Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/82527
E.L.W. Co. completes an aftermarket install of the ComfortPro for a Ryder truck. ComfortPro offers integrated and standalone units. APU shopping O wner-operator Bobby Elmore of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, doesn't need laws to tell him to reduce his idling: His bottom line is justification enough. "I probably save $30 to $40 a day, depending on the price of fuel, by not idling at night," he says. The owner of E&E Farm and Trucking uses an all-electric, battery- based Dometic system to provide climate comfort for his 1999 Peterbilt 379 with a 63-inch sleeper. He pri- marily transports lumber and build- ing supplies within Texas, with some 26 | Overdrive | October 2012 seasonal hay hauling mixed in. "I don't have a television or any- thing like that I use it for," he says. "I just need to keep my truck cool while I sleep. I also keep a long extension cord to plug into [shorepower] so I often don't even use my batteries." Like Elmore, many owner-oper- ators have come to understand the value of idle-reduction systems – money saved is money earned. It can represent the difference between a break-even and a positive paycheck or make up the bulk of a truck payment. And that's just the immediate pay- back. Reduced wear on the engine provides an additional incentive to reduce idling. With a vast array of auxiliary power units on the market, finding the right idling-reducing system is like shopping for a pair of shoes. You need the right fit. First steps If you go shopping for the cheap- est system on the market, you may be disappointed with the features or overall quality. Buying an APU that There are more options than ever for auxiliary power. See if an all-electric, diesel or hybrid system suits your operation best. By Randy Grider