C.R. England Inc. on Feb. 12 announced a five-year liquefied natural gas bulk-fueling agreement with Shell and outlined plans to replace existing diesel trucks with LNG-powered trucks.
The Salt Lake City-based refrigerated and dry van carrier has ordered 10 Mack trucks with the Cummins Westport ISX12 G engine. It expects to place them in service in April, said Allen Nielsen, the company’s director of fuel.
The trucks will run in Southern California, which the carrier called the most “mature” market for on-highway natural-gas use.
“We believe natural gas is the best alternative fuel to diesel currently available for longhaul Class 8 trucks,” Chief Operating Officer Zach England said. “In addition to reducing emissions, we believe there is the potential to reduce fuel costs and operate trucks that run quieter than those using diesel.”
In addition to environmental benefits, C.R. England said natural-gas truck can run quieter than diesel trucks, which provides them an advantage in noise-restricted areas such as residential neighborhoods.
After running the new tractors for about six months, C.R. England may order additional LNG trucks and could be operating up to 50 by early 2015, Nielsen said.
