Case Study: Fair Oaks Farms achieves largest renewable CNG milk-hauling operation and 60% emissions reduction with Ruan

Fair Oaks Farms - Customer Case Study

Fair Oaks Farms, a large Indiana dairy operation, set out to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions for its high‑utilization milk‑hauling network but faced the twin challenges of replacing diesel power for a 24/7 relay fleet and a lack of local CNG fueling infrastructure. The goal was to support intense annual mileage per tractor and long regional routes while maintaining on‑time milk deliveries to processing plants.

Working with Ruan, PacLease, Clean Energy and other partners, Fair Oaks launched a 42‑tractor, 80‑trailer CNG fleet (Kenworth T440s with Cummins Westport ISL G engines), built two CNG stations fed by on‑site manure digesters and utility gas, and implemented driver training and dedicated maintenance. The project — billed as the largest renewable CNG milk‑hauling operation in the U.S. — is expected to haul about 53 loads/day (≈118 million gallons/year), displace more than 2.2 million gallons of diesel annually, cut emissions by roughly 60%, and create 110 jobs, with initial infrastructure costs offset by federal and state grants.

Fair Oaks Farms

Mike McCloskey

Owner and President