Texas-based Petro Stopping Centers has agreed to open its system of travel centers for immediate installation of IdleAire Technologies’ Advanced Travel Center Electrification (ATE) system, the two companies announced this week.

Petro was the first national travel center chain to embrace IdleAire’s technology, which is now installed in four Petro locations -- Atlanta, Ga., Knoxville, Tenn., West Memphis, Ark. and Santa Nella, Calif. IdleAire has already started construction at two new Petro locations, in El Paso on I-10 and near Birmingham, Ala., on I-59.
IdleAire allows professional drivers to access electrical shore power, central heat & air, and a range of communications and entertainment services in the truck cab without idling their engines during federally mandated daily rest breaks. The company installs, operates and maintains the system at each location with employees on site 24 hours a day, and shares revenue with the travel centers. Fleets with agreements with IdleAire pay the $1.25/hour charge for their drivers to use the system because of the savings in fuel, maintenance and engine wear. The only retrofit required is a $10 window adapter.
"We’re extremely pleased that we will be able to offer IdleAire services to our fleet and driver customers at many more Petro locations," said Petro COO Jim Cardwell. "The customer response to the first four IdleAire installations has been very positive and we are eager to roll out this new service to additional sites as soon as possible."