Fuel costs for commercial vehicles.

[McMouse]

Keep hearing transport companies and their drivers complaining about how the high cost of fuel is driving them out of business. Why the hell don't they stop the motors when they make deliveries. Just back from the shops and saw Fedex truck with engine running but driver in shop making delivery, similarly Fire Engine parked on double yellows with engine running while one of the crew was doing their food shop in the supermarket.

[redcrx]

fire engine would need to be able to get moving pretty quickly if call came in, plus radios would be in use. I would expect that would be reason why engine still running.

[albaqwerty]

I seem to recall hearing/reading something years ago that it took more fuel to start up than is used when idling.

But that was when you opened a bonnet and saw an engine, a battery etc instead of electronic nik-naks

[McMouse]

red.....this Fire Engine thing happens two or three times a week. It takes seconds to start a warm engine and on the odd occasion a call comes in they turn on the horn to alert the guy doing the shopping. Radio is not dependent on running engine.

[redcrx]

I shall enquire and find out tonight for you.

[milly143]

The car would be considered parked if the engine stops running, which could cause the drivers other problems while they are on double yellows.

I got a fuel bill in for our company vans the other day. It doesn't specify a unit price so I did a quick calculation. The average price was £1.43 a litre for diesel. shocking!

[redcrx]

ok theres no rule stating that the fire engine should have its engine running. But with the amount of electrical equipment in use it is advised to keep the engine running so as not to drain the battery. The batteries dont last long, which is why the pumps are plugged in when in the station.