Sources: McNeilus Companies Inc., Dodge Center, Minn.; Argos USA, Houston
McNeilus Cos. will begin delivering compressed natural gas-powered mixer trucks this spring to the Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth operations of Argos USA, which is preparing for the diesel alternative by equipping plants with compressor and fueling infrastructure.
“These 40 Bridgemaster trucks are the first-ever CNG trucks purchased by Argos worldwide, and the [order] reflects our management team’s commitment to go green,” affirms Argos USA Sourcing Manager Daryl Mizell. “We challenged several manufacturers to present a well-configured CNG ready-mix vehicle [and] determined the McNeilus CNG package is the best one available at this time.”
Twenty vehicles bearing the McNeilus Next Generation Initiatives (Ngen) CNG fueling system and Cummins Westport engines are bound for Argos USA sites in each market. The producer is constructing dedicated, 25-post fueling stations that allow drivers to plug in at the end of each shift and time-fill refuel overnight. The mixers have uniform specs: five axles, including Bridgemaster tag; 11-yd. McNeilus drums; 60 diesel gallon equivalent CNG tanks; automatic transmissions; anti-roll stability systems; and, wireless mixer controls.