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Mar 12, 2013 1:38 PM

Freightliner Trucks announced that Gemini Motor Transport LLC has purchased up to 50 new Freightliner Cascadia 113 natural gas-fueled daycab tractors for hauling fuel to the more than 300 Love’s Travel Stops throughout the United States. Gemini will purchase and take delivery of the vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Gemini has been testing the Freightliner Cascadia equipped with the Cummins Westport 12-liter ISX G since September 2012. “We’ve had great success with the CNG (compressed natural gas) engine to deliver fuel to Love’s Travel Stops,” says Brent Bergevin, director of transport for Gemini Transport. “The CNG engine has a 450-mile range, and we’ve seen a significant cost benefit in using CNG as a transportation fuel.”

Spec’d with the new Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine, the Allison 4000HS automatic transmission, and 90-diesel-gallon-equivalent CNG fuel tanks, the Cascadia 113 natural gas tractor is ideal for regional haul and less-than-truckload applications.

The 12-liter natural gas engine is based on the Cummins ISX12 diesel heavy-duty engine platform and will operate on either CNG or liquefied natural gas (LNG). It features ratings of 400 horsepower and 1,450 lb-ft torque, optional engine brake, and manual and automatic transmission capability.

“For many customers, natural gas products will result in significant fuel savings while benefitting the environment,” says David Hames, general manager marketing and strategy, Daimler Trucks North America. “The addition of the Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine to the Freightliner product portfolio provides an exciting extension of our clean offerings in the over-the-road segment.”

Currently available for order, full production of the Cascadia 113 natural gas begins in Q3 2013.