Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/255292
34 | Overdrive | February 2014 EquipmEnt spotlight The gas sweet spot A glider kit using diesel and gas to power an old-school engine proves to be a reliable cost-effective combo. BY JACK ROBERTS B rian Orr, president of Stewart Logistics, a FedEx Ground contractor based in Atlanta, says he was attracted to natural gas years ago due to its low price. Orr believed he could use it to save $1 per gallon with his 25-truck fleet. Not only was he right, but he's also not having to oper- ate his alternative-fuel glider kits for years to recoup a high initial cost, as is the case with most natural gas-powered trucks. These glider kit rigs take advantage of a quirky regulatory loophole that allows the sale of a truck with a new cab and chassis fitted with a recycled or refurbished drivetrain, including pre-2001 engine technology. The additional twist – thrown into the mix by American Power Group, Wheel Time and their partners – is that their rebuilt powertrains also receive a natural gas fuel and tank system. The system manages the flow of the two fuels to the engine, using diesel both as the ignition source in the combustion chamber and as a power boost in situations such as hill climbing that demand higher torque. Orr used Fitzgerald Glider Kits for the rebuilds and took ownership of his first vehicle in October. Here's how the numbers worked for him. Stewart Logistics was looking for two trucks to run five days a week on a dedicated route between Atlanta and Me- ridian, Miss. Orr was able to order the retrofitted gliders at a low price because the refurbished powertrains are cheaper than new ones, and glider kits are not subject to federal excise taxes. He bought two 2013 Freightliner Columbia glider kits, both powered by Detroit Series 60 engines. Each day the trucks burn nat- ural gas amount- ing to the diesel gallon equivalent of 71 gallons. Orr typically saves 96 cents on each DGE of gas, paying about $2.59 per DGE for natural gas. He calculates a daily fuel savings of $68.16. The only problem Orr has identified with his natural gas strategy is a lack of liquefied natural gas fueling stations. His Atlanta-Meridian route is mapped with existing LNG stations, but the setup leaves little room for flexibility. On the other hand, Orr believes that his fuel savings will increase as natural gas becomes more widely available. This Freightliner Columbia is one of two glider kits Stewart Logistics uses on a dedicated regional run. equipment CHOiCeS new diesel tractor: $128,000 new natural gas tractor: $180,000 to $200,000 Retrofitted glider kit: $110,000 tHe OpeRatiOn annual fuel savings per truck: $17,722 dOwnSide Fueling infrastructure Equip_Spot_0214.indd 34 1/29/14 9:40 PM