Columbus, Ohio — Heavy-duty natural gas truck sales climbed 18% over the course of 2022 compared to the previous year, driven by fleets seeking alternative propulsion options despite erratic monthly purchase volumes and a shrinking network of public fueling stations. Data compiled in the ACT Research Alternative Fuel Quarterly highlights steady annual growth for alternative-fuel equipment, even as buyers navigate unpredictable market conditions that complicate long-term purchasing decisions for independent owner-operators and large fleets alike.

While the twelve-month figures show positive momentum, buying patterns throughout the summer months demonstrated extreme unpredictability. June truck registrations dropped 33%, followed by a massive 204% spike in July, before swinging back down with a 20% increase in August. Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research, pointed out that June volumes remained relatively stable compared to May with a minor 4% dip, while July surged 82% month-over-month. That pace proved unsustainable, leading to a 33% pullback in August. Despite the rollercoaster month-to-month swings, the combined summer volume pushed year-to-date gains higher.

Infrastructure constraints continue to dog the natural gas sector, compounding the daily challenges faced by any OTR truck driver attempting to run alternative-fuel equipment across long corridors. Public compressed natural gas stations dropped to 822 nationwide by September, accompanied by 54 liquid natural gas facilities, according to ACT Research tracking. This represents a net loss of 15 public CNG locations since mid-June, while public LNG sites remained flat. Planned public CNG infrastructure also contracted sharply, plunging 38% below 2021 development metrics. Private infrastructure presents a mixed alternative, counting 4,572 existing private stations and six planned sites, though analysts attribute recent drops in private site counts to temporary maintenance rather than permanent closures.

What This Means for Drivers

Navigating alternative fuel corridors requires meticulous trip planning because public refueling infrastructure remains sparse and volatile. CDL-A driver professionals running heavy-duty natural gas equipment face shrinking station availability on key shipping lanes, making route deviations a constant operational hurdle. Fleets deploying these trucks must carefully map out fueling stops to avoid costly downtime, directly impacting delivery schedules and capacity utilization for carriers and independent operators.

Industry Reaction

Equipment manufacturers continue to push alternative powertrains to meet tightening environmental standards, yet infrastructure investment lags behind vehicle adoption rates. While trucking companies hiring alternative-fuel fleets cite sustainability goals, the practical reality of losing public fueling sites forces logistics planners to weigh emissions reductions against the risk of route bottlenecks. Industry stakeholders monitor these infrastructure metrics closely to determine whether private fueling investments can adequately offset the ongoing contraction in public networks.

Key Points

• Heavy-duty natural gas truck sales rose 18% in 2022 compared to 2021 totals.
• Monthly sales proved highly erratic, featuring a 33% drop in June followed by a 204% surge in July.
• Public compressed natural gas stations fell to 822 locations nationwide by September.
• Planned public CNG station projects dropped 38% year-over-year.

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