John Sommers II for Transport TopicsARLINGTON, Va. — The emergence of natural gas as a viable fuel for the commercial trucking industry is a matter of when — and not if — issues such as a cost-effective fuel supply network, a new generation of engines and driver acceptance are overcome, industry experts said here Thursday.
“The big question is timing,” said James Haslam, chairman and CEO of truck stop chain Pilot Flying J, speaking on a panel at American Trucking Associations’ Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking here. The session, “Infrastructure Hurdles: The Chicken or the Egg,” was moderated by ATA President Bill Graves.
“The energy boom is the single greatest thing the country has going for it. We have to take advantage of this. The best place to do it is with trucks. We believe we will have the infrastructure in place to take care of your needs,” Haslam said.