Auxiliary Power Units offer superior driver comfort while ensuring operational efficiency, cost savings and sustainable best practices

Driving long haul is a demanding job that requires concentration. Without the proper rest and relaxation, drivers may become fatigued and less focused on the road. Truck auxiliary power units (APUs) provide drivers with a comfortable environment during rest breaks, allowing them to recharge and relax before hitting the road again. With unlimited heating and cooling capabilities and remote power addons that can run laptops, coffee machines and heat food in a microwave, drivers can have all the comforts of home without idling their truck engine. Studies have also shown how APUs play an important role in promoting driver well-being, productivity, and safety on long haul trips. Drivers are also more likely to stay with a company that prioritizes their well-being while also reducing environmental impact. With a direct link to higher driver retention rates and increased employee job satisfaction, APUs can improve the overall company culture as well as the bottom line.

It is no surprise that the high fuel costs of today put an extra strain on the cold chain.  Investing in APUs can help alleviate some of that strain by reducing fuel consumption and improving overall operational efficiency.  APUs like Thermo King’s diesel TriPac® APU consume approximately 75 percent less fuel per hour than idling a regular truck engine.  Over the course of a year, that equates to a potential saving of almost 9,500 litres of fuel per year, and almost 38,000 litres of fuel over the span of semi truck ownership. Like its diesel counterpart, Thermoking’s electric APUs offer the same benefits of driver comfort, idle reduction and maximum uptime without the need for fuel.  Either way, trucking companies are better able to comply with strict emissions regulations while boosting their competitiveness and reputation in the industry.

Trucking fleets are incorporating APUs into their corporate sustainability efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with environmental regulations. By using APUs on long-haul semi trucks, fuel consumption is decreased and greenhouse gas emissions are directly reduced which adheres to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. Some APUs like the Thermo King’s 3rd generation TriPac APU come standard with a passive aftertreatment device (ATD) that further reduces emissions, offering even better compliance. By incorporating solar panels with semi truck APUs, fleet operators further decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and lower their emissions when powering various during driver breaks and downtime.