ARLINGTON, Va. — Trucking companies that move to natural gas use in their fleets will have to choose engine and fuel types, modify their maintenance shops and possibly install new types of equipment, all of which will involve higher spending, executives at American Trucking Associations’ Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking said.
Fleet managers intent on choosing natural gas as a truck fuel will have to go through a complicated and expensive process to convert — including numerous smaller choices and development of training and maintenance procedures, participants at the summit’s maintenance session said Friday.
Despite the intense level of work required, some carriers said they have found more natural gas use to be worthwhile.
“We’re trying to develop as many commercial configurations as possible,” said Scott Perry, vice president for supply management at Ryder System’s fleet management solutions unit, though he estimated the cost of outfitting maintenance shops to work on natural-gas vehicles would be $300,000 to $500,000 per shop.