The $38.7m effort is part of a joint public/private partnership between the US Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, the Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition and Ryder System Inc.
Dean Foods is a leading dairy processor and owner of one of the largest refrigerated direct-store delivery distribution networks in the food and beverage industry. The company has made a significant commitment to reducing carbon emissions in its transportation fleet and investing in alternative fuel technology.
The Ryder natural gas vehicles are the first of their kind in the Dean Foods fleet and produce up to 27% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional diesel vehicles. Ryder delivered the compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to Dean Foods’ Alta Dena Dairy division in Southern California.
“Dean Foods constantly looks for ways to reduce costs and drive efficiency in our operations,” said Tom Murray, Pacific Coast group vice president for Dean Foods, which includes Southern California’s Alta Dena Dairy. “Advancements in transportation technology like the Ryder CNG vehicles also lower our carbon emissions and improve our environmental footprint in the communities like Southern California, where so many of our employees work and live.”
Dean Foods has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 20% by 2013. With 6,000 refrigerated trailers, 3,000 refrigerated delivery trucks, 2,000 delivery tractors and 6,500 daily routes for direct store delivery, Dean Foods is the eighth largest private carrier in the country.
Source: Dean Foods
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