DATE: 08/10/06
Wisconsin & Illinois -- If you listen to the top executives at Peterbilt Wisconsin & Illinois, you might hear them talking about the No Idle Laws going into effect nationwide and what they need to do to assist their customers.
"Often, truckers leave their engines idling so they can power the heating and cooling systems for their sleeper cabs. To comply with regulations, drivers must take 10 hours of rest after 14 hours of driving. So more truck drivers are pulling over to rest, requireing them to idle, and with 22 states having pending legislation that limits idling in some form, we need to give our customers an alternative," said Eric Jorgensen, President/CEO of Peterbilt Wisconsin & Illinois, a JX Enterprises Company.
In New York, truckers caught idling their trucks for more then 5 minutes face up to $1,000 fines. “It’s those kinds of regulations that prompted Duplainville Transportation of Sussex, WI, the trucking division of Quad Graphics, to install Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on its 67 trucks,” said fleet manager John Drake. This new technology is needed to alleviate possible fines and comfort issues for the drivers.
For this reason Peterbilt Wisconsin & Illinois has become the certified service/warranty and installation dealer of the PowerPac APU Idle Reduction System in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “We have gone through many hours of research and manufacturing location visits. In other words we have done our homework and found the PowerPac APU to be the best fit,” said Gene Schiller, Corporate Parts Director for Peterbilt Wisconsin & Illinois. The PowerPac unit puts out 5 kilowatts-42 AMPS of Prime Electrical Power and 60 AMPS of Battery Charging DC Power. It’s a stand-alone unit with its own 14,000 BTU, air-conditioning and heating system. With this unit you are also able to run your 120-volt household items such as computer, tv/dvd, coffee maker, alarm clock and etc. The unit is powered by a small 13 hp, liquid cooled diesel engine that meets emission regulations, starts and stops automatically and weights 370lbs. “Power Tech, the manufacturer of these units, has been designing and building generator sets for more than 20 years. “With that kind of knowledge behind them we feel confident that the PowerPac APU is the best on the market,” remarked Herman Goth, General Manager of Peterbilt Wisconsin – Madison and Corporate Service Leader, during a recent education session.
The Department of Energy estimates that a billion gallons of diesel fuel is consumed every year while trucks idle at rest stops. The possible fuel emission savings, that would be possible if engine idling were to be eliminated as stated by the Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California-Davis, would be $5,799 to $7,733. The analysis assumed idling times of between 1,818 and 2,424 hours per year. In their calculations for an economic payback period on an APU, they also assumed 1 gallon of diesel fuel, at a cost of $3.19 per gallon, was consumed per hour, on average for an idling engine running typical accessories. However, the PowerPac APU unit has an average fuel consumption of .22 g.p.h., reducing the above-mentioned savings by about 22%.
“The average basic unit installed costs range from $7,500 to $8,275, depending on the features, and the payback in fuel savings is a little over one year,” said Herman Goth. “Besides fuel savings, Schiller said idling engines wear out more quickly and the noise prevents some drivers from getting a good night’s sleep.” For additional information regarding this product and service/warranty/installation locations, visit our website at www.JXE.com. Peterbilt Wisconsin will be introducing these units to the market at the Waupun Truck-n-Show event this weekend, August 11-12, 2006. For a schedule of events at the Waupun Truck-N-Show visit their website at www.waupuntrucknshow.com.
Service and Installation education sessions are being held to bring the Technicians up to speed on the PowerPac APUs that Peterbilt Wisconsin & Illinois offer to their customers. The two-cylinder diesel unit cools or heats the cab, charges the batteries and keeps the truck engine warm in cold weather. Pictured here are Master Technician, Mark Fravert and Herman Goth, General Manager Peterbilt Wisconsin – Madison and Corporate Service Leader.
JX Enterprises is based in Waukesha, WI, and provides a full service network of eight heavy and medium-duty Peterbilt truck dealerships in Wisconsin and Illinois. The company is committed to partnering with its customers to provide a full array of sales, financing, leasing, rental, integrated parts support and service solutions for the transportation industry.
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