July 11, 2018
Ryder Opens Natural Gas Vehicle Maintenance Facility
We see a great deal of interest from customers and prospects in the region that are looking to integrate natural gas technology into their fleets.
In Rancho Dominguez, California, Ryder opened its first natural gas vehicle maintenance facility in May 2011. It meets the stringent industry and government safety standards for natural gas maintenance, including upgrades to electrical, lighting, air handling, and ventilation systems.
The opening of the Rancho Dominguez facility marked the first facility completed under the Ryder/SANBAG Natural Gas Vehicle project, a $38.7 million initiative funded as part of a joint public/private industry partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and Ryder Systems, Inc. Ryder now has additional natural gas-compliant maintenance facilities in California, New York, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Georgia, and Louisiana.
As part of the Ryder/SANBAG project, Ryder planned to deploy a total of 202 heavy-duty natural gas vehicles in the region. The vehicles included 182 Freightliner M2-112 tractors featuring the Cummins ISL-G engine, in both single-axle and tandem-axle day-cab configurations, as well as a mix of other natural gas truck platforms. At completion, the Ryder/SANBAG project was projected to displace more than 1.5 million gallons of diesel annually with 100% domestically produced low-carbon natural gas.
"The completion of Rancho Dominguez as a natural gas-compliant maintenance facility is a critical milestone demonstrating Ryder's commitment to alternative fuel vehicle use," said Robert Sanchez, president of Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder.
Alex Madrinkian, vice president of sales in Ryder's West Region, saw the project as an opportunity to introduce the company's 1,200 commercial customers to an innovative, efficient, and environmentally sound fleet solution.
"We see a great deal of interest from customers and prospects in the region that are looking to integrate natural gas technology into their fleets," he said.
In June 2011, Ryder joined the National Clean Fleets Partnership, a DOE initiative to provide fleets with resources, expertise, and support to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel-saving measures into their operations. The company has continued its commitment to natural gas, becoming the first commercial fleet outsourcing provider to surpass 100 million natural gas vehicle miles in 2016.
