Truckers know that anti-idling solutions are critical in today’s economic and environmental climate. But the cost has kept many from opting for a genset or auxiliary power unit.

Last year, the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority in Lane County, OR, stepped up with a pilot program to finance some truckers’ auxiliary power unit purchases. And some truckers were even able to cash in on a 35 percent tax credit the state chipped in for the program.

The program, “Everybody Wins” was such a success that with the assistance of SmartWay funding, is back for round two.

The Lane County agency, through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Energy and the EPA’s SmartWay Program, is again offering APUs through direct purchase or a 60-month lease-to- purchase program.

In its announcement of the program in 2004, the agency acknowledged that its program is designed to help “jumpstart” the use of APUs in the trucking industry.

The agency offers its finance or purchase program to truckers who are based in or frequent the Interstate 5 corridor between California and Oregon , in the Lane County area. The program has 250 APUs available for “Everybody Wins Phase II.”

In addition to getting an APU with interest-free monthly payments for five years, Oregon truckers may qualify for a 35 percent tax credit against their state tax bill, agency official Sharon Banks said in a press release.

The program also includes installation of the APU.

Truckers interested in qualifying for the program or for more information on it may visit apucentral.com or call (541)736-1056.

By Jami Jones, senior editor
jami_jones@landlinemag.com