Experience with CNG fueled truck?

I would be interested in this information as well. Been in the market for a new truck or two for local work anyway.

I just wish they didn't look so #### awful with that monstrosity strapped to the back of the cab.

 

In my experience, a CNG truck doesn't have as much pulling power as a diesel.. I would certainly hate to pull a heavy load up a Tennessee grade. The truck also gets worse fuel mileage, since CNG has 40% less energy per gallon compared to diesel.

 

I drove CNG trucks for about 7 months last year, 2014 Kenworth T660 with 12L Cummins CNG engines, and they pull just fine as long as they’re tuned properly. They have spark plugs that can foul (admittedly the tractors I drove all had +400k on them) which can make them a little weaker.

Pros: no need for DEF, run very clean, can be idled in places that don’t permit diesels to be idled.

Cons: CNG fuel can be tough to find, I had to trip plan to make sure I didn’t run out. Roughly 700 mile range, and I tried to make sure I could get fuel every 500 miles. There are apps that show where you can find fuel, but twice I found stations that were either closed entirely or were out of CNG, and a few other times I had to drop my trailer to be able to get in to fuel.

Also, your mechanic will have to understand the fuel system.

 

I didn't think about the idle policy.. I wonder if that also applies to states with no idle laws.
Addmittingly, the CNG I drove was a training truck, so the maintenance was probably lack luster. (Ive heard that the company I am currently with is phasing out CNG due to the maintenance required on them.)

 

Spent a few months driving CNG powered trucks, hauling CNG. Truck power sucked. Ran crappy, although I suspect maintenance was at least partly to blame? Fueled truck at compressor station where loaded. As OP said, expect fuel cost is pennies? As tarm an Lpirtle said, mpg and range suck. Where I delivered, there were no CNG fueling points, so truck is fueled out of trailer with appropriate hose.
For better or worse, times be achag'n. I suspect CNG is here to stay and demand to increase? Low cost and "green", makes two fronts happy...
Technology will improve and hopefully gas powered trucks will get better, but in my experience I'll take the diesel powered truck eight days a week! Good luck, whatever you decide...

 

CNG as provided to Gettysburg Tour Buses dating pretty much back decades. The PA Battlefield Tours. If you didnt know they were CNG its not much difference from say a Cat on high sulphur fuel. None of that ecowatereddownBS today.

We have CNG in searcy off the exit 42 as a filling station that replaced a grand old truckstop gone forever.(I first vistied in about '92 they closed in 96) anyway the CNG is pretty quiet. A Ghost Town.

 

Well, as of right now the price of CNG is pretty close to the price of diesel especially since the Trump Administration got rid of most of the tax credits for running CNG, so as a result some companies are starting to abandon CNG. (Including Jrayl.) However, I believe that once diesel prices go back up we will be seeing more CNG trucks on the road.

Edit: I should add as well that the CNG price was about $2.60 a gallon at the Gain station in Akron, OH. Diesel is $2.99 a gallon in the same area.

 

Will bring this old tread up
Today I saw brand new Volvo with sleeper and cng tank.
Looks like Amazon’s truck…
I even did not know that cng truck can be with sleeper
So what’s your thoughts now?
Or future is electric? (I do not believe that tbh)
Gas is 2.5-2.9 but diesel approaching 6 bucks ….

 

The money saved on this is not having to deal with after treatment / regen issues and maintenance. But the CNG engines are not without their own set of problems. For the application that suits your needs it can work but not if your looking for longevity and a million mile truck. Mostly fleets running local that have the infrastructure for overnight slow fill fueling. Line haul cross the county. No way.