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Pilot Travel Centers, the nation's largest retail operator of travel centers with more than 325 owned or licensed retail interstate locations in 40 states, today announced plans to be the first to carry diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) “at the pump” for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipped trucks. The Company’s initial rollout plans call for the fluid to be economically available in bulk at more than 100 Pilot Travel Center locations nationwide beginning in mid-to-late 2009.
Pilot’s decision to offer diesel exhaust fluid “at the pump” will maximize affordability and convenience for truckers and is one of the final infrastructure elements to be put into place for truck fleets and owner-operator customers planning to use SCR emissions control technology to meet 2010 emissions standards. The Company’s commitment ensures supplies of the fluid will be conveniently available during normal fuel fill ups by truck drivers anywhere in the country, and will help to lead the way for new 2010 SCR-equipped trucks to run at near-zero emission levels.
Virtually all of the heavy-duty engines in volume production today, that will continue to be sold after the new standards take effect, will utilize SCR to comply with the standard, optimizing fuel consumption and drive-ability for their owners.
In addition to offering diesel exhaust fluid “at-the-pump” at more than 100 locations, all Pilot Travel Centers will carry pre-packaged top-off quantities of the fluid for SCR-equipped trucks.
“By working with Detroit Diesel Corporation and Daimler Trucks North America, as well as other OEMs, we’ve begun to learn a lot more about SCR and the infrastructure needed to support this beneficial new technology,” said Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president.
“Pilot once again will be the leader in the travel center industry by providing a network that will carry the DEF product,” Hazelwood added. “We believe this product will create efficiencies for trucking companies which will, in essence, increase their MPG’s and save them money. This product offering also helps Pilot to continue its Pilot “green” initiatives and commitment to becoming the first environmentally friendly travel center network.”
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot employs 14,000 nation-wide. The chain is owned and operated by Pilot Corporation, also based in Knoxville, and Marathon Ashland Petroleum, based in Findlay, Ohio. The Company, which reached revenues in excess of $13 billion in 2007, was founded more than half a century ago in Gate City, VA. Pilot was recognized by the National Retail Federation in 2007 among the top 100 U.S. retailers and in 2006 opened its first international location in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada.
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
Today, the use of SCR in Class 8 heavy duty trucks has shown that the technology can reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. SCR also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles through greater fuel efficiency and resulting reductions in CO2, relative to other NOx reducing technologies. When used in combination with diesel particulate filters, the technology helps to reduce criteria pollutant emissions to near-zero levels.
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