J.J. Taylor Companies Announces New CNG Station Open House

Beer Distributor Putting 43 CNG Vehicles In-Service by February 2013

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- J.J. Taylor Companies, Inc. announced an Open House today, celebrating the launch of its private compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and its transition to the more environmentally friendly, domestically produced fuel. With its corporate offices in Jupiter, FL, J.J. Taylor has beer distribution operations in Tampa, Fort Myers and Fort Pierce, Florida as well as in Minneapolis, MN.

J.J. Taylor Companies has ordered 43 Freightliner Business Class M2 112 CNG tractors and plans to completely replace its Tampa-based fleet consisting of 95 diesel tractors to the cleaner burning CNG units within the next 36 months. The tractors are arriving in Tampa and will be in-service by February 2013. Plans for a second station and conversion of the company's 75 tractor fleet in Fort Myers, FL are underway.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company has been actively involved in reducing its carbon footprint over the past 5 years by adopting changes in its daily operations, including recycling of carton and paper products, and replacing its warehouse lights to more efficient fluorescent lighting. As part of making its fleet more fuel efficient, the change to CNG is a natural progression. CNG is cleaner with near-zero emissions and therefore less harmful to the environment. It is also a domestic fuel with a lower cost on a Diesel Gallon Equivalent (DGE) basis. The CNG vehicles are also quieter than their diesel counterparts. When idling, four tractors produce the same decibel level as just one diesel tractor.

Florida State Senator Wilton Simpson congratulated J.J. Taylor on its switch to CNG.  "Companies that make the commitment to this fuel will have more money to hire new employees and invest in their businesses.  In addition to being the right thing for the environment, this is the right move for Florida's economy," Simpson said.  Senator Simpson is sponsoring a proposal in the Florida legislature to boost the use of CNG in Florida.

The Freightliner tractors were acquired through Tampa Truck Center, LLC and are powered by a Cummins-Westport 8.9L ISL-G engine and an Allison 3000Hs transmission. Lease financing is provided by PHH-First Fleet.  The CNG fueling station is being built by Vocational Energy, LLC out of Fontana, CA.  The vehicles will be used in daily delivery operations in the company's territory covering Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

What:   J.J. Taylor Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station Open House

When:  Monday, February 4, 2013 - 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Where: 5102 S. 16th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619 - (813) 247-4000

J.J. Taylor Companies, Inc. distributes a number of domestic, imported and craft beers, including, Miller, Coors, Heineken, Guinness, Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada and Cigar City.

SOURCE J.J. Taylor Companies, Inc.