NGV Global

USA, California

Change to clean trucks will result in decreased CO2, NOx and Particulate Emissions

Nike, Inc. and its affiliate company Converse are to switch a significant portion of their Los Angeles area harbor drayage fleet from diesel to new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fueled vehicles. The "green fleet" announcement was made in conjunction with news that Nike has joined the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT), a group advocating for policies and public/private partnerships that encourage the use of cleaner truck and alternative fuel technologies in port communities.

Nike estimates the new LNG trucks will emit 18 percent less CO2, 88 percent less NOx and 96 percent less particulate matter per mile when compared to their diesel counterparts. Nike, utilizing a public-private partnership model recently developed by CRT, has teamed up with Southern Counties Express, a local trucking firm, to meet approximately 50 percent of its por-related trucking needs in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area. Southern Counties Express will be taking delivery on more than 70 new LNG-fueled trucks in the next two months. The trucks were purchased in part with financial aid from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

"Nike and our affiliate companies are committed to a 30 percent absolute CO2 reduction for inbound logistics by 2020," said John Isbell, Nike’s Director of Corporate Logistics Services. "To do so will take an accumulation of many efforts just like this one in which we can take advantage of an environmentally preferred alternative."

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the ports of entry for a substantial portion of the footwear, apparel and equipment which Nike and Converse import from the Asia Pacific region. While a portion of those goods move directly via train from the ports to Nike distribution centers in Tennessee, many are trucked directly to local distribution centers in Inland Empire and Torrance. It is a portion of those hauls – totaling approximately 285,000 miles a year — which will be converted to LNG trucks.

"We think LNG trucks can be part of the approach for addressing the air quality impacts of drayage trucking in the area around these vital ports," said CRT spokesperson James Jack. "We are pleased Nike has taken a leadership role in committing to use these vehicles."

Brian Griley, CEO of Southern Counties Express, said he expected to take begin putting the new LNG trucks into service in mid-December. "I’m very confident the market, especially when they see companies like Nike leading, will respond very positively to this transportation option."