The Colorado Education and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA), a multistate issuer of tax-exempt bonds for educational and cultural activities, will issue up to $200 million in bonds to establish online education and training for long-haul truck drivers.
The program will be delivered by the Driver Education and Idling Reduction Foundation (DEIRF) via IdleAire Technologies Corporation’s Advanced Travel Center Electrification (ATE) system.
The initial phase of the program will include 70 large truck stop locations in 28 states. When final approval comes probably later this year, CECFA expects to issue about $146 million in bonds, then loan the proceeds to DEIRF for the project.
DEIRF is a Colorado corporation established as a supporting organization of the nonprofit Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF). Headquartered in the Washington, DC area, GETF was established in 1988 to help build infrastructures for sustainable development using training, partnerships and innovation.
According to a DEIRF spokesperson, IdleAire has developed a unique platform to deliver the distance learning tool to long haul drivers who spend 250-300 nights on the road and can’t enroll in traditional classes. The ATE system allows drivers to shut off their engines by providing filtered central heat and air with electrical power, Internet access, satellite television, video on demand, and a telephone connection inside the truck cab. In addition to driving education, future course content could include broader topics such as obtaining a general equivalency diploma, language studies, business math and business practices.
IdleAire currently operates its ATE system in 20 travel center locations. It will help DEIRF qualify sites, obtain permits, install systems and provide technology upgrades for the new program.
For more information about DEIRF and its programs, go to www.deirf.org. For more information about GETF and its programs, go to www.getf.org. For more information on IdleAire, go to www.idleaire.com.