Autocar was a sponsor for this year’s Indiana Logistics Summit held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Oct. 12-13. The purpose of the summit was to bring together experts in all modes of transportation, distribution and logistics to discuss issues affecting the transportation industry.
On display at the summit was an Autocar Xpeditor fueled by CNG which will go into refuse collection service later this year for Republic Services. Jim Johnston, a refuse industry veteran and the president of Autocar, moderated a sessions featuring Kevin Walbridge, executive vice president of Republic Services, and Jim Tumulty, managing director of Raymond James and Associates.
Walbridge announced Republic’s purchase of between 500 to 600 Xpeditors in 2012 – many of which will be fueled by compressed natural gas. In his message, Walbridge asserted the need for America to wean itself off of its foreign oil dependency and utilize domestic natural resources, including natural gas.
Supporting the State of Indiana with sustainability and growth was a recurring theme for many of the summit’s presenters. Autocar says it supports 77 suppliers based in Indiana, and all three of its vehicle lines – the Xpeditor, Xpert, and Xspotter – are assembled in Hagerstown, Ind. Autocar’s proximity to several major suppliers – including Allison, Cummins, Hendrickson and Bendix – helps support local economies and also allows for greater efficiency in manufacturing and the ability to provide service after the sale.
