Grocery retailer Tops Friendly Markets has signed a full-service lease agreement for 55 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks from Ryder System Inc.
Tops will take delivery of the natural gas vehicles in mid-2015 to replace its entire fleet of 55 diesel-powered vehicles. Ryder will also provide maintenance for the CNG vehicles from its Buffalo, N.Y., service facility, which is being upgraded for compliance with natural gas standards.
Ryder says this is its first project with Tops, which is headquartered in Williamsville, N.Y., and operates 162 full-service supermarkets in the Northeast.
Tops expects to save more than 50% of its fuel costs annually through a reduction of 1.2 million gallons of diesel fuel consumption.
