How Much Idle Time Do Trucks Traveling In India Have?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Idling means that

the engine is running but the wheels are not, determined by a speed of less than 1 km/h

. According to the US Department of Energy, an idling vehicle can burn 0.8 gallons of fuel per hour. This means unnecessary fuel expenditure, costly wear and tear of engines, and air and noise pollution.

What is the average idle time for a vehicle?

Though these regulations may vary, the average amount of time allowed for engine idling is

three to five minutes

. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also warns against excessive engine idle time.

Why are Indian trucks slow?

The frequently cited reasons are

fewer national highways with sufficient lanes, long queues at toll collection points, and harassment by police and local governments

. The travel starts on a is transporting 20 tonnes of rice from a warehouse in north-west Delhi to Mumbai.

Where do truck drivers sleep India?

It is rightly said that the truck is their home which provides them shelter when they are on the road; they sleep

in it, under it, and even on top of it

. The truck drivers spend many days on highways and they remain away from home and family for a long duration.

How many truck drivers are in India?

There are

20 lakh

truck drivers at present and the driver to truck ratio is below 750 per 1000. 2 This means approximately 25% to 30% of India's trucks lie idle at any given point of time and those employed in the sector are overworked.

What is excessive idle time?

Research shows that excessive engine idling

increases the amount of fuel burned and negatively affect the engine life

. For example, an hour of engine idling is the same as almost 120 minutes of driving time. This will put more wear and tear on the engine over time and lead to loss of substantial fuel economy.

How much does it cost to idle a truck?

Idling a heavy-duty truck consumes about 0.8 gallon of fuel per hour. Even when diesel costs as little as $2.50 a gallon,

fuel for one 10-hour rest period will cost $20

. Typically, a long-haul truck idles about 1,800 hours per year, using about 1,500 gallons of diesel.

How do you idle a truck?

How long is an engine hour?

Engine hours refers to

the number of hours an engine has been running since it was first manufactured

, regardless of whether or not the vehicle is moving. Another way of viewing an engine hour is not only as a measure of time, but also as 100,000 crankshaft revolutions.

How many engine hours is a lot for a diesel truck?

According to a general rule, up to 2,500 hours is a well-broken-in number, whereas

35,000-5000 hours

are considered high.

How many engine hours is a lot for a car?

Generally speaking, if there is an engine in the range of 200 to 600 horsepower with a load factor as low as 30%, typical engine life would not exceed

10 thousand hours

, although 20,000 hours might be possible.

Why do Indians overload their trucks?

He said the operators regularly loaded their trucks beyond the permissible axle load

to maximise each vehicle's earnings

and the consignors of bulk commodities, like fertilisers, steel and cement, overloaded the vehicles in order to get freight service cheap.

How much do truck owners make per month in India?

According to a survey on the status of truck drivers in India, 53 percent of the respondents stated that the truck driving profession paid

between 10,000 and 20,000 Indian rupees

per month in 2020.

What are the problems faced by truck drivers in India?


Security and Theft

This could be due to the local crime syndicates that target cargo vehicles during transit and rob them of the valuables. Such incidents are very unfortunate and can pose to be highly dangerous for the truck drivers. Additionally, this is also a great loss to the logistics company and the clients.

How much a truck driver earns in India?

The average pay for a Heavy Truck Driver is

INR 475,568 a year and INR 229 an hour

in India. The average salary range for a Heavy Truck Driver is between INR 355,678 and INR 589,031.

What is price of truck?

The price range of Tata Truck

starts from ₹ 3.99 Lakh

for the most economic model in its lineup, the Ace gold. The most expensive Truck in Tata lineup is the Prima 3530. K, priced at ₹ 63.61 Lakh also includes Mini Trucks, Truck, Pickup Trucks, tipper, trailer and Transit Mixer.

Where can I find a truck driver in India?

Unfortunately,

there was no formal way to hire truck drivers in India till now

. Fleet operators need to depend on hiring drivers though reference and guarantors. The guarantors are those who bring group of drivers whom they usually know personally and place them at fleet operator.

Is there a shortage of truck drivers in India?

A report published by Deloitte said that in 1991, there was one driver per truck in India.

In 2019, about 27% of the trucks were idle due to a lack of drivers

and the report also projected that driver shortage is likely to reach 50% by 2022.

Which state has most trucks in India?

The Indian state of

Maharashtra

had the highest number of registered motor vehicles, at over 35 million, at the end of fiscal year 2019.

How can I become a truck driver in India?

To participate in the training, truck drivers have to pay a nominal fee, ranging from Rs 500-1,000 for the refresher course of 2-3 days to Rs 11,000-16,000 for the beginner course that runs for 21-37 days.

How do I stop my truck from idling?

  1. Idle Shutdown. Automatic idle shutdown could be considered the “first tier” of idle reduction. …
  2. Cab Heaters. …
  3. Auxiliary Air Conditioning. …
  4. Auxiliary Power Units. …
  5. Shore Power. …
  6. Other Off-Truck Options. …
  7. Don't forget about the cargo.

Does idling consume oil?


Idling your car or truck longer than is necessary causes it to burn more oil

. The longer you let your engine run, the more motor oil circulates and burns. That means spending more money on more frequent oil changes. Excessive idling also decreases your car's performance.

Does idling damage your diesel engine?

Does idling hurt a diesel engine?

When a diesel engine idles it does more damage to the engine than normal operation

. Operating a diesel engine at a low speed will cause two times the wear on the internal components compared to operating at a normal load. This will raise maintenance costs and shorten engine life.

Why do truckers leave their trucks idling?

Truckers, both independent owner-operators and fleet drivers, leave their engines idling for three main reasons:

weather conditions, economic pressures, and old habits

. In cold weather, a truck's engine and fuel tank need to stay warm.

How much does idle cost?

What Is the Cost of Idling? An idling vehicle could be burning

one fifth to 1 gallon of fuel per hour

, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If your fleet is a Medium-Duty or higher diesel fleet, you are likely burning half a gallon of diesel per hour (or more).

How much gas does a truck use while idling?

Idling uses

up to 1⁄2 gallon of fuel per hour

(although it varies depending on the type and size of the engine). It may not seem like much, but idling for a few minutes everyday can cost you several dollars per week. MYTH: Engines need to warm up by idling, especially in cold weather.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.