TR Auto Truck Plaza in Dandridge, TN, gets ‘electrified’
The TR Auto Truck Plaza in Dandridge, TN, is the state’s first truck stop electrification project, having installed EnviroDock’s E-Dock and PowrDock units in 30 parking spaces.
The units allow drivers to shut off their engines while they rest and save money by eliminating the costly practice of idling. The truck stop is equipped with 20 E-Dock units that provide heating and cooling (HVAC) and 10 PowrDock shorepower pedestals that give truck drivers who don’t need HVAC a place to plug in.
This truck stop electrification (TSE) project was funded by an American Resource and Recovery Act stimulus grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Diesel Campaign and the Tennessee Dept. of Transportation (TDOT). The grant was awarded to TR Auto Truck Plaza, located off exit 412 on I-40 in east Tennessee. After a competitive bid process from potential TSE providers, Rick Lewis, owner of TR Auto Truck Plaza, selected EnviroDock, Inc. as his vendor of choice.
“We are pleased to help provide truck drivers with a way to be comfortable in their truck cabs without idling their engines,” said TDOT commissioner John Schroer. “Idling creates harmful diesel emissions that can affect the health of truck drivers and other truck stop patrons. Diesel emissions also contribute to poor air quality,” Schroer said. “TSE allows truckers to save fuel, save money and get better rest.”
The E-Dock Stationary is a stand-alone heating, cooling and power system. This unit delivers electronically filtered and temperate air to the truck cab through two thermally insulated flexible ducts via a window control panel. This patent pending window unit is attached to a swinging arm, which makes installation into the cab window as simple and weightless as possible.
An easy-to-use control panel allows drivers to adjust temperature and fan speed. Drivers also have access to a duplex power outlet for in-cab appliances such as microwaves, computers and coffee makers. Additionally, the E-Dock system provides a duplex power plug on the outside unit for engine block heaters and any other power requirements.
The PowrDock units are shorepower-enabled pedestals that provide those drivers that simply need electricity with a place to plug in. Each unit comes equipped with a 30 amp and 20 amp electrical service that allows drivers to plug in their auxiliary powered units (APU’s), engine block heaters, or any in-cab appliances they may have.
“This has been a great effort by Rick Lewis, owner of TR Auto Truck Plaza, and TDOT that made this installation possible,” explained Kenneth Neal, president of EnviroDock. “EnviroDock is looking forward to providing TR’s drivers with a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to idling.”
