SuperValu, a grocery wholesaler and retailer, has taken delivery of 35 compressed natural gas (CN) Volvo Trucks’ VNL day cabs. The vehicles will operate out of the company’s Mechanicsville, VA, distribution center.
“We’re pleased to partner with SuperValu to deliver the latest in natural gas-powered vehicle technology,” said Gӧran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North American sales & marketing. “Grocery distribution provides an excellent opportunity for environmentally conscious companies like SuperValu to utilize the clean-burning domestically abundant fuel.”
CNG-powered Volvo VNL tractors were on display at SuperValu’s Mechanicsville distribution center during a Dec. 6 open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the tractors and a recently installed fast-fill CNG station. The distribution center operates 105 tractors and the company has set a goal of converting approximately 65% of its fleet to natural gas by 2015.
SuperValu operates 20 distribution centers across the U.S. and has more than 400 trucks in its national company-owned fleet.
“This is an exciting project for our company and we’ve been proud to partner with a well-respected leader like Volvo Trucks to make it a reality,” said Mike Lech, vice president of logistics for SuperValu’s Eastern Region. “Expanding the use of compressed natural gas trucks in our fleet is good for both the environment and our bottom line, and will help us continue SuperValu’s commitment to operating in a sustainable manner.”
The Volvo VNL model features a 12L Cummins-Westport ISX12 G engine and the VNM day cab is powered by a factory-installed 8.9L Cummins ISL G engine.
