The trucking industry is at a crossroads in embracing more sustainable technologies to lessen carbon emissions and improve operations. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, a logistics and transportation company from Arkansas, has made a significant leap by being the first large company to trial a new RNG engine by Clean Energy Fuels Corp. This revolutionary program, apart from focusing on the environmental factor, also has advantages of being economical and efficient for heavy-duty fleets.
How Clean Energy Fuels Corp.’s revolutionary RNG engine aims to transform heavy-duty trucking for good
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has recently begun a demo program of the Cummins X15N engine, intended for use in heavy-duty trucks. The 2025 Peterbilt 579 day cab tractor, incorporating this new 15-liter RNG engine, enables fleets to run tests over regular working routes for as long as two weeks.
Another advantage of working with Clean Energy is that the company has over 600 stations in North America, allowing participating fleets to obtain fuel needed for testing purposes. J.B. Hunt is pleased to spearhead this effort as it reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to sustainability.
As the executive vice president of safety, sustainability, and maintenance at J.B. Hunt recently stated, this pilot program is the first chance to test how to decrease carbon emissions in the supply chain. The collaboration with Clean Energy lets J.B. Hunt pilot new technology and places them at the forefront of embracing cleaner fuels.
Renewable natural gas: The secret fuel that could reduce truck emissions by up to 300%
Using technology that relies on the RNG is even more significant when using vehicles in the fight against climate change. Renewable natural gas is derived from organic waste and is a biogenic fuel whose use significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Air Resources Board states that RNG can reach a carbon intensity score of -40, meaning that carbon emissions of trucks can be reduced by up to 300% compared to diesel fuel. This reduction is essential, given that the transportation sector contributes about 28 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
RNG is mainly obtained from places like dairy farms, where the capture of methane from waste has minimal effect on the environment. This paper shows that RNG, as a transportation fuel, benefits fleets by helping decrease greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a lower-emission future.
When J.B. Hunt participates in this testing phase, the company wants to demonstrate the engine’s performance and effectiveness in decarbonizing the trucking industry.
J.B. Hunt’s 15-year dedication to sustainability: Why the company is ready to lead the trucking revolution with RNG-powered fleets
This is because the sustainability policies of the organization are evident in the operations of J.B. Hunt. The company has been researching the economics and feasibility of operating natural gas-powered vehicles for over 15 years and currently serves over 180 RNG-powered trucks on behalf of its customers.
This experience makes J.B. Hunt ready for the various issues that come with new technologies in the transport industry. The company aims to achieve a 32% decrease in carbon emissions intensity by 2034 from the baseline set in 2019.
The current sustainability status at J.B. Hunt can be considered quite active, as in 2023, the company reached the goal halfway through. Additionally, the company has used its intermodal services to transform over-the-road shipments to rail, which is environmentally friendly compared to road transport.
Why renewable natural gas may shape the future of the trucking industry without compromising operational performance
As the demo program of the Cummins X15N engine unfolds, J.B. Hunt will gain experience in utilizing RNG-powered vehicles and their effectiveness in operation. This initiative is not a unique phenomenon in the context of the sustainable development of the trucking industry, which has seen shifts towards sustainable development in both economic and environmental aspects.
As J.B. Hunt pointed out, renewable natural gas, as a viable fuel in the market, has the potential to transform the heavy-duty trucking industry. With increased interest and demand for low-carbon transport solutions, the success of this program may set the tone for the future sustainability of the industry, where businesses can achieve their sustainability targets without compromising on operational performance.
