Propane autogas offers commercial fleets price predictability

As diesel prices hit new national record highs and fuel prices continue to strain budgets nationwide, commercial fleets operating on propane autogas are seeing a markedly different cost picture. While diesel prices have more than doubled, some fleets have only seen their fuel prices rise by a few cents.

McAbee Trucking, a Carolina-based postal service contractor, paid less than $2 per gallon ($2.89 per diesel gallon equivalent) to fuel its medium-duty fleet of 27 trucks with propane autogas, which increased by just 5 cents all year.

“When diesel prices nearly double and continue to fluctuate by dollars, I can’t help but feel relieved that most of our fleet isn’t exposed to those same swings,” said Lisa McAbee, vice president of McAbee Trucking. “When you’re running trucks every day, that kind of predictability makes a difference.”

Across the commercial transportation sector, major logistics operators are reaching the same conclusion: Fleet diversification is a critical economic strategy.

Bimbo Bakeries USA expanded to nearly 750 active and in-build propane autogas delivery trucks using mobile fueling, while Office Depot deployed bi-fuel propane autogas trucks across its regional network, using direct overnight delivery to avoid station construction costs.

“What a year like this makes especially visible is the value of diversification, which is really about finding the right solution for the right vehicles,” says Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at the Propane Education & Research Council. “For many medium-duty operations, propane autogas is a practical way to lower costs and emissions, without sacrificing the range or uptime they need.” 

PERC launched a new Propane Autogas Research Program, which will provide financial compensation to fleets that share real-world operational data.

Featured homepage image: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

---

Related articles

PERC promotes propane autogas to transit agencies at APTA conference

Fuel-price spread sharpens business case for propane autogas

PERC starts Propane Autogas Research Program