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Propane autogas is quickly gaining popularity among mail delivery contractors for the United States Postal Service and transforming the logistics industry. According to the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association, USPS spent more than $5 billion on road-specific transportation companies for mail delivery services in 2021. The vast network of USPS surface transportation companies delivers supplies, gifts and correspondence to 161 million locations weekly. And with demanding delivery schedules, long-term contracts, and industry-specific transportation compliance requirements, sustainability is top of mind for those 1,800 suppliers and 5,500 final-mile contractors.
To get the job done, mail delivery contractors are tapping into propane autogas because it’s cleaner and more affordable than traditional fuels like gasoline and diesel. As business owners and logistics pros seek sustainable, long-term solutions to maintain their contracts, propane autogas provides a stable, reliable, and domestically-produced solution to a complex and challenging problem.
Across the nation, USPS contractors like DDA Transport, McAbee Trucking, and Nicholas Trucking have already unwrapped the benefits, integrating propane autogas vehicles to make their deliveries more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Meeting Environmental Goals Without Sacrificing Performance
DDA Transport, a USPS supplier in New Hampshire with more than 160 vehicles, introduced six propane autogas trucks into its fleet to reduce its carbon footprint without compromising on efficiency. According to Dwayne Andreasen, president of DDA Transport, “As a supplier to the U.S. Postal Service, we are continually striving to find ways to protect the environment through sustainability efforts.” For DDA Transport, fuel consumption posed the biggest environmental challenge, and propane autogas emerged as the optimal solution.
After contracting with USPS for 26 years, the company integrated propane autogas trucks in 2023 for several reasons. First, propane is a non-toxic, non-carcinogenic fuel that’s domestically produced, which means it’s both cleaner and readily available. Andreasen noted that “propane seemed to check all the boxes,” and the company anticipates annual savings of up to $40,000 in fuel and maintenance expenses for each truck compared with their diesel models.
Beyond the financial savings, propane autogas offers practical advantages for DDA Transport’s operation in New England’s harsh winters. Andreasen explained that avoiding cold-start and fuel gel issues, which are common with diesel vehicles in sub-freezing temperatures, was an enticing benefit as he considered propane autogas. Additionally, DDA’s drivers have praised the quieter, smoother ride of the propane autogas trucks.
A Commitment to Clean Energy and Health
McAbee Trucking, a family-owned company in South Carolina, is driven by a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and became the first USPS contractor to adopt propane autogas vehicles in 2021. For owner Lisa McAbee, the shift to cleaner fuels was both a personal and professional mission. “I want my grandkid’s grandkids to have a clean environment,” she said, highlighting her concern for future generations and her own health.
Starting with compressed natural gas vehicles in 2014, McAbee Trucking quickly expanded its alternative-fuel fleet by adding six Ford F-750 propane autogas trucks from ROUSH CleanTech. These vehicles allowed McAbee to achieve significant sustainability goals without sacrificing performance. The company’s propane autogas trucks retain the same horsepower, torque, and towing capacity as diesel vehicles while eliminating the need for complex diesel after-treatment systems like particulate traps and turbochargers.
From an economic standpoint, propane autogas proved highly beneficial. “Propane is very favorable for us economically,” said McAbee, who noted that her company’s propane costs are 60 to 70 percent lower than those for diesel fuel. This price advantage, along with the exemption from costly maintenance procedures like diesel regeneration, has enabled McAbee Trucking to invest in infrastructure and other improvements. McAbee explained, “Not having to worry about diesel regen is a huge bonus,” emphasizing the cost and time savings that come with eliminating diesel-specific maintenance tasks.
McAbee Trucking also implemented a comprehensive fueling strategy, beginning with mobile fueling services and expanding to an on-site propane station. This infrastructure supports the company’s growing fleet, and the trucks’ flexibility to use public propane stations offers additional convenience.
Reliability and Cost Savings in a Challenging Environment
Nicholas Trucking, an 80-year-old, family-owned operation based in Pennsylvania, recently joined the shift to propane autogas to lower its carbon footprint and reduce fuel costs. As Alexander Nicholas, chief operations officer, explained, “Propane is familiar to all of us, and it’s something we can trust. It’s cleaner and safer than most other alternatives.” The company added its first three Ford F-750 propane vehicles in early 2023 and plans to expand further, intending to replace more diesel vehicles with propane trucks.
For Nicholas Trucking, the choice to switch from diesel was driven by the rising costs of diesel fuel and the environmental advantages of propane. The company has already observed fuel savings of over 53 percent. Unlike diesel, propane autogas is cost-effective and does not require special filters or diesel exhaust fluids, reducing maintenance expenses and simplifying overall fleet management.
In terms of performance, the propane trucks have excelled even in Pennsylvania’s rugged terrain and cold winters. “Our diesel engines do not do nearly as well in the cold,” said Nicholas. Drivers have also noted the comfort and cleanliness of the propane vehicles. Nicholas shared that “the power and torque are the same as diesel, and drivers don’t go home smelling like diesel fuel every day.”
Nicholas Trucking’s maintenance team has responded positively to the propane trucks. “Our maintenance staff says that the propane trucks are easier to work on than they thought, and they don’t have to worry about getting covered in grease and oil from a diesel engine,” Nicholas added.
A Greener Future with Propane Autogas
For fleet managers and logistics pros seeking reduced costs and a smaller carbon footprint, propane autogas is the gift that keeps on giving. As McAbee put it, switching to cleaner fuels is simply “the right thing to do,” echoing a larger shift toward sustainability and fiscal responsibility in the industry. These real-world success stories from DDA Transport, McAbee Trucking, and Nicholas Trucking showcase how propane autogas delivers reliability and sustainability to millions of Americans for the long haul.
