Saddle Creek’s CNG Program Nears ‘Significant Milestone’

Saddle Creek Logistics Services says its compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet is slated to officially cross the 50-million-mile mark by month’s end, and the Florida-based company is continuing to expand its CNG operations.

Since its launch in 2012, Saddle Creek’s CNG fleet has grown from 40 tractors to 200 dedicated tractors to meet customer demand. The company says each CNG truck reduces the fleet’s carbon footprint by approximately 120,000 pounds of carbon per year. By using CNG trucks instead of diesel, Saddle Creek adds, the company has replaced more than 9 million gallons of diesel with natural gas.

The CNG fleet now serves the Southeast and Southwest, with operations in Lakeland and Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta and Valdosta, Ga.; and Fort Worth, Texas. Saddle Creek says Fortune 500 companies and major retailers are tapping the fleet to support their corporate sustainability programs.

Saddle Creek continues to invest in its CNG operations. The company says it regularly upgrades technology and is now operating the sixth generation of Freightliner CNG trucks. To accommodate the growing fleet, Saddle Creek recently completed a $1.5 million upgrade to the fueling facility at its Lakeland, Fla., headquarters, adding more efficient time-fill stations.

To further reduce emissions, Saddle Creek is also in the process of converting 50 older diesel tractors into dual-fuel CNG-diesel vehicles.

“Our investment in CNG has enabled us to stabilize fuel costs while reducing our environmental footprint. The 50-million-mile mark is a significant milestone for our CNG program,” says Mike DelBovo, president of Saddle Creek Transportation. “We look forward to working with our industry partners to expand the nation’s infrastructure to support the adoption of natural gas as a fuel source on an even broader scale.”