Entire Fleet Conversion Set for December 2011
TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. hosted a green ribbon cutting ceremony
yesterday to celebrate the arrival of their first Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) fleet vehicle. Golden Eagle, in partnership with Ryder System,
Inc. (NYSE: R), is converting its entire heavy duty fleet in Tucson to
Compressed Natural Gas vehicles by the end of 2011. Ryder executives,
including Bobby Stewart, Vice President of National Sales, presented the
vehicle to Golden Eagle executives including Christopher Clements, CEO,
and Kimberly Clements, President.
Golden Eagle has begun taking delivery of the compressed natural gas-powered trucks it has leased from Ryder for its fleet. (Photo: Business Wire)
To support distribution operations in Tucson, AZ, Golden Eagle
Distributors, Inc., a Ryder full service lease customer for 40 years,
has agreed to lease 23 CNG vehicles. Through this effort, Golden Eagle
will be converting its entire 23 vehicle delivery fleet in Tucson to CNG
vehicles by the end of 2011. The vehicles are part of a strategic
alternative fuel program at Golden Eagle focused on reducing
transportation-generated emissions and reducing fuel costs.
CNG vehicles produce 95% less particulate matter, 80% less nitrogen
oxide, and provide a reduction of 23% in greenhouse gas emissions when
compared to diesel engines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
“We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and with
diesel fuel prices continuing to rise, the timing was right to convert
our Tucson fleet to natural gas vehicles,” said Christopher Clements,
CEO, Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc.
“We could not have implemented this project without Ryder. Ryder has
been our strategic transportation partner for 40 years. We rely on their
expertise when it comes to evaluating new technologies, such as
alternative fuels. Ryder has helped us find an alternative fuel that is
not only cleaner and better for the environment, but we also expect to
see real fuel cost savings over time. Our trust from working with Ryder
for 40 years ensures us that the CNG vehicles will meet the needs of our
drivers and the loads we carry daily,” continued Christopher Clements.
Long-time Golden Eagle employee Kevin Murray added, “This truck drives
great. It has just as much power as our current diesel trucks and is
much better for our environment. I am proud that Golden Eagle has made
the move to CNG vehicles.”
"We are proud to be such a long-standing partner and thank Golden Eagle
for trusting us with their business for 40 years," said Robert Sanchez,
President of Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder. "We are
committed to continuing to provide Golden Eagle with innovative
transportation solutions, such as natural gas vehicles, which not only
help them achieve their sustainability goals, but also enable them to
realize meaningful cost-saving and efficiency benefits."
The Tucson fleet conversion is the first part of a bigger CNG plan that
Golden Eagle is embarking on over the next several years. Over time,
Golden Eagle will convert all fleet vehicles to CNG in their six branch
operations throughout the state. Then light duty passenger vehicles will
be changed over to CNG in each branch. To service their CNG fleet,
Golden Eagle is working toward opening their own CNG fuel stations in
Tucson and then at several other branch locations including Casa Grande
and Buckeye. In spring 2011, Golden Eagle purchased an acre of land
adjacent to the Headquarters property in Tucson. That land will be used
for a CNG fueling station.
Environmental awareness is part of the business plan at Golden Eagle.
Golden Eagle was named Arizona’s Greenest Workplace in 2010 by Mrs.
Green’s World, an environmental website that promotes global
sustainability. GED was recognized for its recycling and energy
efficiency initiatives, employee carpooling, and for its green
transportation program. In 2010, Golden Eagle recycled over 4 tons of
aluminum, over 62 tons of glass and over 420 cubic yards of cardboard,
plastic and paper. Last year, Golden Eagle installed new lights in the
Tucson warehouse that will save 656,000 kilowatts per year. Improvements
last year in the HVAC controls resulted in electric usage dropping 8.7%
and natural gas usage dropping 60%. These are significant changes that
have a positive effect on our environment.
Golden Eagle’s efforts are being recognized nationally. Bill Osteen,
Golden Eagle Senior Vice President of Business Operations, will
speak in October at the 2011 Green Fleet Conference in Grapevine, Texas.
The conference is a resource for fleet industry professionals looking
for ways to save money and work sustainability into their fleet
operations. Bill will share his insights about the Golden Eagle CNG
fleet conversion.
The CNG project is part of a continual process at Golden Eagle to
identify opportunities to incorporate sustainability into the business
plan, without increasing costs. CNG has become an important part of the
Golden Eagle business plan, creating a more efficient, cleaner fleet
while creating cost savings.
Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. has been the exclusive distributor of
Anheuser-Busch products, as well as other craft beers and imports,
across most of Arizona since its founding in 1974. The third-generation
company is owned by the Clements Family and is headquartered in Tucson
with offices in Buckeye, Casa Grande, Flagstaff, Globe, Show Low and
Tempe, Arizona. For more information about Golden Eagle Distributors,
Inc. please visit www.gedaz.com
and www.facebook.com/goldeneagledistributorsinc.
Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial transportation, logistics and supply
chain management solutions company. Ryder’s stock (NYSE:R) is a
component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard &
Poor’s 500 Index. Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Ryder
as a top third party logistics provider and included Ryder in its 2010
and 2011 “Green Partners” listing. Ryder also ranked 114 out of the top
500 U.S. companies and sixth in its industry sector in the 2010 Newsweek
Green Rankings. Ryder is a charter member of the NGV Fleet Forum and a
member of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Fleets partnership.
Ryder is also a proud member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster
Giving Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and
response efforts. For more information on Ryder System, Inc., visit www.ryder.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6863953&lang=en
Source: Ryder System, Inc.