Pilot, IdleAire Sign Agreement for Nationwide ATE Installation

Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, the largest interstate travel center operation in the nation, and IdleAire Technologies Corporation, the national leader in Advanced Travel Center Electrification (ATE), have signed an exclusive long-term agreement allowing installation of IdleAire technology in the truck parking lots of every current and future Pilot-owned travel center across the nation. The first locations are already in the planning stages and are expected to be installed in California, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Arkansas and many other locations over the next several months.

“We’re obviously very pleased to have this agreement with Pilot,” said IdleAire Chief Operating Officer David Everhart. “Pilot has a very large footprint across the U.S. that will help us meet our goal of building a widespread nationwide network of IdleAire service locations. Pilot is known for making wise, cautious business decisions. This strategy has made them extremely successful at what they do. They maintain their focus and have developed a very loyal customer base. We’re glad to have their support to accomplish our goals. In the coming months IdleAire will accelerate our national build out in Pilot locations in many states. It’s wonderful to have two great companies in the same industry that complement each other so well, especially since both companies are headquartered here in Knoxville.”

“The best thing that could happen to the Travel Center industry,” said Pilot CEO Jimmy Haslam, “is for a company like IdleAire to create a system that solves the idling challenge for the trucking industry and improves drivers’ lifestyles while creating new revenue for travel centers . . . all without creating additional expense for our fleet customers.

“We’ve been watching IdleAire as it has developed over the last three years and we believe this new, innovative, high-tech system provides the answer the industry has been searching for. I am personally impressed with the things I’ve seen. It’s a well-designed system that appears to provide the quality and reliability we’re looking for. Pilot Corporation is going to put its full weight behind this project. IdleAire is a true pioneer in its field with a bright future working to bring quality changes to everyone in the transportation industry. We’re very excited about our agreement,” Haslam said.

Currently, IdleAire has operations from New York to California. IdleAire’s system is installed in truck parking lots to allow drivers to turn off their engines instead of idling there engine to heat or cool the cab and use in-cab accessories while they rest. IdleAire has already signed up approximately 50,000 drivers as IdleAire members. The system is installed in 12 locations with 535 parking spaces with another location with 60 spaces coming on line this month. It has already been used by drivers over 72,000 times, totaling nearly one million hours of use, and has reduced diesel emissions by over 9,000 tons and conserved approximately 1million gallons of diesel fuel to date.

The technology won the 2003 R&D 100 Award for one of the most technologically significant products of the year. It provides filtered central heating and air conditioning, 110-volt electrical shore power outlets inside and outside the cab, a Pentium-speed computer with color touch screen, high speed wired and wireless Internet /E-mail, free local phone service, satellite television, movies on demand, Ethernet and wireless Internet access, and computer-based, interactive training.

With headquarters in Knoxville, TN, Pilot Travel Centers has 264 locations in 37 states, 13,000 employees and annual revenues of $5.5 billion.

Founded in June 2000, IdleAire is a privately owned technology and engineering company dedicated to improving the working environment for heavy duty diesel truck drivers reducing operating cost for truck owners, increasing profits for the travel center industry, and providing cleaner air, safer highways. The company’s ATE technology, which includes climate control, shore power and a range of communications and entertainment packages, offers a quiet, efficient, cost-effective alternative to extended engine idling. Corporate headquarters and an engineering/testing facility are located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Visit www.idleaire.com for more information.