Dallas-based Stevens Transport says it’s convinced after a six-month test of Intra’s low-voltage disconnect device.

An LVD is an automatic switch that allows truck drivers to enjoy appliances and comfort items without idling – while preserving battery power needed to start the engine. Using patented technology, the Intra LVD monitors battery levels, automatically disconnecting non-critical power loads when battery voltage reaches critical levels. The unit can be easily installed in any truck by a qualified technician in less than an hour.
Stevens tested the LVD on 30 Kenworth T2000s. "During those six months, none of those test vehicles required a single jumpstart because the LVD alerted our drivers before batteries reach a point of deep-discharge,” said Eric Smith, director of maintenance for Stevens.
Smith calculates that when Stevens' entire 1,300-truck fleet is retrofitted with Intra LVD's, the company will realize a 36 percent reduction in electrical system maintenance as the result of preventing jumpstarts and extending battery life.
"The trucking industry is very tough right now, and fleets are doing anything they can to cut costs," he said. "We look for functional products that are reasonable, reliable and will positively affect our bottom line, and we believe the Intra LVD is one of those products that will help us reduce our maintenance costs."
In addition to eliminating jumpstarts and extending battery life, Smith explains that depleted batteries make recharging much more difficult, shortening alternator life. And whether it's a burnt-out alternator over the road or a dead battery at a deserted Montana rest stop, a refrigerated carrier like Stevens with time-sensitive deliveries cannot afford downtime.
For more information, visit www.intra-tech.com.