KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –- Pilot Travel Centers has announced the details and scheduled rollout for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) availability at its North American truckstops.

DEF is the required urea-based fluid for 2010 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems that reduce Nox through a catalytic process in the exhaust stream.

Pilot will rollout 25 bulk dispensing units per quarter, starting in the third quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010.

Ultimately, approximately 100 of Pilot’s locations will have bulk dispensing capabilities at the fuel island where it will be most convenient. All 328 truck stops will have the packaged quantities available.

"Many of our customers will be purchasing SCR-equipped trucks in 2010, so as they began coming to us to learn more about SCR and DEF, we did a lot of investigating. We determined there was a strong opportunity to not only fulfill our customers’ needs, but to be an industry leader,” said Patrick Deptula director of Design and Construction, Pilot Travel Centers, who added that working with Detroit Diesel and Daimler Trucks North America helped the company plan the rollout.

Because a typical truck can go approximately 300 miles on just one gallon of DEF, Pilot’s 328 convenient locations — including the 100 bulk dispensing locations — are well situated for the periodic refills.

"Thanks to Pilot’s bold and groundbreaking first step, as well as the rest of the DEF infrastructure supply chain coming together to prepare for SCR, this positions Daimler Trucks and our customers very well for 2010," says Mark Lampert, senior vice president of sales for Daimler Trucks North America: