In 2010, Philly.com reported that the Pennsylvania Turnpike spent $3.4 million for snow removal after only one December storm. Last year, Pennsylvania had record snowfalls and low temps that turned the state into a snowy, icy mess. The state averages up to 113 inches of snow each year.  

To defray snow removal costs, turnpike fleet managers have placed Idle Free Systems’ Heat System for Work Trucks on 44 snowplows. The anti-idling system, manufactured for work trucks, has an estimated useful life of 13 years, which will save about $840,000 over the life of each truck — or $36.9 million. Phillips and Temro Industries (PTI), based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is the manufacturer.

“When bad weather is in the forecast, our snowplows are deployed and stand idling, waiting for the first snowflake to fall,” says Pennsylvania Turnpike Director of Maintenance Todd Garrison. “Installing the system will help keep our employees comfortable while eliminating needless idling and reducing emissions. With the fuel savings we see, it will also help stretch our winter maintenance budget.”

The anti-idling unit keeps the turnpike in compliance with the state’s Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act, which restricts diesel-powered equipment in excess of 10,001 pounds from idling in excess of five minutes in any given 60-minute period.

The system uses a coolant heater to provide engine heat and interior cab heat and provides 12-volt electrical power for work truck functions, such as running lights or communication systems. An Engine Start Module (ESM), similar to an ultracapacitor, is fully integrated into the system and can start the truck even if the truck batteries are dead. Installation of the system takes about three hours. The assembly, according to the manufacturer, decreases the overall weight of the truck by about 35 pounds.

Learn more about Phillips and Temro Industries here.