The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) recently selected Auxiliary Power Dynamics, manufacturers of an integrated professional-grade auxiliary power unit, as a preferred vendor.

“We chose Auxiliary Power Dynamics as a preferred vendor because we see the value its Willis APU can offer our members,” said Bill Morris, director of marketing and vendor relations for NASTC.
The NASTC helps small trucking companies control their costs through managed purchasing, analysis, consultation and advocacy. It represents more than 2,100 trucking companies with small to large fleets of three to 300 power units. The organization specializes in representing companies with fleets of 100 power units or less. Its members operate more than 43,000 power units. NASTC negotiates discounts with vendors based on the potential volume from its members.
Morris said earlier this year, the NASTC, recognizing the need and potential for auxiliary power units among its members, started researching different units and their manufacturers. Morris said he consulted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program and chose 15 different units and manufacturers to investigate. The organization narrowed the list to three integrated and three non-integrated auxiliary power units.
Morris said although price had some bearing in the decision, NASTC was not looking to see which ones would be the least expensive. “We’ve learned over the years, sometimes the hard way, that cheaper is not necessarily better,” he added.
NASTC paid particular attention to the manufacturing process of each company, the installation process and the availability of authorized dealers and service locations, the quality of the components it chose, and the manufacturers’ responses to questions.
Morris said the organization is now in the process of choosing which integrated units and free standing units to include in its discount program.