Honda-Hauling Fleet Receives Custom CNG Trucks
The natural gas-powered fleet is part of a collaboration between Virginia Transportation and American Honda Motor Co. in Alabama.

Two side-mounted Type IV CNG saddle tanks are compact enough to allow allow fitting of the car-carrier on the Peterbilt chassis. Photo: Mainstay Fuel Technologies

Virginia Transportation Corp. announced the delivery of 30 custom compressed natural gas fuel-storage systems from Mainstay Fuel Technologies for use in the company’s new fleet of Peterbilt car haulers.
The CNG-powered fleet is part of a collaboration between Virginia Transportation and American Honda Motor Co. in Alabama. The trucks will be dedicated to moving new automobiles from Honda’s Lincoln, Ala., factory to a new CSX rail facility.
Virginia Transportation and Mainstay say they worked with The Pete Store, a local dealer, as well as Peterbilt Motors; Cottrell, the body builder; and Fontaine Modification to fit the gas system onto the truck’s chassis.
The fuel system includes two Type IV CNG saddle tanks to meet the fleet’s range requirements. Peterbilt lowered the cab and chassis of the 365 Daycab, and Fontaine Modification further reduced the height of the roof and installed Mainstay’s fuel system on the chassis within an envelope required for body installation.
Cottrell completed the truck by adding the carrier body to the chassis.
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