Weyerhaeuser Debuts Renewable Natural Gas Log Trucks In Oregon

Earlier this summer, Weyerhaeuser rolled out the first fleet of renewable natural gas (RNG) log trucks, powered by Cummins 500 HP, 15 L natural gas engines, in Goshen, Ore.

“We’re always looking for ways to reduce costs, cut emissions and strengthen the resilience of our operations,” says Gary Romine, Oregon transportation manager. “The timing and technology finally lined up to make RNG viable for log hauling, and we’re excited to see where that gets us.”

Simultaneously, Weyerhaeuser partnered with Fix Infrastructure, which tapped into a nearby Northwest Natural Gas pipeline and built a dedicated fueling station at the Goshen truck shop. The result was a scalable system that keeps trucks on the road all day with minimal disruption.

“This is the first time we’ve had the horsepower, the infrastructure and the economics all in one place,” Romine says. “And even for sites without a pipeline, compressed natural gas could be delivered by trailer and hooked up to a compressor plant, so this model can be replicated in remote locations, too.”

Weyerhaeuser purchased 10 RNG trucks, with one already in service and more rolling out this fall. The goal is to scale up to 70 trucks at Goshen, representing nearly its entire fleet. Weyerhaeuser says it plans to look at expanding into other locations nearby, like Longview, Wash.

“I think we’ll prove the trucks out with this first 10, then continue scaling it up,” Romine adds. “Ultimately, RNG could extend beyond timber hauling into other parts of our business.”