I bring to the Board a 50-year career with Ozinga, primarily focused on the heavy-duty trucking industry. Throughout my career, I have witnessed significant changes in trucking technology and fuel sources, from gasoline-powered vehicles to diesel and, more recently, alternative fuels. Over the past 15 years, alternative fuels have become an increasingly important part of the conversation, particularly in finding cleaner, more environmentally responsible solutions for heavy-duty transportation.
My involvement with the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition, now known as the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT), began in 2011. I initially joined to learn more about alternative fuels and better understand how they could benefit the trucking industry. Through this experience, I recognized that compressed natural gas (CNG) was a strong fit for heavy-duty applications, offering an opportunity to reduce emissions while supporting the demanding needs of commercial trucking.
Shortly after becoming involved, Ozinga purchased two CNG-ready-mix trucks to evaluate the technology and determine how well the fuel would perform in our operations. With the support of grants made available through the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition, Ozinga was able to expand its efforts significantly, replacing diesel-powered vehicles with more than 210 CNG vehicles over a 10-year period.
My primary goal in serving on the IACT Board is to represent and promote the benefits of CNG in the heavy-duty trucking sector. I believe sharing real-world experience and demonstrating the practical advantages of alternative fuels are essential to helping more companies explore cleaner transportation options.
More recently, I have been working with renewable compressed natural gas (RNG) to further enhance the environmental benefits of CNG. I also enjoy learning about and promoting a variety of cleaner fuel technologies, including natural gas, electricity, and propane. I believe each has a role to play in building a more sustainable transportation future.
Ultimately, my commitment to this work is about more than the trucking industry. It is about helping create a cleaner, safer environment for our communities and for future generations, including my own children.
Rich DeBoer has 50 years of experience working in fleet management and fleet maintenance, spending most his career at Ozinga. In 2011, he began working with heavy duty alternative fueled vehicles, primarily compressed natural gas vehicles. Rich is now building and maintaining a network of compressed natural gas fueling stations and serves on the IACT Board, representing and promoting the benefits of CNG in the heavy-duty trucking sector.