Houston-based Universal LNG Solutions Inc. unveiled four long-range Freightliner Cascadia heavy-duty trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will be used by at least two national logistics fleets, the company announced.

The first tractor-trailers, powered by Cummins Westport ISX 12G 400-hp engines, will be the first in the U.S. with the capability to haul 80,000 pounds for more than 700 miles per fill-up, Universal LNG said.

The fleets receiving the trucks include a "large, national logistics company servicing the Texas Golden Triangle from the Port of Houston," and a "major oil and gas company with a focus on 'clean oil patch' and a desire to displace diesel as the standard in hauling," according to a Universal LNG spokesman.

The first fleet will ship goods throughout Texas and nearby states during a two-month pilot program between Universal LNG, LNG technology company Sancus Energy, and other partners. The initiative is designed to demonstrate how trucking companies can lower costs while reducing their carbon footprint using LNG engines, Universal LNG said.

"For our initial trial, we are aiming to achieve a 5 miles per diesel gallon equivalent performance and will keep the performance data public," said Jeffrey Liu, CEO of Universal LNG Solutions.

The combination of Universal LNG’s re-conditioning technology and the Cummins Westport fuel system is designed to eliminate venting from the truck’s LNG tank under regular truck usage, achieving a “non-venting” fleet status so fleet operators can effectively consume purchased energy without venting back to the station or into the atmosphere.