Some of the largest operators of truck fleets in the United States are shifting gears toward natural gas-fueled trucks. Lowe’s, Procter & Gamble and United Parcel Service are three examples of groups who are placing their bets on new engine technology that should reduce the costs of dropping diesel fuel.
Switching from diesel fuel to natural gas is a growing trend; many companies are switching their fleets to run on compressed natural gas. Companies such as American Natural CNG have made it their mission to make the transition as easy and affordable as possible in an effort to lower America’s carbon footprint. The Department of Energy has stated that CNG is clean and significantly cheaper than gasoline, costing around $2.14 per gallon at the pump.
Lowe’s, the home improvement retailer, aims to shift its entire fleet to natural gas over the next three year. P&G is already well on its way, with 7% of its trucks currently running on CNG. UPS intends to acquire 1,000 natural gas trucks by the end of 2013, while FedEx hopes to have 30% of its long-distance trucks running on CNG within the decade.
Though there has been some hesitation, company managers throughout the U.S. are beginning to see the benefits of making the change. A Pittsburgh business owner, having already made the switch, explained:
“CNG is the future, the way I see it. Using natural gas is very rewarding. It allows me to expand the use of American fuel with American drivers.”