Fueling the Future Webinar: Alternative Fuels

Explore alternative fuel options for BC trucking—from engine technology and fuel supply to one carrier’s experience on the road.

What could alternative fuels mean for your fleet? Join BCTA for a webinar exploring natural gas, renewable diesel, and biodiesel, with perspectives from a fleet operator, an engine manufacturer, a fuel supplier, and an energy provider. Learn about the equipment, infrastructure, costs, and operational considerations that can shape adoption. Whether you’re exploring your options or planning your next investment, this session will help you identify questions to ask and factors to consider.

What you’ll learn

• Fleet experience: Lessons from bringing compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks into service, including driver training, maintenance, fuelling, and range.
• Engines and economics: Natural gas engine options, fuel system considerations, and examples of fleet payback and cash flow.
• Fuel choices: How renewable diesel and biodiesel differ, where they may fit within existing fleets, and what to ask about availability, quality, cost, and cold weather performance.
• The broader landscape: Perspectives on low-carbon transportation, fuel supply, and infrastructure in British Columbia.

Meet the speakers

Alex Norman

General Manager, Nortrans Freight Management

Alex leads Nortrans Freight Management, a for-hire carrier specializing in curtain side and flat deck trucking. Based in Vancouver, he works across the company’s BC locations, primarily Kelowna, Vernon, and Chilliwack. Over the past three years, he has worked with private and public sector partners to integrate CNG trucks into Nortrans’ heavy-duty fleet. With seven trucks operating and two on order, CNG now represents more than 20% of its fleet.

A Year in the Life of Truck 192: Wins and Challenges

Alex will share Nortrans’ experience putting a CNG truck to work—from purchase, outfitting, and driver training to local operations and longer trips. His presentation will explore maintenance issues, driver acceptance, fuelling at different locations, and lessons about range.

Dan Bouliane

Territory Account Executive, Cummins Inc.

Dan brings 24 years of transportation industry experience across parts, sales, service, and warranty roles at both dealer and original equipment manufacturer organizations. He specializes in helping fleets specify trucks and evaluate technologies that support their environmental goals and profitability.

Natural Gas Engines: Technology, Range, and Fleet Economics

Dan will discuss the Cummins X15N and other available natural gas engines, fuel system considerations, and range. He’ll also explore emissions reduction potential compared with diesel, the role of renewable natural gas (RNG), and BC fleet adoption, including financial payback and cash flow examples.

Dennis Wilson, P.Eng., PMP

President and CEO, Nation Clean Energy Inc.

Dennis leads Nation Clean Energy, an Indigenous fuel supply company serving commercial and industrial customers. He works with Indigenous Nations, fuel suppliers, and transportation partners to develop fuel supply and blending opportunities. His experience spans conventional fuels, renewable diesel, and biodiesel, with a focus on the logistics and commercial considerations involved in bringing these products to market.

Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel: Practical Options for Trucking Fleets

Dennis will explain how renewable diesel and biodiesel differ and where each may fit within an existing fleet. He’ll cover questions about availability, cost, fuel quality, and cold weather performance, along with his perspective on the opportunities and barriers to wider adoption in BC trucking.

Philip Horacek

Director of Low Carbon Transportation, FortisBC

Philip leads strategy, investment, and market development for low-carbon transportation solutions at FortisBC, including RNG, CNG and liquefied natural gas (LNG), electric vehicle charging, and hydrogen infrastructure. He brings 25 years of experience in alternative fuels and clean transportation, spanning technical evaluation, business development, and operations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Hydrogen Association.

Philip brings a perspective on the commercial, technical, and regulatory considerations involved in advancing low-carbon transportation in British Columbia.

Who should attend?

Fleet owners and managers, operations and maintenance teams, and anyone involved in fleet purchasing, fuel procurement, or sustainability planning.

Explore the options. Learn from industry experience. Bring your fleet’s questions.