LONG BEACH, CA. Fleets interested in trying out natural gas heavy-duty tractors can now rent them from Penske Truck Rental in select markets. The company announced at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo that it has added 85 compressed natural gas (CNG) Freightliner Cascadia day cab tractors with Cummins Westport 12L engines to its rental fleet.
The CNG trucks are ready to rent at Penske locations in Southern and Northern California, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Baltimore,the company announced. Milwaukee, Houston and other markets will be added shortly,according to Penske.
"These rental semi-tractors allow our customers to field test the units and experience how they will use them within their daily business," said Don Mikes, senior VP of Rental. "If a customer wants a more permanent solution we can easily transition then to a full-service lease."
The company's leasing operation - Penske Truck Leasing - also announced at ACT Expo that it have been awarded grants totaling $525,000 to prepare eight shops for maintaining natural gas powered trucks.
The grants were provided by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee of Diamond Bar, CA, and will be used to help offset modification costs in existing Penske service locations in Southern California.
"These facility retrofits will enable us to better serve our truck fleet customers in the region and support their sustainability goals now and in the future," said Jennifer Sockel, senior VP of administration and facilities.