MIAMI – Ryder System, Inc. is offering local businesses in Sacramento an opportunity to test drive alternative-fuel trucks for free. Local businesses that are interested in test driving natural gas vehicles can sign up for a free, three-day rental.

The free three-day rental is valid in Sacramento until July 27.

Three different configurations of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are available to test drive – a Freightliner Tandem Axle Tractor, a Freightliner Single Axle Tractor, and a GreenKraft Light Duty Straight Truck. Interested fleets can contact Ryder’s West Sacramento truck rental team at (916) 372-7500 to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Local businesses were also able to test drive Ryder natural gas vehicles on site and sign up for the free three-day rental at a June 21^st “Ride & Drive” event hosted at the company’s West Sacramento, Calif., location.

“There is great interest in natural gas vehicles among commercial fleets, but some businesses are hesitant to adopt the technology because they are unsure how the vehicles will perform in their operations,” said John Gleason, senior vice president of sales & marketing for Ryder Fleet Management Solutions. “The Ride & Drive event and free rental offer is another way we are helping businesses experience these vehicles first-hand in a real world environment.”

David Hodge, operations manager for Airwolf Express Courier Service, a Ryder lease customer based in Rocklin, Calif., attended the Ride & Drive event and test drove two natural gas vehicles.

“The Ryder Ride & Drive event was very informative,” he said. “We do feel the industry is steadily moving toward a natural gas solution, not only due to the environmental aspect, but also because of the added benefit that it is cheaper than diesel. The natural gas vehicles we test drove were fantastic rides and seemed to have plenty of power. A cleaner and cheaper fuel, provided from a domestic source, is what we like to call a win/win. We look forward to exploring this option further in our business soon.”

In addition to making natural gas vehicles available for rent or lease, Ryder’s “Flex-to-Green Lease” solution is designed to ease the transition to a greener fleet. Businesses that opt for Ryder’s Flex-to-Green Lease start out with a diesel-powered vehicle and then have the option to convert to a natural gas vehicle after one year. Flex-to-Green customers enjoy all the maintenance and service benefits of a standard Ryder Full Service Lease with the flexible option to convert the lease to a green vehicle.

Ryder’s natural gas fleet includes both compressed and liquid natural gas vehicles that are currently deployed in customer operations in California, Arizona, and Michigan. The company was honored earlier this year for its natural gas leadership. For more information, visit www.ryder.com/alternativefuels.