IdleAire Technologies Corp. opened the 100th Advanced Truckstop Electrification (ATE) location in the nation Monday, this one at the Bloomington TravelCenters of America (TA) at Exit 160A on the heavily traveled I-55 corridor.
It is the sixth location to be in operation in Illinois.
“When we announced a private $320 million financing package a year ago, we said we would build 200 or more new locations along the heaviest-traveled freight corridors around the nation by mid-2007,” said IdleAire COO Lynn Youngs. “We are well on our way.”
Now available in 26 states, IdleAire’s technology allows drivers to shut off their engines instead of idling to maintain cab comfort, thus improving air quality, conserving fuel, contributing to better rested long-haul drivers on the highways and improving drivers’ comfort and lifestyle.
IdleAire provides filtered central heating and air conditioning, along with electrical outlets and a variety of communications and entertainment options into each truck cab, which encourages long-haul drivers to shut off their engines instead of idling them to maintain comfortable cab temperatures or power appliances while resting.
IdleAire installs, operates and maintains the system, which also provides a phone line, multiple ways to access high-speed Internet, television and movies on demand. The only equipment any truck needs to access the system is a $10 window adapter that allows IdleAire’s service module to fit in the passenger window.
Fleets with signed agreements with IdleAire pay $1.85 an hour for basic services. More than 1,800 fleets have agreements with the company and many fleets pay for both the service and the window adapter for their company drivers because of the savings in fuel, maintenance, engine wear and tear, and because it serves as a unique driver retention and recruitment tool.
Since its first three small test installations, the company has delivered more than 11 million hours of service to drivers and fleets across the nation and eliminated approximately 116,000 metric tons, or over 255 million pounds, of diesel emissions.