When Cost-Cutting Turns Cold: The Alarming Rise of Remote Heater Lockouts in Trucking

Some trucking companies are now using APU telematics to remotely disable a driver’s heat, even during freezing temperatures. While these systems were designed for diagnostics and fuel control, misusing them can put drivers at risk. Diesel bunk heaters burn only 0.1–0.2 gallons per hour, yet disabling them can leave a sleeper cab dropping to dangerous temperatures within hours, especially in northern states.

Safety advocates warn that this practice may violate OSHA’s duty to provide safe working conditions and FMCSA’s requirement for adequate rest environments. Drivers are calling it what it is: a cost-cutting tactic that sacrifices human safety. As reports grow, the industry is facing a serious question, is saving a little fuel worth putting a driver in the cold?