Ryder System announced it signed a strategic alliance agreement with Mansfield Clean Energy Partners, a joint venture founded by Mansfield Energy, one of the nation’s largest providers of transportation fuel, and Clean Energy Fuels.

With the alliance, Ryder and Mansfield will partner to offer a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle and fuel solution to bulk fuel haulers, a segment of the transportation industry that consumes over 500 million gallons of fuel annually. The solution includes truck leasing and maintenance services for natural gas vehicles from Ryder, and CNG fueling from Mansfield.

“Ryder’s industry-leading natural gas vehicle and maintenance capabilities, combined with Mansfield’s fueling expertise, will enable us to help convert more of the critical bulk fuel hauling market to this more sustainable and advanced fuel,” said Dennis Cooke, president, Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder.

Mansfield has also leased 12 heavy duty CNG vehicles from Ryder, the first of their kind in Mansfield’s fleet. The fleet will be used to haul diesel and gasoline for Mansfield customers, and will be serviced out of Ryder’s maintenance facility in Atlanta, Ga.