Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, today announced that it has enhanced its alternative fuels website at www.ryder.com/alternativefuels by making new tools and video training available to customers and fleet owners who want to take advantage of the cost-saving and sustainable benefits of utilizing commercial natural gas vehicles. The enhancements include an interactive Fuel Cost Savings Calculator that allows customers to compare fuel costs between diesel- and natural gas-powered commercial vehicles based on their business' driving habits in real time. To help customers locate the closest refuelling and maintenance locations, a searchable Refueling and Maintenance Station Locator function has also been added, along with new Instructional Training Videos for natural gas fueling.
"As a leader in alternative fuel solutions for commercial fleets, we continue to leverage our expertise and experience in the marketplace to educate businesses about the advantages of new, cleaner and more efficient vehicle technologies," said John Gleason, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Fleet Management Solutions. "The enhanced alternative fuels website demonstrates Ryder's commitment to innovation by making compelling information about the cost-saving and environmental benefits of natural gas vehicles easily accessible to customers, fleet owners, and the general public."
Site visitors can use the Fuel Cost Savings Calculator to calculate their potential savings when using a heavy duty natural gas-powered vehicle versus a traditional diesel-powered vehicle. Fleet managers simply select a few basic metrics – current miles per gallon, local price of diesel and natural gas, and average miles driven per year – and then can instantly see their estimated annual fuel cost savings.
The Refueling and Maintenance Station Locator application enables fleet managers to search for their nearest natural gas fueling station. By entering a city or zip code, businesses can find information about nearby facilities for natural gas fueling and maintenance, including address and directions, available fuel type (compressed natural gas-CNG or liquefied natural gas-LNG), fuel pressure, tractor/trailer accessibility, hours of service, and payment options. In addition, the tool offers satellite imagery of facilities, where available, to make it easier for businesses to find these sometimes hard-to-identify locations.
For drivers who are new to natural gas vehicle technology, Ryder is now providing two training videos on the enhanced site that provide step-by-step instructions for how to safely refuel a CNG- or LNG-powered truck.
Ryder originally launched its alternative fuels microsite in 2011 to help customers and fleet owners better understand how they can reduce transportation costs, while meeting sustainability objectives. In addition to the new tools on the site, businesses can get all the information they need about the financial, environmental, and long-term advantages of natural gas, hybrid, and electric vehicle technologies. By visiting www.ryder.com/alternativefuels, businesses can easily get started and begin evaluating Ryder's offerings and initiate contact with a Ryder alternative fuels expert.
Ryder is the leader in alternative fuels for the commercial truck leasing and rental industry. In 2010, The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) selected Ryder as its fleet partner in a ground-breaking natural gas project in Southern California – the first of its kind to deploy natural gas vehicles into a large commercial truck leasing and rental operation. The $38.7 million project is being funded as part of a joint public/private industry partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and Ryder. The project includes 202 heavy duty natural gas vehicles and three strategically located maintenance shops in Rancho Dominguez, Orange, and Fontana. When fully implemented, the project will displace more than 1.5 million gallons of diesel annually with 100 percent domestically produced low-carbon natural gas. Ryder has also expanded its natural gas capability into other markets including Arizona and Michigan.
