Dean Foods Alta Dena Dairy Express Southern California Fleet With Five Ryder Natural Gas Trucks

MIAMI --(EON: Enhanced Online News)-- Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) announced delivery of five natural gas-fueled delivery vehicles to Dean Foods, Ryder’s first customer for natural gas commercial vehicles made available through Ryder’s agreement with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) in Southern California. The $38.7 million effort is part of a joint public/private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, the Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition, and Ryder System, Inc. The Ryder/SANBAG project includes 202 natural gas vehicles, upgrades to three maintenance facilities for the proper servicing of natural gas vehicles, and the construction of two fueling stations.

“Dean Foods constantly looks for ways to reduce costs and drive efficiency in our operations”
Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) is a leading dairy processor and owner of one of the largest refrigerated direct-store delivery distribution networks in the food and beverage industry. The company has made a significant commitment to reducing carbon emissions in its transportation fleet and investing in alternative fuel technology. The Ryder natural gas vehicles are the first of their kind in the Dean Foods fleet, and produce up to 27 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional diesel vehicles. Ryder delivered the compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to Dean Foods’ Alta Dena Dairy division in Southern California in early June.

“Dean Foods constantly looks for ways to reduce costs and drive efficiency in our operations,” said Tom Murray, Pacific Coast Group Vice President for Dean Foods, which includes Southern California’s Alta Dena Dairy. “Advancements in transportation technology like the Ryder CNG vehicles also lower our carbon emissions and improve our environmental footprint in the communities like Southern California, where so many of our employees work and live.”

“We are very excited to have Dean Foods as our first commercial fleet customer for gas vehicles in Southern California. Our participation in the SANBAG project puts Ryder at the forefront of alternative fuels options for commercial heavy-duty vehicles. We are committed to leadership in helping our customers manage their businesses more effectively, whether through fleet management outsourcing, affordable vehicle options, or these new natural gas offerings,” said Alex Madrinkian, Vice President of Sales for Ryder’s West Region.

“Greening the Fleet” with Natural Gas Vehicles