Ryder System Inc. says its fleet of 250 natural gas vehicles – 35 liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 215 compressed natural gas (CNG) heavy-duty tractors – has surpassing six million miles of operation. The company notes that these NGVs are being used in almost three dozen customer operations in Michigan, Arizona and California.
Ryder's natural gas truck program, which kicked off last year, is tied heavily to a major initiative among Ryder, the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) and the Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition. This project includes not only the deployment of 202 NGVs, but also the development of two natural gas refueling stations and upgrades to three maintenance facilities to accommodate the servicing of NGVs.
‘Our commercial rental and leasing model enables businesses to take advantage of these new technologies with less downtime and other risks associated with ownership,’ says Greg Swienton, chairman and CEO of Ryder. ‘We will continue to help businesses jump-start their alternative fuel programs with innovative solutions that drive both environmental and cost-saving benefits.’
Since the program began, Ryder's NGVs have eliminated the consumption of more than 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
