Whether they are in the retail, food distribution, e-commerce or logistics industries, both large and small companies are realizing the benefits of natural gas vehicles (NGVs), according to Ryder System Inc.
“Ryder continues to see broadening interest in natural gas vehicles from businesses of various sizes and industries that see the longer-term environmental and fuel efficiency benefits,” says Dennis Cooke, Ryder’s president of global fleet management solutions.
Ryder notes four new deals to lease its natural-gas-powered trucks to fleet operators.
DFS Group, a luxury travel retailer, will be taking delivery of one Ryder CNG tractor this month. The NGV will be used to support DFS’ duty-free stores located inside the Los Angeles International Airport.
“Bringing natural gas vehicles into our LAX operation reinforces our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint through smart, environmentally sound transportation solutions,” says Parker Gundersen, vice president for DFS North America.
Dot Transportation Inc., a subsidiary of Dot Foods Inc., has leased one Ryder compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle to support its day-to-day distribution operations in the Northern California region. The vehicle will be serviced out of Ryder’s maintenance facility in Sacramento, Calif.
“After evaluating a number of different alternative fuels and strongly considering compressed natural gas for the past few years, we decided to partner with Ryder to place the first CNG truck in our fleet,” explains Kevin Buss, director of fleet maintenance for Dot Transportation. “Not only is it a cleaner fuel, but we also expect to see real fuel cost savings over time.”
Move Loot, a full-service marketplace for buying and selling home furnishings, has signed up for eight Ryder CNG vehicles in California. The CNG vehicles will support Move Loot’s operations in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions.
“Our company’s mission is to provide a more sustainable and efficient way to comfortably and affordably furnish the home,” says Bill Bobbitt, Move Loot’s co-founder and CEO.
TQ Logistics, a dedicated trucking service provider with operations based in 23 states, has leased three CNG vehicles to support its dedicated transportation model in Milwaukee, Wisc. Ryder notes that this deal expands its NGV offering into Wisconsin for the first time.
“Even with the drop in diesel fuel prices, the stability of natural gas fuel costs, along with the environmental benefits of natural gas vehicle technology, brings significant value to our customer’s dedicated fleet operation,” comments Jim Foulks, vice president of sales and marketing for TQ Logistics.
