By changing out these 23 vehicles, Eagle expects to cut its greenhouse gas emissions from its current 878 tons down to 670 tons, which will be a reduction of 24 percent, says Doug Jones, operations manager for Eagle.
The CNG tractors will replace nearly all of Eagle’s existing diesel-powered delivery fleet. With natural gas vehicles available for lease and rental in markets in California, Arizona, and Michigan, Ryder now adds Shreveport, La., as its newest market with a natural gas vehicle offering.
Ryder will also provide maintenance for the 23 CNG vehicles from Ryder’s Shreveport service facility, which is being upgraded for compliance with natural gas standards.
“As a socially responsible company, we wanted to look at our fleet options not only from a cost perspective, but also as a good neighbor to our customers and the communities we serve,” said Brad Nichols, President of Eagle. “These advanced technology compressed natural gas vehicles work as well as their diesel counterparts and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”
With the availability and planned growth of natural gas fueling infrastructure in our service area in Louisiana, CNG vehicles will continue to gain momentum as an environmentally beneficial and cost-competitive alternative, Nichols said.
Ryder’s leased vehicles will be used to make deliveries throughout Eagle’s service territory of nine parishes in Northwest Louisiana. Eagle is also currently exploring plans to build a natural gas fueling station near its headquarters in Shreveport.
“Over the last several years, we’ve seen an increasing number of companies not only seek alternatives to reduce and control fuel costs, but also to help them control their carbon output and meet their environmental objectives,” said Dennis Cooke, president of Fleet Management Solutions at Ryder.