New Kenworth T800 LNG trucks help clean air efforts
TTSI is operating eight Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks. (Photo courtesy Kenworth)
The Trucker News Services
8/8/2008
RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif. — As president of Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), a drayage, warehouse and transportation company in Rancho Dominguez, Calif., Vic La Rosa is helping bring cleaner air to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and surrounding areas that the fleet serves.
TTSI is operating eight Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks, the first alternative fuel vehicles to operate in full-time drayage service at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach under the major Clean Trucks Program, according to a Kenworth news release.
“We all have a responsibility to protect our environment,” said La Rosa. “I’m delighted that TTSI took a lead role to put our new Kenworth T800 LNG trucks into service to help reduce emissions and provide cleaner air at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and in the region.”
The eight Kenworth T800s are equipped with the LNG fuel system developed by Westport Innovations Inc. of Vancouver, B.C., and installed on the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine. The Kenworth trucks have Westport’s High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology and use 5 percent diesel and 95 percent natural gas to power the drivetrain. Running on LNG fuel, TTSI will realize greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 20 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions reductions of over 75 percent compared to the diesel vehicles being replaced, according to Westport Innovations.
La Rosa said TTSI expects drivers to realize significant savings in their fuel costs since liquefied natural gas costs about 25 percent less per gallon than diesel fuel. Also, it appears the LNG trucks travel about the same or greater distance on natural gas as the company’s diesel-powered trucks on a comparable amount of diesel fuel, he said.
The new Kenworth T800 LNG trucks are working so well that TTSI will take delivery of 30 more later this summer, and plans to eventually replace half of its 300-truck fleet with the alternative fuel trucks, said La Rosa.
TTSI hauls a variety of commodities, from electronics to food, apparel, and appliances, for major merchandisers, manufacturers and other shippers, including NYK Logistics, NEC, Konica, Ronco, and Target Stores, which is the second largest goods importer to the United States, the release stated.
The Kenworth T800 LNG trucks make an average of three round trips per day in and out of the ports and travel within a 60-mile radius of the ports in the greater Los Angeles area. La Rosa said access to fuel isn’t an issue since Clean Energy installed an LNG-fueling station across the street from the company’s main drayage facility in Rancho Dominguez.
The Kenworth T800 LNG engine has 450-hp and delivers 1,650 foot-pounds of torque. “Our drivers say the trucks provide them with all the power and responsiveness they need,” said La Rosa. “They also enjoy the T800’s quiet, comfortable ride and sloped hood.”
Kenworth plans to go into full production of the Kenworth T800 LNG trucks in 2009 at the company’s manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to offer Class 8 LNG trucks as a factory-installed option, the release stated.
One of the new Kenworth T800 LNG drayage trucks operated by Total Transportation Services Inc. is shown in action. The trucks serve the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.