Marten Orders 2,000 APUs from Thermo King

Refrigerated truckload carrier Marten Transport has ordered more than 2,000 auxiliary power units from Thermo King.

Thermo King’s TriPac hybrid auxiliary reduction and temperature management systems will be installed in Marten tractors over the next 18 months, the companies said in a joint statement Friday.

The systems will provide drivers with heat, engine pre-heat, air conditioning, accessory power and battery charging while reducing idling, conserving fuel and extending tractor engine service intervals.

“We expect to virtually eliminate engine idle time while still maintaining driver comfort,” said Randy Marten, chairman of Marten, Marten said it expects to realize about $1 million a month in fuel savings and to recover the cost of the systems in 12 to 18 months.

Marten is ranked No. 53 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.