Third-party logistics company Kane Is Able Inc. has unveiled for the public its natural gas vehicle initiative, which will see the large transportation solutions provider roll out an initial seven tractors that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
The trucks, which will be used within the company's regional transportation fleet based in Scranton, Pa., are Volvo VNL daycab units that feature Cummins Westport Inc.'s 11.9-liter ISX12 G natural gas engine. Each CNG truck has a driving range of about 425 miles – a distance that will adequately cover the mileage that these trucks rack up on their dedicated routes.
The company tells NGT News that it considers this initiative a pilot-scale project, with much potential down the line for further natural gas vehicle deployments as Pennsylvania's – and other states' – CNG infrastructure network grows.
This particular seven-truck initiative is aided by the progressive sustainability policies of one of Kane Is Able's key business partners, Procter & Gamble. Last year, P&G announced that it was working with eight of its carriers to convert up to 20% of its truck loads to NGVs by the end of 2015. Part of that initiative includes private, on-site CNG refueling capacity at P&G's location in Mehoopany, Pa., which is where Kane Is Able is refueling its seven new Volvo VNLs.
Overall, Kane Is Able has about 200 trucks in its fleet, serving 21 distribution centers nationwide.
