Auxiliary power unit. In other words: a generator. It provides power to the tractor and/or reefer unit. You don't need to idle the tractor. Similar to the ones in RVs and used on the ground for power to aircraft, just tailored to the trucks.
A refrigerated trailer.
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
What does the term APU"s mean.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.