Editor's note:This article is the first of four reports from NACFE's "Run on Less – Messy Middle" demonstration series, focusing on practical findings in decarbonization and fuel efficiency improvements.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is bringing significant cost savings to a New Jersey waste collection fleet. The fleet recently stated that its average CNG cost over the past year was$1.92 per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE)。

"We take gas directly from the natural gas pipeline," Matthew DeNafo, president of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), told Trucking Dive. "The biggest benefit is the stability of natural gas prices."

ACUA has been using this cheaper alternative fuel since 2010. The agency noted in a press release that this move has prevented more than 11,746 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from being emitted into the atmosphere.

As average diesel prices surged in March and reached again in early April and May$5.64 per gallonon average, case studies such as the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) "Run on Less – Messy Middle" demonstration show that even with conventional diesel configurations, companies can save money after higher upfront costs and maximize efficiency.

Real-world operational assessment

The most recent "Run on Less – Messy Middle" event was held in September 2025, evaluating the real-world route performance of 13 fleets under normal operations, with powertrains also including battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. NACFE released itsexecutive summary and a detailed 274-page report in March(The Atlantic County Utilities Authority did not participate in the study).

The demonstration showed that optimized modern diesel equipment typically achieves fuel efficiency of 10 to 12 miles per gallon on flat or gently rolling terrain, and 8 to 10 miles per gallon in heavy mountainous areas. This contrasts sharply with theindustry average of 6.852 miles per gallonfrom the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) 2024 Operational Costs report.

But the report also noted that compressed natural gas and renewable natural gas vehicles are "the most mature alternative fuel technology currently in broad commercial deployment." Their performance is comparable to diesel trucks, and the Cummins X15N 15-liter natural gas engine used in all CNG operations in the study has also expanded the market in long-haul applications.

CNG tractors (double and triple trailers) demonstrate capability

Results from three fleets in the September 2025 Run on Less – Messy Middle.

Across the three different operating environments showcasing CNG trucks, the theoretical driving ranges of the Peterbilt 567, Kenworth T680, and Kenworth T880 were approximately 800 miles and 1,200 miles, respectively.

"Fleet feedback and the performance achieved by the new 15-liter natural gas engine indicate that this is an excellent option, competitive with comparable diesel engines in demanding heavy-duty applications." — NACFE report

CNG real-world performance data

NACFE stated that the demonstration aimed to showcase real-world truck performance rather than predicted or manufacturer-claimed data. The organization added that fleets seeking decarbonization may be undergoing a process spanning decades and will not rely on any single specific powertrain.

To evaluate the trucks, NACFE installed telematics devices on the vehicles. The evaluation included: triple-trailer trains departing from UPS's hub in Salt Lake City, Utah (where over half of the linehaul tractors are CNG), operating in mountainous basin areas; a CNG tanker truck from Kleysen Group running on prairie and foothill corridors in Alberta, covering approximately 250 to 576 miles per day; and one of Wegmans' 197 CNG tractors used for regional grocery distribution routes.

Notably, the fuel efficiency results showed:

  • Wegmans achieved 5.3 miles per diesel gallon equivalent on flat ground, while on hilly terrain in upstate New York with steep grades and a gross weight of 140,000 pounds, that figure dropped to "the mid-2 miles" range.
  • Kleysen achieved approximately 5.0 miles per DGE at speeds exceeding 60 mph, which NACFE said demonstrates "true heavy-haul highway operations," with gross combination weights of approximately 110,000 to 140,000 pounds.
  • UPS's triple-trailer CNG T680 traveled about 90% of its mileage at speeds above 60 mph, achieving approximately 7.2 miles per DGE at that speed.

"Natural gas has proven its reliability time and time again in New York... When pulling heavy double trailers in hilly terrain, it performs comparably to diesel." Matt Harris, fleet maintenance manager at Wegmans Food Markets, said in the report.