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Utah Department of
Environmental Quality
Truckers taking a break off I-215 can now give the Salt Lake Valley air a breather from their idling diesel engines thanks to an anti-pollution device recently installed at Sapp Brothers Travel Center located at 1953 West California St.
The device is the creation of IdleAire Technologies Corp., based in Knoxville, Tenn. In late March, 51 spaces at Sapp Brothers were fitted with auxiliary power units that allow truck drivers to keep themselves warm, or cool, or entertained without idling their rigs while they rest. The project is a cooperative effort between IdleAire and the Utah Department of Transportation, which funded 80 percent of the project’s installation cost.
“This is the kind of technology that is preferred by the Utah Division of Air Quality because it reduces air emissions,” said Cheryl Heying, air quality director. “This technology will help reduce emissions year round and is especially important on our bad pollution days when we ask people to reduce their driving.”
Sapp Brothers began offering the service in May, the first in Utah to offer the IdleAire technology. “We wanted to be a leader in the field while saving drivers’ money and keeping the pollution down,” said Dave Segelke, sales manager.
Segelke said truckers typically burn about a gallon of diesel per hour at roughly $2.90 a gallon. Shutting off the engines not only eliminates the noise and vibrations the idling engines create but also cuts down on diesel emissions.
“Just in the short time the site has been open, we have eliminated 260,326 pounds of diesel emissions and conserved over 10,700 gallons of diesel fuel,” said John Doty, spokesman of IdleAire.
Consider this: If each of the 51 spaces at Sapp Brothers is used just the minimum driver rest period of 10 hours each day, the system could eliminate over 4.3 million pounds of diesel emissions annually and conserve an estimated 186,000 gallons of fuel each year, according to IdleAire.
The IdleAire system provides the driver with a window adapter that plugs into the cab of the truck that allows the driver to shut off the engines and run the television, computer or air-conditioning or heating units, while taking a break. Truckers are federally required to take a minimum of 10 hours of rest for every 11 hours behind the wheel.
Currently, about 28 percent of the stalls at Sapp Brothers are being used. But it is gaining in popularity. “The big trucking companies use it more frequently, but the small owner-operators are getting more interested,” Segelke said.
“Once a driver uses it, he is hooked,” said Doty. “It changes their lifestyle. Not only does it shut the engines off and allow them to relax but also helps the environment in the Salt Lake Valley. It’s been very favorable.”
Doty said other facilities in Utah are considering the device. Currently there are 113 locations in the nation, with more under consideration.
For more information on the technology, visit IdleAire’s Website at www.idleaire.com (opens in a new window).