Pennsylvania Truck Centers with three locations throughout the state of Pennsylvania, has signed an agreement to sell, install and service the Idle Free electric Auxilary Power Units (APU).
An auxiliary power unit (APU) is an aftermarket component that can be added to a Class 8 over-the-road truck to help the driver reduce discretionary idling.
The Idle Free electric APU differs from other idle-elimination solutions because it is the most complete system available. It meets all driver needs -- heat, air conditioning and electricity needs -- without jeopardizing the productivity of the truck. The Idle Free APU is the only complete electric APU on the market.
Shane Behmer executive vice president Pennsylvania Truck Centers, says that signing on to represent the Idle Free electric APU reinforces the dealer's philosophy of providing superior products for its customers.
"PA Truck Centers has been in business since 1940," Behmer says. "And during that time we have grown and expanded by following one simple concept – helping our customers become successful. Making the Idle Free electric APU available to our customers is just one more way we are following that philosophy."
How it works
Robert Hopton, CEO of Idle Free Systems Inc., says that being able to provide a means to eliminate all of the reasons that drivers idle trucks is one of the main differentiating factors of the Idle Free APU.
"Heat, air conditioning, hotel needs and engine pre-heat. These are why drivers idle the trucks. We designed a comprehensive, fully integrated APU solution that addresses all of these needs, completely eliminating the need for drivers to idle the truck," he said.
In addition to being the most complete, the Idle Free APU is also one of the most efficient APUs on the market. This is because the system runs on alternating current.
Electric APUs that run on direct current suffer from lower efficiency, which translates to shorter APU battery life, less run time, and, most problematic, the risk that the APU could jeopardize the truck's ability to start. D/C-based systems, due to their higher amperage draw for the air conditioner, rely on the truck's starter batteries as an additional power source to run the APU. Operating the APU risks draining the truck's starter batteries and therefore not being able to start the truck, thus negatively impacting productivity.
Idle Free's A/C-based electric APU, on the other hand, is a more efficient system, resulting in longer APU battery life and completely eliminating any need to use the truck's starter batteries to power the APU. The A/C-based Idle Free system means the truck's batteries will never be drained by the APU.
Expanding network
Idle Free Systems is rapidly expanding its network of sales and service dealers throughout the country.
Hopton says that the addition of Pennsylvania Truck Centers to its growing dealer network is helpful in expanding nation-wide coverage to support sales and service of the Idle Free system.
"Pennsylvania Truck is an essential part of our strategy to grow our dealer network in the eastern part of the United States," Hopton says. "We are honored and excited to be working with a dealership that has such a long-standing presence and outstanding reputation in the area."
