Ryder System Inc. has expanded its natural gas vehicle (NGV) offering into Arkansas for the first time and will lease NGVs to two current fleet customers in the state.
Alpha Packaging Inc., a corrugated box manufacturer, has signed a full-service lease agreement for seven compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors. The NGVs will replace current Ryder-leased diesel vehicles and will be used to support Alpha's deliveries to all areas within 300 miles of its Greenwood, Ark., plant. To support its new natural gas fleet, Alpha is building an on-site CNG fueling station at its location.
“Even with the recent drop in diesel fuel prices, the stability of natural gas fuel costs, along with the environmental benefits of natural gas vehicle technology, bring significant value to our fleet operation,” says Alpha Packaging President Mike Stec. “Leasing natural gas trucks from Ryder helps us with our long-term transportation needs and aligns with our efforts to be a responsible, sustainable company.”
Boyd Metals Transportation LLC has also signed a full-service lease agreement for seven CNG tractors to replace current Ryder-leased diesel vehicles. The new CNG delivery fleet will be used to deliver Boyd's inventory of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and fiberglass products from the company's Fort Smith, Ark., warehouse.
“We knew we could count on Ryder to help us successfully deploy these advanced fuel vehicles into our fleet,” says Michael Cooper, general manager of Boyd Metals Transportation. “We may even consider expanding our fleet with Ryder if this new advanced fuel vehicle solution meets the company's expectations.”
Ryder says it will maintain both companies' CNG trucks at its Fort Smith, Ark., service facility, which is being engineered to meet the unique compliance requirements for natural gas.
In addition to Arkansas, Ryder has begun deploying NGVs into the fleets of its customers in Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Utah, and Quebec, Canada.
“We continue to see interest from businesses focused on the long-term economic and environmental benefits of natural gas,” states Dennis Cooke, Ryder's president of global fleet management solutions.
