UPS plans to add 1,400 compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors and delivery vehicles in the coming year as well as 15 fueling stations to support them, the Atlanta-based parcel delivery company has announced.

Approximately 800 tractors and 600 delivery vehicles will be deployed, and Landi Renzo USA will provide CNG systems for the 600 delivery vehicles.

UPS plans to deploy the new vehicles in 15 cities in 10 states. The purchase would increase the UPS fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles by 30 percent. UPS now operates 5,088 such vehicles worldwide. Of the 15 fueling stations, three will replace existing stations with higher capacity equipment.

The CNG fueling stations and vehicle purchases are part of UPS' ongoing commitment to diversify its fuel sources, implement a fleet infrastructure that can utilize lower carbon intensity fuel sources and increase experience using alternative fuels in freight transport applications, according to a UPS release.

"UPS's investment in a large scale alternative energy fleet has enabled the company to avoid more than 34 million gallons of conventional fuels since 2000," said Mitch Nichols, senior vice president of transportation and engineering. "CNG is an important building block in our long-term fleet strategy and offers environmental and economic advantages."

UPS has set a goal of traveling one billion miles a year with its alternative-fuel fleet by the end of 2017. It's now logging 350 million miles a year.

UPS plans to deploy the new CNG vehicles in Atlanta; Charleston, W.Va.; Dallas; Denver; Doraville, Ga.; Lenexa, Kan.; Lexington, Ky.; Montgomery, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; New Stanton, Pa.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Port Allen, La.; Shreveport, La.; Richmond, Va., and Roanoke, Va.

UPS already maintains eight CNG fueling stations in California, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma. UPS also operates CNG vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand.