International:
Los Angeles freight company renews all diesel fleet with near zero NGVs
Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) is replacing its entire diesel trucking fleet with near-zero emission natural gas trucks, which it plans to fuel with carbon negative renewable natural gas. The announcement was made in conjunction with the non-profit Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) to raise awareness of the importance of natural and renewable gas trucking to help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the Los Angeles region, especially at the L.A. and Long Beach ports.
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), along with environmental health non-profit BREATHE LA, fueling company Clean Energy, engine manufacturer Cummins Westport, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) participated in the announcement. 25% of TTSI’s investment in the new trucks was funded through CARB’s California Climate Investments initiative, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.
In any given month, 13,000 to 14,000 trucks call at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, emitting roughly 2,600 tons per year of smog-causing NOx emissions. In this regard, TTSI’s 40 new near-zero emission heavy-duty CNG trucks reduce this type of emissions by 90%. In addition, when fueled with biomethane, the vehicles will reduce GHG emissions by more than 80%.
“If every one of the 14,000 trucks that call at these ports were changed to natural gas, it would have a major impact on air quality in the region,” said Vic LaRosa, President of TTSI. “We hope other haulers will follow our lead and make the switch as well.”
“Southern California needs to reduce its smog-forming emissions by 45% before 2023 to meet Federal standards,” said Joseph Lyou, President & CEO of Coalition for Clean Air. “Replacing diesel engines with near-zero emission trucks would take us a long way toward meeting Environmental Protection Agency rules and avoiding the loss of federal highway funding.”
TTSI’s analysis and testing of the Cummins Westport trucks found they met the company’s busy drayage operation needs. The vehicles will be operated by TTSI’s Heavy Load Transfer, LLC division (Port Drayage).