LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Through a partnership with Eaton, IdleAire Technologies is set to expand its idling alternative services to truck stops across the U.S. during the next 12 months.

The $65 million contract will see the addition of IdleAire’s ATE Advanced Travel Center Electrification system to 210 truck stops and fleet terminals over the course of a year. The system equips drivers with substitute power to run in-cab heating, air conditioning, and power for communications and entertainment.

“With escalating fuel costs, tightening emissions requirements and highway safety issues, our partnership with IdleAire yields an immediate and long-term solution to the trucking industry that addresses air quality, fuel conservation and training issues,” stated Randy Carson, senior vice-president of Eaton and president of Electrical Group.

In addition to the approximately 13,200 parking spaces set to be rolled out, IdleAire is also establishing a reservation system for its electrical power parking spaces. The cost of using an IdleAire parking space is $1 per half hour and is consistent nationwide. A call centre will be established to reserve parking spaces and the company says it will work much like a hotel reservation.

“Space reservation has two purposes,” explained Mike Crabtree, CEO of IdleAire. “To stop people from parking in those spaces who are not using them and in the past they have been reluctant to run those people off, but now you have customers who want more quiet space.”

Drivers are able to utilize IdleAire parking spaces if their fleet is in contract with the company, or subsequently purchase a gold card, which is a $20 annual fee, to receive discounts on the services.

After the expansion of the next 210 spaces, the company will reevaluate what locations will require further spaces.

“Our primary complaint is we’re not in enough locations and that is our primary goal and in the future may go back to expand at popular locations,” said Crabtree.

Although the company has received interest from the Canadian side of the border, specifically near Toronto, Montreal and in Nova Scotia, Crabtree said it may happen in a future rollout, but they have not conducted any studies and are focusing on getting into the planned locations.