Cities to Slash Idling Times

Several large cities are cutting current idling times for big rig trucks in an effort to reduce air pollution. Chicago, IL was the most recent to reduce idling times from 10 minutes to 3 minutes. This applies to the Chicago, IL city limits only, the remainder of Illinois can still idle up to 10 minutes.

Some commercial vehicles are exempt from the new idling laws such as emergency vehicles and air-support vehicles. This new law clearly is aimed at the full-truckload and less-than-truckload transportation industry. Other conditions that will not apply to the law are running diesel engines in standing traffic situations, using the vehicle in which the engine's power is required, standing for other service related issues, government repair and inspection, and to supply air conditioning when the temperature outside exceeds more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is good to see that this will not effect idling engines during the July and August months when temperatures easily exceed 90 degrees in most areas.

If big truck drivers do idle for longer than three minutes, there will be a $250.00 fine for going over that allowance. Some other cities who are also enforcing the three minute idling time are Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. More cities are expected to follow in 2010.

by: Lacey Landry, Operations Coordinator for Integrated Transport, LLC