New Kenworth T800 LNG Trucks Help Drayage Fleet with Clean Air Efforts in Los Angeles, Long Beach

First Alternative Fuel Trucks in Service under Clean Trucks Program

RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif. – When avid outdoorsman Vic La Rosa is on vacation in Montana, hiking the hills and valleys to his favorite fishing holes and hunting grounds, he routinely stops and breathes in the clean, fresh air. As president of Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI), a drayage, warehouse and transportation company in Rancho Dominguez, Calif., La Rosa is helping bring cleaner air to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and surrounding areas that the fleet serves.


TTSI is operating eight Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks, the first alternative fuel vehicles to operate in full-time drayage service at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach under the major Clean Trucks Program. “We all have a responsibility to protect our environment,” said La Rosa. “I’m delighted that TTSI took a lead role to put our new Kenworth T800 LNG trucks into service to help reduce emissions and provide cleaner air at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and in the region.”


The eight Kenworth T800s are equipped with the LNG fuel system developed by Westport Innovations Inc. of Vancouver, B.C., and installed on the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine. The Kenworth trucks have Westport’s High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology and use 5% diesel and 95% natural gas to power the drivetrain. Running on clean, low-carbon LNG fuel, TTSI will realize greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 20% and nitrogen oxide emissions reductions of over 75% compared to the diesel vehicles being replaced, according to Westport Innovations.


La Rosa said TTSI expects drivers to realize significant savings in their fuel costs since liquefied natural gas costs about 25 percent less per gallon than diesel fuel. Also, it appears the LNG trucks travel about the same or greater distance on natural gas as the company’s diesel-powered trucks on a comparable amount of diesel fuel, he said.

The new Kenworth T800 LNG trucks are working so well that TTSI will take delivery of 30 more later this summer, and plans to eventually replace half of its 300-truck fleet with the alternative fuel trucks, said La Rosa.


TTSI hauls a variety of commodities, from electronics to food, apparel, and appliances, for major merchandisers, manufacturers and other shippers, including NYK Logistics, NEC, Konica, Ronco, and Target Stores, which is the second largest goods importer to the United States.


From left Peter Grace, vice president of Clean Energy Finance, hands the keys to Vic La Rosa, president of Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI) earlier this year upon delivery of TTSI’s eight Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks. At right is Greg Roche, business development director for Clean Energy.

The Kenworth T800 LNG trucks make an average of three round trips per day in and out of the ports and travel within a 60-mile radius of the ports in the greater Los Angeles area. La Rosa said access to fuel isn’t an issue since Clean Energy installed an LNG-fueling station across the street from the company’s main drayage facility in Rancho Dominguez.

The Kenworth T800 LNG engine has 450-hp and delivers 1,650 ft-lbs of torque. “Our drivers say the trucks provide them with all the power and responsiveness they need,” said La Rosa. “They also enjoy the T800’s quiet, comfortable ride and sloped hood.”

Kenworth plans to go into full production of the Kenworth T800 LNG trucks in 2009 at the company’s manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to offer Class 8 LNG trucks as a factory-installed option and continues to lead the way in providing eco-friendly logistics solutions.