Penske Truck Leasing is retrofitting 5,000 of its 2012 and 2013 model semi tractors in its commercial truck rental fleet with new LED headlights from Truck-Lite.

Penske says it's the first and only commercial rental operation to offer this new headlamp.

The retrofitting will take place over the next 12 months, and Penske is making the new LED lights part of its core standard specs going forward.

"We've field tested these new lights," says Art Vallely, executive vice president of operations for Penske Truck Leasing. "They provide greater nighttime visibility compared with traditional headlights, which enhances safety for commercial truck drivers operating our equipment. The high durability of these lights also provides a significant cost savings from a maintenance standpoint."

The Truck-Lite LED headlamps were initially developed for military use.

Truck-Lite’s LED forward lighting headlamps offer improved driver visibility through its more natural light spectrum, leading to improved object recognition at night. Truck-Lite’s LED beam pattern also reduces eye-strain for drivers and reduces harsh headlight glare to oncoming traffic. An additional benefit is a significant reduction in amperage draw on the vehicle’s electrical system, freeing up power for other uses and resulting in a 50-times longer lighting system life than conventional halogen technology.