US GAIN, a division of US Venture, and Midwest Cargo Systems Inc are partnering on a new GAIN Clean Fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) station in Hodgkins IL, a Chicago suburb.
The new station at Midwest Cargo’s facility, located at 9750 West 75th Street in Hodgkins, is a half-mile south of the intersection of Interstate 294 and I-55, offering easy on/off access to both Interstates. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-March 2015.
Presently, Midwest Cargo is acquiring 10 Class 8 CNG tractors via leases with Ryder Transportation. With a fleet of more than 100 reefers and dry vans and 50 tri-axle chassis, Midwest Cargo serves a variety of transportation needs in the region including the delivery of intermodal containers and dedicated fleet operations.
Robert W Cunningham, president; and Thomas L Ciukaj, vice-president of Midwest Cargo, detailed their company’s commitment to CNG.
“We evaluated the many benefits of converting to CNG and embraced the ideal of being environmental leaders within the transportation community,” Cunningham said. “When we look back to our origins some 80 years ago, we’re reminded of how my grandfather Jim started out delivering ice with a horse and wagon, and as my father Bob grew the company, he continued transitioning to cutting-edge vehicle technology. Tom and I feel that by converting to CNG, we are continuing their innovative path.”
“Midwest Cargo is another great example of a company making the decision to transition to CNG,” said Bill Renz, general manager for US GAIN. “Even with the recent drop in diesel fuel prices, CNG still provides significant savings. We’re not only meeting a growing need in the industry, but we’re also building our national network, which allows more fleets to leverage the savings and environmental benefits of CNG.”
This is first time Midwest Cargo will be operating trucks that use CNG.
With this partnership, GAIN Clean Fuel is on track with its plan to have more than 100 CNG stations in operation within the next two years. There are currently 43 GAIN Clean Fuel stations in operation or under construction throughout the United States. Each provides fast-fill capabilities and has fleet card acceptance. All GAIN stations are open for use by other companies and the general public.
A complete list of GAIN Clean Fuel stations can be found at www.gainfuel.com.
