Sacramento, Calif.-based Matheson Trucking Inc. is adding 18 new compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors to its fleet in 2018.
This month, the company – which is a U.S. Postal Service supplier – acquired six new 80,000-lb. Kenworth T680 tractors built for CNG, and 12 more are on order for delivery in the fall.
These orders will bring the company’s CNG fleet to 58 tractors. When combined with its existing 12 liquefied natural gas tractors, Matheson will have a total of 70 natural gas vehicles by December. In turn, 28% of Matheson’s 245 tractors will be powered by natural gas, with more expected to come.
Nationwide, the company manages a fleet of tractors, trailers, aircraft ground support equipment and maintenance facilities. Employing more than 1,500 workers, Matheson is a privately held and family-owned/operated company whose drivers and those of its subcontractors drove a combined total of over 35.4 million miles in 2017 – from short-haul distances starting at 1.5 miles to long-haul routes up to 2,854 miles.
“Matheson supports the sustainability goals of the United States Postal System and its own clean energy objectives in keeping with our commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency,” comments Debra White, Matheson’s vice president for information technology and fleet maintenance.
“Our employees share our resolve as we make steady progress toward adopting sustainable fuel conversion processes we started back in 2013,” adds Charles Mellor, chief operating officer and general counsel at Matheson.
Matheson is also a SmartWay certified partner. Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the SmartWay program helps carriers demonstrate clean energy achievements, show continuous improvement and learn best practices using the EPA’s performance tools. Registered partners benchmark and track efforts to account for reduced emissions.
