Interstate Distributor buys 10 LNG-fueled trucks from Blu.

Blu. said that Interstate Distributor has signed an agreement to purchase 10 LNG-fueled trucks – the first LNG deployment by a national freight carrier within the Pacific Northwest.

“Blu. continues to grow its presence in the Northwest, with more and more fleets taking advantage of the cost savings and fuel efficiency of LNG,” Blu. CEO Merritt Norton said. “This new agreement with Interstate comes as a result of their real-world experience with the benefits of LNG-fueled trucks.”

Interstate Distributor signed the deal after testing LNG through Blu.’s signature demo truck program. In the past, if a company wanted to try LNG fueled trucks in their operations, it would mean committing to a purchase or full-service lease agreement without knowing if LNG would work for a specific operation. Blu. utilizes a fleet of LNG test trucks to offer transportation companies a first-hand opportunity to measure the results and savings that come from adopting a less expensive fuel before committing to a long-term agreement. After their initial test period, Interstate Distributor decided to purchase 10 new Kenworth trucks equipped to run on LNG.

“Our unique truck demo program offers customers like Interstate Distributor a great opportunity to see first-hand how LNG is the ideal alternative to diesel,” Norton said. “LNG is low-cost, efficient and provides trucks the range they need to get the job done.”

Interstate plans to refuel the new Kenworth LNG trucks in a network that includes two Blu. stations in Sumner, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

Press Release, August 8, 2014; Image: BluLNG