Freightliner, Ryder Supply CNG Units to Several Fleets
Ryder System Inc. and Freightliner Trucks said they have supplied new compressed natural gas-fueled trucks to several companies and fleets.
Indian River Transport Co. has added five Freightliner Cascadia compressed natural gas day cabs to its fleet, marking the first alternative-fuel vehicles in the carrier’s 600-tractor fleet.
Indian River Transport, based in Winter Haven, Florida, is one of the largest food grade tank carriers in the United States. The new CNG trucks will be used for 10 to 12 runs per day, per truck, and run 24 hours a day.
“One of our customers wanted a smaller carbon footprint, lower fuel costs and reduced noise levels in the communities these trucks serve,” said Mark Gressett, Indian River Transport’s safety director. “Freightliner’s natural-gas solution aligned with our priorities.”
The trucks will use Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural-gas engines. Freightliner said the Cascadia 113 CNG day cab is ideal for regional hauling and vocational operations, and is available with a variety of CNG fuel-tank configurations with up to 190 diesel-gallon-equivalent capacity and a fill-range of about 800 miles.
“Indian River Transport has built its 40-year business on continually embracing new technologies to better serve customers, and natural gas was the next step for them,” said Robert Carrick, Freightliner’s natural-gas sales manager.
Since 2008, Freightliner Trucks has sold more 3,000 natural gas-powered trucks and tractors.
Ryder will lease seven CNG tractors each to two customers in Arkansas: Alpha Packaging Inc. and Boyd Metals Transportation. Ryder said it is its first offering of natural-gas units in the state and that it will maintain the CNG trucks at its Fort Smith, Arkansas, service facility.
The trucks for both Arkansas deals are Volvo VNL 64 tandem-axle day cabs, Ryder said.
Alpha Packaging — the largest independently owned corrugated box manufacturing company in Arkansas — will use the trucks to support deliveries to all areas within 300 miles of its Greenwood manufacturing facility.
Boyd Metals will use the trucks to deliver carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and fiberglass products from its Fort Smith warehouse.
The trucks for both companies will replace current Ryder-leased diesel units.
Ryder System’s Ryder Supply Chain Solutions ranks No. 11 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
