IdleAir

New Owners of IdleAir take over IdleAire
https://www.askthetrucker.com/new-owners-of-idleair-take-over-idleaire/
Originally Published Monday, March 7, 2011

At first glance the title of this post might be confusing, however if you look closely you will see that although the pronunciation remains the same, the spelling is slightly different.

The original IdleAire Inc, was a company that offered a service to trucks so they may obtain heat, cooling, electric, satellite, and internet connection. Many CDL drivers preferred this service rather than idling their trucks, however, there were problems that drivers faced while using this service

The old IdleAire, Inc. went bankrupt and completely ceased operations in late January 2010. Later that Spring, a new group of owners and investors, Convoy Solutions, LLC, purchased the remaining IdleAire assets. They bought the physical remains left over from the company and then restarted the business from a dead stop. Many of the old IdleAire staff had received a pretty rough deal (just as many of their customers did) so the new owners rehired many of them . They now have 21 locations in 9 states and anticipate 40 before the end of the year.

The new company IdleAir, now under new management, is determined to improve both the physical services as well as the past customer service, addressing any negative experiences or complaints that prior customers may have had. For starters, they are honoring all customer balances, even if they no longer have their old IdleAire card. All that is needed is the driver CDL # and then to call their customer service number 1-877-738-7024. Although these refunds are not the new owners responsibility, they feel that it is a “good will” approach to let drivers know that they appreciate their business and want the new IdleAir to be only a positive image and experience.

The former IdleAire had many locations at the TA Travel Plazas. TA has torn down many of them and although there are still many remaining, TA plans on demolishing them also.

The new owners have attempted to work with TA management in order to reopen the remaining sites, but to no avail.

Oddly enough, the new IdleAir owners have also offered to purchase the remains of the equipment from the TA, but TA has refused that also. Odder still is the fact that the new owners have also offered to pay to dismantle it, and then pay to haul it off their ( TA) lots. Instead, the TA has chosen to pay all costs themselves to demolish the remains, and then pay again to have it hauled off.

Interestingly, TA franchises do see the value in IdleAir and are offering the service to their customers. IdleAir now has sites with Pilot/Flying J, Loves. Bruce’s, JJ’s Sapp Brothers, and All-American.

IdleAir has researched all aspects of the old company and has greatly improved policies and services for their customers. In addition, they are continuing to seek out all complaints from prior customers in order to resolve any negative aspects so they may positively enhance the new IdleAir driver experience.

Examples of prior customer grievances and new management IdleAir solutions:

1 “Too expensive” IdleAire’s top package is only $1.99/hr. Included in the package is: heating, cooling, electricity for both inside and outside the cab, 60 channels of satellite( including free ESPN), and basic internet service.

It takes about 1 gal/hr ( $4.00/gal) to idle a truck, well just do the math. Additional discounts include:

New fleet discounts, extended stay discounts, VIP rewards program, new customer discount, and customer referral promotion.

Company drivers will also have a rewards program offered.

NOTE: Many companies are charging their drivers for idle time and with fuel prices skyrocketing, we expect this problem to get even worse. Yesterday we even received an email stating that a driver’s company is keeping his detention pay and layover pay because he went over his idling limit!

My suggestion to these companies is that they need to address their non idling policies and to consider alternatives such as IdleAir for the health and safety of their drivers.

Sleeping in subfreezing temperatures and temperatures above 90 degrees does not create safe and rested drivers! The FMCSA should also be considering the non idling safety and health repercussions of the professional driver.

2 “Takes up too much parking space” There are fewer IdleAir spaces and they are now farther away from the main buildings, giving more room to those who want to idle and quieter for IdleAir customers.

3 “ IdleAir Parking Police forcing idling drivers to move” IdleAir understands the need for more truck parking so they are allowing drivers to park in their spots if the lot is full. Obviously, if there is ample parking available, an idling driver should take a non IdleAir parking spot.

4 “Customers lost balances on old IdleAire cards” IdleAir is honoring ALL balances on cards, even if you no longer have the card. Just call customer service 1-877-738-7024 and have your CDL# available.

5 “Needs more Security” Additional lighting and security staff are being put in place to report suspicious activity. Idle Air is also a supporter of Truckers Against Trafficking, and will report suspicious human trafficking activity.

6 “APU’s are better and IdleAir not needed” APU’s offer great comfort and convenience for drivers. IdleAir now has a low cost package for APU users designed to save them fuel and maintenance costs. Drivers with an APU that has an electric pass through, can hook up to Idle Air and use only the electricity and pay for only the electricity!

7 “Cigarette Smoke Smell from previous Driver” This has been a big complaint from the “old IdleAire.” There is now hotel grade cleaners and regular maintenance and cleaning to eliminate this problem. No more “flower scented” smoke smell.

8 “Hotels are cheaper for extended stays” There are times when you want to stay in a hotel and that’s just a fact! However, if you would rather stay in your truck, IdleAir has an extended stay option (ready to be launched), that will give drivers a much lower hourly rate after their first 10 hours. This is appealing for many drivers approaching their 34 hr restart.

“Buy American” It takes energy to maintain a drivers warmth, cooling, TV’s, cell phones, etc…Drivers have a choice, they can idle using energy from imported diesel, or they can hook up to an American electric grid such as IdleAir, using energy resources from coal, gas, nuclear, wind, hydropower, and more.

We will be scheduling a show in regards to this topic of electrification on Truth About Trucking “Live” with special guest Andy Warcaba.

As we continue to search companies who sincerely have the professional driver interests at heart, we are proud to announce that Idle Air is now a sponsor for the 2011 “First Truck Driver Social Media Convention”. We believe that IdleAir does have the drivers concerns as a priority and will be an asset and financial relief for our drivers.

All sponsors for this convention must meet criteria which includes Supporting Drivers with valuable services and/or products.

One year later: IdleAire returns to Knoxville

By Steve Butera
7:37 PM, Jan 27, 2011

https://www.wbir.com/news/article/154466/2/One-year-later-IdleAire-returns-to-Knoxville

Idaho truck driver Duane Madsen used to see all the empty tubes and towers at truck stops across the country. He knew they were mostly former IdleAire sites.

“We’ve seen them in other areas but they’ve always been out of business and disconnected,” Madsen said. “My wife and I were sad because it was a great opportunity.”

IdleAire offered amenities like the internet and cable TV to truckers needing to stay the night. It also allowed these drivers to turn off their engines, keeping emissions down that would’ve been placed in the air.

However, one year later, the Knoxville-based business is back with new owners. Convoy Solutions, LLC bought the rights for the service in 2010.

“We took the time to simplify our operations, lower our costs and get our bases on a sustainable model,” said Convoy Solutions President and COO Mike Fielden.

He said the namesake will stay, except it is now called “IdleAIR.” It will also keep its ties to East Tennessee.

“Our offices are where our warehouses are, off of Broadway and we’ll be there for the foreseeable future, so we’re still a Knoxville company,” Fielden added.

The company started 21 sites since summer 2010. One of those locations is the TA truck stop off Watt Road in West Knox County. Owner Sam Smith said the service has garnered plenty of attention in recent weeks.

“We got nine sites up and running and it’s been going well and as business picks up we’ll devote more sites to the IdleAIR service,” Smith added.

Truckers agree they like having the service back.

“We’re able to put on our internet through our laptop and everything kicked on, it’s really awesome,” said driver Madsen.

Fielden said Convoy Solutions will have around 40 IdleAIR sites by the the end of 2011. This includes one site at the White Pine Pilot. He also said there are plans to start using solar power for their ports.

So far, the company has added 50 jobs, more than half of them to the East Tennessee economy.

IdleAire started in 2000 and once had more than 130 sites in 34 states. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008.

Copyright ©2011 WBIR-TV Knoxville, Gannett Pacific Corporation. All rights reserved.

IdleAir Making A Comeback

By Jason Scott, Sentinel Reporter The Sentinel – cumberlink.com | Posted: Friday, February 4, 2011 2:30 pm

https://cumberlink.com/business/local/article_af1ede1a-3095-11e0-9497-001cc4c03286.html

A year after it ceased operations, IdleAir (no longer IdleAire) now has new wind in its sails and seems poised to return to the Carlisle area.

Once praised for its innovative electrification system that allows truck drivers to plug in their parked rigs and turn off their engines, the Tennessee-based company has new owners and a new approach to provide what many view as a much-needed service to reduce truck noise and air pollution.

“We want to be part of a solution to help the industry,” said Mike Fielden, president and chief operating officer for Convoy Solutions, LLC. “We want to rebuild the network and redeploy where we can.”

Since relaunching in August 2010, the company has opened 21 sites in nine states.

Two of those facilities are in Pennsylvania – in Breezewood and Myerstown – and many are in previous locations.

Fielden said Convoy Solutions hopes to have about 40 IdleAir sites up and running by the end of 2011.

Back to Carlisle?

Carlisle could certainly land one of those new facilities.

“There is a lot of opportunity in the Carlisle area with the distribution there,” he said. “Carlisle was a top 20 site. We know the demand is there.”

Under the old IdleAire, the Carlisle area had a 72-space operation at the Petro Stopping Center (owned by TravelCenters of America, or TA) on the Harrisburg Pike in Middlesex Township. That opened in the summer of 2006, but closed in January 2010 when the company failed to find a buyer following a bankruptcy filing.

At the time it closed, IdleAire employed 315 people nationwide and had 131 locations in 34 states.

Fielden said TA pulled the equipment out at the Middlesex truck stop.

“It doesn’t have to be at a truck stop,” he stated. “We need to identify a location. There is no reason it couldn’t be rebuilt this year.”

Convoy Solutions is targeting distribution areas, major crossing routes and even border crossing areas. Coming in and out of major metropolitan areas will also be the focus, officials said.

“We want to be where trucks are going to spend the night,” Fielden said.

Controlled growth, pricing

Fielden said the goal is to build back to about 100 locations over the next three-and-a-half years.

The company wants to stay focus on cost control and grow at a steady pace – not too quickly, as it did before, he noted. And IdleAir lots are going to be smaller than before and not take up prime parking, but rather occupy the edge and back part of the lots.

“We have simplified the business. We have one data center, not four. We have a much smaller staff,” Fielden said. “We’re a lean company. We know where people will use the service and where they won’t.”

Currently, IdleAir employs just north of 50 people.

IdleAir also offers lower prices than its predecessor.

Before it shut down in 2010, the company charged $2.89 per hour for silver members and $2.45 per hour for gold members.

It provided filtered heating and air conditioning, electrical outlets and a range of communications and entertainment options – including television and internet access – that allowed long-haul truck drivers to shut down their engines instead of idling for cab comfort during daily rest periods.

The same services are still available, but with a few tweaks like the addition of ESPN to the television service.

The basic service is now priced at $1.99 per hour. There is also a promotional price of $1.25 per hour in some areas.

There are other discounts available (visit idleaire.com for more information on pricing).

“We are going to try to maintain that,” Fielden said about pricing. “We want to drive volume into the system.”

Previously loaded funds for past customers will also be honored, officials said, even for drivers that may have tossed their cards.

‘Home away from home’

Convoy Solutions believes drivers will use the low-priced service as the national average for diesel fuel is currently about $3.43 per gallon.

The average idling truck burns one gallon of diesel per hour, not including the wear and tear on the engine, said Jeff Maurer, a New York-based consultant for the company.

“It really adds up,” he said. “This is a great product and great value for long-haul truckers. It’s a home away from home.”

In the future, Fielden said they plan to offer a menu approach to pricing for drivers who may only want electric or just heat or air conditioning.

“We will add services as we go along and listen to our customers,” he said.

The company also has plans to start using solar power for their ports.

“We would love to see IdleAir come back,” said Thomas Au, president of the Clean Air Board.

The system offers truck drivers an additional option to comply with the Diesel Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act, he added, noting that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has been installing similar systems at turnpike rest stops.

“CAB hopes the new operator can be successful in Carlisle,” Au said.

“Strong local support for reopening IdleAir locations is extremely helpful for accelerating the reopening of our sites and the resumption of our non-idling services,” said Maurer.

Copyright 2011 The Sentinel – cumberlink.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.