America, Inc., the use of remote starters alone will add 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and waste an additional 132 million gallons of fuel by 2010. Webasto's BlueHeat® coolant heater eliminates startup idling by allowing drivers to activate the unit from a remote location, ensuring customer comfort without harming the environment.

"People want to get into a warm vehicle during the winter months," Bacon says. "When we saw how many people used remote starters to do this, we knew we'd have to offer a recognizable way to start the FOH if we wanted to make our product competitive, and attractive, in the marketplace."

On the other hand, Webasto's BlueCool Truck no-idle bunk cooling system offers long-haul drivers the option to cool their truck cabs for up to 10 hours without idling the truck's engine. This innovative system charges while the truck is in motion, and does not require additional batteries to run. Like the BlueHeat, BlueCool Truck saves on fuel, emissions and engine wear and tear – not to mention money.

Safety comes first

While many delivery fleets have developed anti-idling policies to save on fuel costs, others choose to look at the issue from a safety standpoint. Bobby Segal, vice president of Automotive Supply Associates in Concord, N.H., says his drivers are asked to turn their vehicles off at each stop. That way, the company doesn't have to worry about a truck slipping out of gear and causing an accident.

"For us, safety is the bottom line. Sure, we monitor fuel costs and try to get our dispatchers to be more efficient, but safety comes first," Segal says. "We take this policy seriously. Non-compliant drivers could lose their jobs."

FOH products also offer safety benefits. According to Bacon, one advantage is an FOH can heat the engine and vehicle interior while defrosting the windshield, providing drivers with better visibility and a safer driving experience.

Money talks

Many WDs don't think idling is a financial liability. Tony DiFiore Jr., vice president of Car Parts Warehouse in Cleveland, says his drivers are allowed to leave their vehicles running at delivery stops — just as long as the stops are between three and five minutes.

"The price of fuel has been going up for the past two years," says DiFiore. "At this point, we simply factor it into the cost of doing business."

But Dennehy and Bacon disagree with this way of thinking and insist that the installation of FOHs can dramatically lower the cost of doing business for a delivery fleet.

"The installation of a FOH will run approximately $1,200," Dennehy says. "But you can easily recoup that amount in nine months in gas and maintenance savings alone."

While the cost of a single FOH is relatively low, outfitting an entire fleet could become expensive. That's why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced an innovative financing program called the SmartWay Transport® Partnership. SmartWay offers trucking companies low-interest loans with flexible repayment terms so they can retrofit their delivery vehicles with fuel-efficient technologies, like FOHs, and emission control devices.

"This technology has been around for decades, but it's really taking off now because of the green movement," Dennehy notes. "But green or no, these new technologies are good for the bottom line. And that's something no one can argue with — no one."