Representatives from Rush Enterprises Inc.’s Rush Truck Centers in Austin and Waco, Texas, participated in a review of the first of 60 Peterbilt Model 388 LNG (liquefied natural gas) trucks that will be delivered to Green Energy Oilfield Services LLC, a portfolio company of Lone Star Investment Advisors.
Green Energy Oilfield Services, located in Fairfield, Texas, will use the trucks to service XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil and major producer in the Freestone play oilfield in Freestone County, Texas. It will operate 50 trucks as vacuum trucks, used to remove and dispose of formation water, and 10 as winch trucks, used to transport frac tanks. The trucks are expected to enter operation in April. Clean Energy will provide the LNG fuel for the vehicles.
“We are very excited to be reviewing the first of our 60 truck Peterbilt LNG fleet,” said Roger Nevill, president and COO of Green Energy Oilfield Services. “We believe that Peterbilt is a leader in alternate fuel technology. These vehicles offer us the quality and reliability we need for rugged oilfield operation, while enabling us to honor our commitment to operate alternate fuel powered trucks in the field.
“Because the trucks are LNG-powered, we will not bill a diesel surcharge, allowing us to pass on an estimated $5 million in savings annually to XTO Energy,” Nevill continued. “Even further, we can return support for our customer’s business by powering our trucks with LNG fuel.”
The trucks were sold to Green Energy by Rush Truck Center – Austin and will be supported in the field by Rush Truck Center – Waco through aftermarket parts and mobile service operations with LNG-certified technicians.
“We are committed to providing solutions both in truck sales and support after the sale for our natural gas customers,” said W. M. “Rusty” Rush, president and CEO of Rush Enterprises. “We have made significant investments to help ensure our truck sales professionals are skilled in alternate fuel technology. We offer a range of aftermarket parts and our LNG-certified technicians and fleet of mobile service units help ensure our customers are well supported. We expect to have 100 natural gas-certified technicians around the country by late 2012 and have plans to designate and equip about 10 locations as natural gas support dealerships.”
According to Rush, the Peterbilt Model 388 tractors are equipped with a Westport HD 15-liter natural gas engine, Eaton 13-speed transmission, 40,000 lbs. Dana Spicer rear axles and a Peterbilt Airtrac suspension. In addition, Rush Truck Financing helped secure the financing for the 60-truck deal. The LNG truck deal is one of the largest of its kind in Texas for Rush Truck Centers, although Rush Truck Centers has been involved in sales and service of alternate fuel vehicles for more than a decade in other parts of the country. Rush Truck Centers has provided over 200 Peterbilt LNG refuse trucks to the City of Los Angeles, Calif., and Peterbilt LNG Day Cabs to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
