UPS Adding Vehicles to ‘Green Fleet’

UPS Inc. said Monday it was adding 306 alternative fuel vehicles to its “green fleet” by placing an order for 167 compressed natural gas delivery trucks and taking delivery of 139 new propane delivery trucks in North America.

Additionally, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at its UPS Worldport air hub in Louisville, Ky.

The CNG trucks will be deployed early next year in Dallas, Atlanta and four California cities.  They will join more than 800 such vehicles already in use in the United States.

The propane vehicles join nearly 600 propane trucks already operating in Canada and Mexico.

“While there’s a great deal of interest in the research we’re doing with new types of hybrids, 70 years of testing alternative fuel vehicles has taught us there are multiple technologies that can effectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Robert Hall, UPS’ director of vehicle engineering.  “Adding this many propane and CNG vehicles is going to have a very positive impact.”

UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.