STFU, Fresh Direct Trucks

As the self-proclaimed official FIPS bitch in the hood, I would like to direct your attention (and my righteous indignation) to the topic of noise pollution. Specifically, the Fresh Direct truck that seems to be permanently idling late at night and early in the morning in front of my goddamned apartment.

Apparently, Fresh Direct agreed last spring to comply with requests from the Attorney General's office that they would cut this shit out. They promised to install automatic shut-offs in all their trucks that would kick-in after 60 seconds, in order to get out of $70,000 in fines. Yeah...uhm, not so much in front of my building (yours??). Anyway, even if they *are* shutting off the engine after 60 seconds (which they are clearly not), most of the noise seems to be coming from the fridge part of their trucks.

Are there any refrigerated trucks that are NOT deafeningly loud?  Am I the only sensitive flower around here?

Of course not. This is NY--ground zero for all complainers everywhere, so I googled, and I'm not alone (selection of comments taken from here and here):

April 16, 2009 - 11:44AM
I wish you would single out FRESH DIRECT as a particularly heinous offender. This company is constantly idling hundreds of trucks, while at the same time blocking traffic, so that able-bodied people can avoid the exercise they might get by walking to the grocery store!

April 16, 2009 - 11:46AM
And what about Fresh Direct, massive citywide perpetrators of idling and accompanying noise pollution.

Posted by: wintaki at September 12, 2008 3:29 PM
How about that damn Fresh Direct truck idleing outside your house while you get your delivery? That annoys me one hell of a lot more then a helicopter flying past my house. Ban idling vehicles on residential streets...particularly Fresh Direct trucks at 11 PM.

Posted by Dave on 2005-07-25 15:45:39
Now, thanks to Fresh Direct, you can get your groceries delivered to you in a huge diesel truck. But, the rest of us suffer for it. Pollution, more truck traffic, noise, and congestion. Double Parked assholes. Not too mention the drop in demand at the local Key for higher quality food products. Kids, watch out as
a particulate spewing diesel truck (which has to idle during deliveries to run the refrigeration) comes trundling down our quiet street at 50 to make his next delievery crosstown. Look, is your job at Burson-Marsteller so goddamned important that you have to relinquish every single personal responsibility? "Oh,
but Jeff wipes asses so much better than I can, and its so convenient"

(NOTE: whoa, dave’s on a roll, man)

Posted by Kat on 2005-07-25 15:46:21
One thing I forgot to mention -- the idling trucks. They are a real problem in my neighborhood -- especially as they often deliver on early Sunday mornings. I swear. A friend of mine (who does not use FD) finally got sick of the truck that idles under her window every Sunday a.m. She called FD's customer service # &
they basically told her "tough, live with it". Talk about rude customer service. The refrigeration unit is linked to the engine so they have to keep the engine going to keep the refrigeration on. Sounds pretty archaic to me in this day & age of high tech.

This shit is more satisfying than therapy.  I’ve got to say, there’s nothing that gets my morning off to a better start than a little bitching (okay, I feel better now).

And because I’m a problem solver as well as a bitch, I’ve taken it upon myself to find a solution. A solution which I plan to email to Richard Braddock, the CEO of FreshDirect,  just as soon as I can find his email address.

Two words (or maybe one): Thermo King (thermoking?). Yes, with their “whisper quiet operation” and clean emissions something-or-other, Thermo King refrigerator units are just the ticket.

From their promo: The SLX range delivers reduced fuel costs, whisper-quiet operation, efficient load protection and unmatched ease of use. By minimising fuel consumption, engine emissions and operating noise, the SLX provides you with the ideal temperature control solution, for an environmentally-responsible
operation.

Sounds good to me. How ‘bout you slackers help me tell Fresh Direct about this new innovation in refrigeration transport (Please!!??). Customer Service will have to do until I get a direct line to the top…