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Truck Stops Get Wireless Internet
Makarand writes "According to SFGate.com, a company called
IdleAire Technologies are building high-tech truck
stops to provide drivers with air-conditioning, television, Internet access
and phone service in truck cabs, so that they can turn off their engines.
Trucks will pull into bays, where flexible tubes ending in vents for hot or cold air, and
touch sensitive screens for Internet access can be pulled inside the truck's cab. There's also a separate wireless Internet option, where drivers don't have to pull into the bays. The basic services provided cost less than the fuel spent in idling a truck."
So with the wireless access can you use all the trucks on the road as a rolling wireless relay system? If so that would be cool. Sure puts the old CB system to shame.
If Darwin was right, you'd be dead by now.
Actually, I'm not surprised.
1. More and more truckers are using satelite based tracking and communication systems. (Mostly trucking companies, not individual owner/operators, I think). Theses systems tend to be laptop based.
2. Cheap and easy way to keep in touch with your loved ones and manage your life while on the road.
Many truckers keep in touch with family by e-mail. It is also a way to get traffic information, etc.
You don't have to be a geek to read e-mail, use IM or browse the web in your off time. Just look at how many people AOL has signed up.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
Since people are questioning my numbers, I've done some research to back up my statements.
According to a bulletin published by the EPA in 2002, newer diesel engines consume significantly less fuel on startup. When I was told of the startup problems many years ago, starting an engine was absolute hell on it so truckers avoided it whenever possible. With the newer engines, idling is actually worse for it. According to the EPA starting a modern diesel engine consumes as much fuel as 30 seconds of idling.
I'm trying to find when this changed, because older engines (older being the word in question) were better off idling all night than being turned off and restarted. If I can dig up the documentation I'm looking for, I'll post links here.
There is no reasonable defense against an idiot with an agenda
:wq
This may be an attempt to be funny. But some truck drivers actually get decent pay I have seen up to 60k a year. Depending on what you carry. Most truck drivers arnt actually the typical Red Necks that they are normally portraid. A lot of them are indepent buisness owners and take care of their buisness on the road. If you actually looked at some of the Tractors Trailers out their some of them are really nice with sleeping quarters and tables fridge and microwave. A person can actually live comfortable in these tractors.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.