IdleAire: Reducing Engine Idling for Long-Haul Truckers

by Guest Author Noah Spitzer

IdleAire is the leading provider of comprehensive in-cab idle reduction and driver lifestyle services to the long-haul trucking industry. IdleAire’s services include energy efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, or HVAC, electric power, Internet access, satellite television, telephone, and remote delivery of computer-based driver safety and training courses. IdleAire delivers these services through our patented ATE Advanced Travel Center Electrification^®-(ATE) system, comprised of an in-cab service module connected to an external HVAC unit mounted on a truss structure above parking spaces.

IdleAire’s ATE system is the most cost-effective idle-reduction alternative providing significant benefits to key stakeholders in the trucking industry as described below:

• Benefits for communities and the environment. Minimizing truck idling reduces air pollution and conserves fossil fuel energy. Diesel air emissions from idling adversely impact air quality and make it more difficult for local communities to comply with the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS. Through March 1, 2009, it is estimated that IdleAire’s ATE system has eliminated almost 500,000 metric tons of diesel air emissions and has helped conserve more than 45 million gallons of fuel. In addition, use of the IdleAire ATE system reduces driver sleep deprivation which, according to a 2004 study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was a contributing factor in approximately 31.0% of all heavy truck fatalities.

• Benefits for truck drivers. By using IdleAire’s ATE system, truck drivers enjoy in-cab amenities and other services during federally-mandated resting periods. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “hours of service,” (HOS) rules, truck drivers are required to rest a minimum of 10 hours after driving a maximum of 11 hours. By using IdleAire’s ATE system, a driver can rest in a sleeper cab free from the noise, vibration and fumes generated by an idling engine; and breathe thermostatically controlled, clean, filtered and UVC light-treated air. A driver can also enjoy stress-reducing home conveniences, such as satellite television and on-demand movies; communicate with friends and families via telephone and the Internet in the privacy of their sleeper cab; and receive remote safety training without the down-time involved with returning to fleet headquarters or terminals.

• Benefits for fleet owners. Truck fleets operate in a low margin business environment and are highly focused on reducing their operating costs. By using IdleAire’s ATE system, fleet owners save approximately one gallon of diesel fuel per hour of idling, and related engine wear and maintenance expenses. They also avoid the upfront capital costs and on-going maintenance costs of other alternatives. IdleAire’s ATE system also provides fleet owners with improved communication with their drivers, and remote delivery of driver safety training which reduces operating costs associated with training at a fleet headquarters or terminal. In addition, fleet owners use the services to recruit new drivers and increase driver retention, resulting in lower human resource costs.

• Benefits for travel center operators. In the United States, Travel center operators provide truck parking spaces as an inducement for drivers to purchase goods and services at their facilities, such as fuel, restaurant meals, truck maintenance, showers, laundry and other retail products. Currently, few travel centers charge for parking spaces. IdleAire’s ATE system provides travel center operators with a new source of income from the receipt of lease consideration with no capital outlay. It also provides travel center operators with a broader service offering to attract additional customers to their facilities, and an effective way to comply with applicable state clean air regulatory requirements.

Drivers can easily connect the ATE service module to their truck cab window with a lightweight, secure plastic window adapter which is sold for a small fee and the only requirement for almost any long-haul truck to connect to the ATE system. Once the service module has been inserted into the window adapter and the driver has logged in using a fleet fuel card, credit card, or IdleAire^® membership card, the driver can control all of the functions of the system from an easy-to-use touch screen computer. The ATE service module includes a Pentium-class microcomputer with a touch screen and color LCD, filtered air supply and return vents, electrical outlets, and ports for satellite television, telephone, Ethernet, and USB connections for computer accessories. Each individual ATE service module is connected to a nationwide, secure, proprietary WAN, allowing IdleAire to operate remotely the on-site ATE systems, providing payment processing, trouble-shooting and customer support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

- Noah Spitzer is a Business Intelligence Developer at IdleAire, Inc. the opinions expressed here are solely the author’s and do not represent that of any government, business, organization or institution affiliated with the author, in the past, present, or future, and should not be construed as such.