Schneider National Inc., the Wisconsin-based transportation and logistics services provider is the first major U.S. transportation carrier installing Webasto Product North America's Air Top 2000 in-cab parking heater in all of its new tractors purchased since June 2003.

The environmentally friendly heater is fuel-efficient and produces significantly less pollution than an idling tractor, according to Schneider.
The Air Top 2000, which is the size of a standard mailbox and sits under the bunk in a cab's sleeper berth, runs on diesel fuel and operates much like a forced-air furnace. Fuel is drawn directly from a tractor's diesel tanks so the heater runs more efficiently than an idling truck, the current method used to keep the cab warm during driver breaks.
The Air Top 2000 uses less than one-tenth (0.07) of a gallon of fuel per hour versus nearly eight-tenths (0.8) of a gallon of fuel per hour when the tractor engine is idling. The heater is vented outside the tractor and produces significantly less pollution because of its fuel efficiency.
This is important to Schneider National as a participant in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport program, a voluntary partnership aimed at reducing freight and fleet sector energy consumption, pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
Equally important was the feedback Schneider National received from more than 400 drivers and owner-operators who used the heaters during extensive, initial testing.
"At Schneider National we know that the key to safe driving is a well-rested driver," said Don Osterberg, vice president of capacity development and safety at Schneider National. "We made the decision to install the Air Top 2000 in all new cabs when our drivers told us the units were quiet, allowed them to keep their cabs warm and that they were able to achieve better, more comfortable sleep without running their engines."
For more information about Schneider, visit www.schneider.com, or call (800) 558-6767.