Will CNG truck deliver Christmas tree?

Everything is bigger in the USA – even the fuss made about certain things. This includes the selection and transport of the quasi-national Christmas tree. The US transport company Werner Enterprises brings this tree to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. – this year perhaps even with a CNG truck.

Jim Kaufmann inspects the spruce tree that will stand in front of the U.S. Capitol during this Christmas season. Source: USDA Forest Service/Preston Keres

It stands a whopping 63 feet tall, or the equivalent of over 19 metres, and is the pride of the Greenbrier Ranger District in the Monongahela National Forest in the US state of West Virgina. Now Jim Kaufmann, director of grounds for the US Capitol, has selected the imposing spruce as the so-called “People’s Tree”. It will be felled at the beginning of November and stand festively decorated at the seat of parliament in the American capital during the Christmas season of 2023. The spruce was one of eight candidate trees that Kaufmann recently inspected in person in the forest.

Already in 2022, a truck from Werner Enterprises was allowed to bring the precious cargo all the way to the US capital. Source: Werner Enterprises

Because not only the choice of tree is a great honour for the Americans, but also the transport of the tree, the logistics and haulage specialist Werner Enterprises is particularly pleased that, following a recommendation from the truck manufacturer Kenworth and due to the good reputation of Werner Enterprises, it was allowed to chauffeur the Christmas tree to the capital. Werner Enterprises is a logistics provider and the sixth largest trucking company in the vast United States. Founder Clarence L. Werner started in 1956 with a single truck. Today, the fleet includes nearly 8300 tractors and 30,000 trailers in the US, Canada and Mexico. “Werner’s selection as the Capitol Christmas Tree hauler is a great honour and a testament to our hard work in keeping America moving – no matter what the task,” says Derek Leathers, President and CEO of Werner Enterprises.

Founded in 1956 by Clarence L. Werner, the US company has been striving for years to provide the most sustainable transportation possible, including using CNG-powered trucks. Source: Werner Enterprises

Since 2022, the company has received more than 30 awards recognising efforts in safety, service to local communities and sustainability. And this is where CNG-powered trucks come into play – perhaps even the imposing spruce tree will be transported to the festival by CNG. Werner works closely with the engine specialist Cummins and, in order to reduce CO₂ emissions, began equipping trucks with 15-litre CNG engines last year.

With its CNG engines, the engine specialist Cummins enables hauliers and freight forwarders worldwide to save CO₂ emissions. Source: Cummins

“Cummins is uniquely positioned. Our broad range of powertrain solutions extends from advanced diesel gensets to our latest CNG engine for heavy-duty trucks and a hydrogen combustion engine to electrification,” explains Srikanth Padmanabhan, President Engine Business at Cummins. “This allows Cummins to offer multiple powertrain options that meet customers’ business needs and sustainability goals” Agrees Derek Leathers of Werner: “The options Cummins offers are in line with our focus on sustainability and improving our carbon footprint.” A 15-litre CNG engine is used, which is combined with a Cummins-Eaton automated transmission and Cummins fuel delivery system to create a fully integrated CNG powertrain with up to 500 hp. This can of course also be powered by biogas, making the truck virtually CO₂-neutral. Thanks to biogas, CO₂ emissions in the US transport sector alone were reduced by a whopping 5.63 million tonnes last year.

The number of biogas production plants is growing rapidly in North America, as is the CNG filling station network. Source: NGVAmerica

More and more haulage companies, logistics firms and large companies such as Amazon, McDonald’s or the US brewery Anheuser-Busch with its legendary beer brand “Budweiser” are using biogas for their transports. No wonder, according to NGVAmerica, there are already 300 biogas plants in North America, 178 are under construction and 303 are planned. The network of filling stations is also becoming increasingly dense. Good news for the growing fleet of CNG trucks – and for the environment, because this will certainly also increase the amount of CO2 saved in 2023. By the way, to bind the 5.63 million tonnes from last year, a forest area of 26,939 square kilometres would be necessary. Perhaps the next “People’s Tree” for the US Capitol will be planted there … . (pd/jas, 17 October 2023)

Maybe the legendary “People’s Tree” will even be CO₂-neutral in front of the US Capitol this year, thanks to a CNG-powered truck with a biogas tank. Source: Architect of the Capitol