WESTLAKE, Ohio – TravelCenters of America (TA) has unveiled a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dispensing unit at its Ann Arbor, Mich., location. TravelCenters believes this unit is the first retail bulk dispensing unit in operation in the U.S.
Originally planned for the second half of 2009, the bulk DEF dispensing unit is housed in TA’s heavy truck repair facility on the Ann Arbor site. The unit is equipped with a weights and measures certified metering device provided by Colonial Chemical Co. of Tabernacle, N.J. TravelCenters believes that Colonial Chemical’s bulk dispensing unit is the only U.S. certified device for retail dispensing of DEF at this time.
“Jim Spooner and his team at Colonial Chemical provided a fast and seamless response to our push to begin rollout of bulk DEF capability across the U.S.,” said Thomas O’Brien, CEO of TravelCenters of America. “While other companies have been working to adapt European technology to U.S. standards for bulk DEF dispensing at the fueling island, we worked closely with Colonial Chemical for an interim dispensing solution for the DEF additive.”
Locating the DEF additive indoors at TA’s industry heavy truck repair facilities allows TA to address product freezing issues TA’s competitors and other suppliers are currently struggling to solve.
“TravelCenters of America has been a part of the DEF discussions longer than anyone in the industry,” said Jim Spooner, vice president and general manager of Colonial Chemical. “Their locations offer consumers more choices because they can distribute bulk, prepackaged product, top-off fill and emergency fill services like no one else. We’re thrilled to be a part of such a dynamic supply plan.”
TravelCenters also announced that prepackaged 2.5 gallon containers have arrived at its LaVergne, Tenn., distribution warehouse and will immediately begin supplying its TA and Petro Stopping Centers locations. All of TA’s 234 locations and all of TA’s more than 400 Road Squad emergency roadside assistance vehicles are expected to have supply available by early June.
