• Safety-Kleen Systems, the leading provider of environmental services, oil re-refining and responsible cleaning solutions, is replacing 140 large cargo vans in its national sales fleet with the Ford Transit Connect
• Transit Connect enables Safety-Kleen's sales representatives to achieve 24 mpg versus the 15 mpg offered with larger cargo vans
• In addition to fuel savings, Transit Connect will provide easier maneuverability in urban areas, added comfort loading and unloading products, and increased visibility for the company from a marketing standpoint
• Transit Connect – 2010 North American Truck of the Year – offers fleet customers a fresh choice with improved fuel economy and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2010 – Safety-Kleen Systems, the leading provider of environmental services, oil re-refining and responsible cleaning solutions, is replacing 140 large cargo vans in its national sales fleet with the Ford Transit Connect.

Through its products and services, Safety-Kleen enables other businesses to fulfill their green initiatives. The purchase of 140 units of Transit Connect will help the company achieve one of its green initiatives as well, according to Dan Kratz, director of Fleet Operations, Safety-Kleen.

"Replacing older cargo vans with new, more fuel-efficient vehicles is part of an initiative to green our fleet," he said. "The Ford Transit Connect offers significant fuel savings over traditional cargo vans – 24 mpg versus 15 mpg. We also anticipate having less maintenance costs because the oil change intervals are longer with the Transit Connect."

According to John Ruppert, general manager, Ford Commercial and Government Fleet Operations, Safety-Kleen's choice to use Transit Connect to advance its sustainability strategy underscores the versatility of the vehicle.

"As we continue to engage existing and new customers, the Ford Transit Connect continues to find more and more applications across different businesses," he said. "Safety-Kleen is another example of a commercial customer realizing the benefits of the vehicle and its capability to deliver on the green pillar of Ford's product innovation."

Benefits of Ford Transit Connect go beyond fuel economy
Transit Connect will be used by members of Safety-Kleen's sales staff who work in 160 locations throughout the country. While fuel and cost savings are the main incentives, Kratz says there are other benefits to Ford's small compact van.

"We conducted a survey with our sales folks, and they said they wanted a vehicle that was more urban-friendly – something they could maneuver more easily through congested city streets," he said. "The Ford Transit Connect will fit the bill perfectly and still allow for ample cargo room."

Safety-Kleen sales representatives routinely carry samples of products, such as windshield washer fluid, the company's Eco-Power recycled oil and hand wipes. Kratz says the lower height of the Transit Connect will make it easier to get products in and out of the vehicle.

"We've had a test vehicle that we've wrapped with our company logo and upfitted with shelving," he said. "It's certainly more comfortable to load and unload because there is no lifting to the height of a traditional cargo van."

An unexpected bonus with the Ford Transit Connect, says Kratz, is the attention the vehicle attracts on the road.

"Because of its unique shape and size, it attracts notice from people on the street," he said. "These vehicles will provide a lot of exposure for the company from a marketing standpoint."

Safety-Kleen's corporate motto is "Make Green Work."

"We're not just making green work for other companies," said Kratz. "We're making it work for ourselves. The Ford Transit Connect is a great example of that."

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010, and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About Safety-Kleen
Safety-Kleen is a leading North American used oil recycling and re-refining, parts cleaning and environmental solutions company, with approximately 4,200 employees serving approximately 330,000 customer locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Safety-Kleen provides a broad set of environmentally responsible products and services that help keep North American businesses in balance with the environment. For more information, please visit www.safety-kleen.com.