HDT’s 2022 High Inexperienced Fleets all share a dedication to sustainability and the surroundings.
Supply: HDT
HDT’s 2022 High Inexperienced Fleets have sustainability methods as assorted because the fleets themselves. This 12 months’s honorees embrace new firms and people which can be generations previous. Fleet dimension ranges from 50 vans to greater than 18,000. Operations embrace truckload, less-than-truckload, authorities, non-public fleets, oil-field, drayage, postal contractors, and extra.
You may anticipate inexperienced fleets to cluster in states the place there are a number of regulatory and monetary incentives, and certainly various our honorees have operations in California. However they’re additionally within the Carolinas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.
The techniques taken are a broad selection, as effectively — typically in the identical fleet. Most of our honorees are not less than investigating or testing battery-electric vans, and a few are already working and ordering dozens. Just a few are hydrogen-fuel cell electrical. Pure gasoline, renewable pure gasoline, biodiesel, renewable diesel, electrical hybrids are all on the desk. Photo voltaic panels assist energy fleet amenities. Some are pushing the envelope in mpg, and a few are extra centered on freight effectivity — shifting probably the most freight with the smallest variety of vans, miles, and gas.
We’re seeing extra High Inexperienced Fleet nominees which can be placing out sustainability experiences and setting targets for his or her applications. Many calculate how a lot in carbon dioxide has been prevented from going into the ambiance because of adjustments they’ve made. Some point out Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and the way they’re serving to their clients scale back their carbon footprint.
No matter their path, HDT’s High Inexperienced Fleets all share a dedication to sustainability and the surroundings.
How the High Inexperienced Fleets are Chosen
Annually, we put out a name for nominations and fleet submissions to be thought of for HDT’s High Inexperienced Fleets. Our editors comb by way of these submissions and consider various elements in making their choice, together with:
Adoption of different fuels and drivetrains
Trade-leading gas financial system
Freight-efficiency methods
Modern “inexperienced” amenities
Sustainability targets
Current progress in sustainability journey
Willingness to share their expertise with others
Different “inexperienced” awards obtained
Plans for the approaching 12 months
Up to now, we now have supplemented the nominations and submissions obtained with further fleets we felt deserved recognition even when they didn’t formally enter. Nonetheless, the variety of fleets implementing electrical vans, different fuels, and different sustainability methods has change into too nice to do that. This 12 months and going ahead, High Inexperienced Fleets are being chosen solely from the nominations and submissions obtained. (Our 2023 awards will open for nominations in late February and be revealed in our annual June gas subject.)
On the next pages, meet 20 of the fleets main the inexperienced revolution within the U.S. trucking trade. And hold an eye fixed out for our three-part webinar sequence in 2022, The Highway to Zero Emissions, which can characteristic a few of our High Inexperienced Fleets as panelists.
4 Gen Logistics’ Volvo VNR Electrical vans function two shifts per day, making as much as six runs to and from the Port of Lengthy Seashore and the corporate’s headquarters in Rialto, California.
Photograph: 4Gen
4 Gen Logistics – Rialto, California
4 Gen Logistics, a fourth-generation, family-owned drayage firm, has a objective of working a 100% zero-tailpipe emission fleet by 2025. It presently has 50 heavy-duty autos however is rising quick. With six Class 8 battery-electric vans already in operation, 4 Gen has ordered and is beginning to obtain an extra 61, all to be delivered in 2023. Within the meantime, it is also utilizing renewable pure gasoline. Plans are to have 90 charging stations constructed by the tip of 2023.
AJR Trucking’s dedication to decreasing emissions is demonstrated by the truth that it started bidding on postal contracts utilizing vans powered by renewable pure gasoline earlier than these vans had actually hit the market.
Photograph: AJR
AJR Trucking – Compton, California
AJR is a for-hire regional and long-haul contractor for the U.S. Postal Service. Its dedication to sustainability began in 2017 with its first near-zero pure gasoline truck fueled by renewable pure gasoline. At the moment, out of its 327 heavy-duty vans, three are battery-electric and 115 are powered by RNG. AJR invested in its personal fueling station in 2021, permitting it to extra shortly develop its personal inexperienced fleet in addition to provide entry to RNG to different fleets. In February, AJR ordered 15 battery-electric Class 8 tractors and 10 Class 6 battery-electric vans from Kenworth. It plans to switch one other 40 diesel models with pure gasoline models in 2023. To date, AJR’s investments have eradicated 89,097 metric tons of greenhouse gasoline emissions from the ambiance — the equal of 1.47 million bushes planted and 19,245 vehicles faraway from the street.
Benore took supply of its first electrical truck in April and was on monitor to have a complete of eight by the tip of the 12 months.
Photograph: Benore
Benore Logistics Programs – Greer, South Carolina
This for-hire regional and drayage fleet is “on an electrification and diminished carbon footprint journey.” When it took supply of Peterbilt’s first battery-electric manufacturing Class 8 579EV, it additionally was the primary electrical truck within the state. Out of its 550 heavy-duty vans, 2010 are 2021 mannequin 12 months diesels or newer, assembly GHG II emissions requirements, and by changing the fleet with newer fuel-efficient models, the corporate has elevated it gas mileage by 1.7 to 2 mpg. Three battery-electric vans are already in service (Peterbilt and Nikola), with 5 extra scheduled to reach by the tip of the 12 months. The corporate can also be learning electrical terminal tractors and hybrid refrigeration applied sciences.
Despite dramatically rising the dimensions of its fleet and workforce since 2015, Boyle Transportation has seen massive drops in emissions and vitality consumption.
Photograph: Boyle
Boyle Transportation – Billerica, Massachusetts
Greater than half of this long-haul for-hire service’s fleet of 91 heavy-duty vans (55) are the latest-model clear diesels assembly GHG II emissions, with one other 20 on order because it phases out older tractors. Boyle Transportation has invested closely in optimization software program for most effective routing and planning, and it’s testing a number of idle discount applied sciences, together with photo voltaic panels for tractors. In 2021, Boyle was the primary transportation firm in North America to attain ISO 14001 certification, which units out the necessities for an environmental administration system. This has led to the set up of photo voltaic panels at company headquarters, taking it almost fully off the grid. Boyle’s company-wide objective is to additional scale back its vitality consumption by 15% by the tip of 2023.
The Metropolis of Columbus has a goal that not less than 80% of professional quality purchases every finances 12 months will likely be inexperienced, which has primarily meant pure gasoline engines.
Photograph: Metropolis of Columbus
Metropolis of Columbus Fleet Administration Division – Columbus, Ohio
With almost 500 heavy-duty autos and near the identical variety of medium-duty, Columbus Fleet Administration has a Inexperienced Fleet Motion Plan that guides its sustainability efforts along with Columbus’ general sustainability targets. The first technique has been to buy natural-gas-powered autos each time doable. It has bought utility bucket vans that use a hybrid hydraulic electrical system that permits the bucket models to function with out the engine working. Going ahead, it plans to impress the fleet wherever doable in addition to discover the usage of renewable pure gasoline. Will probably be piloting an all-electric refuse truck in 2023. From 2013-2020, Columbus diminished its fleet emissions by over 33% — a CO2 discount of greater than 10,140 metric tons.
Out of 313 heavy-duty vans within the Metropolis of Lengthy Seashore’s fleet, 126 are pure gasoline.
Photograph: Metropolis of Lengthy Seashore
Metropolis of Lengthy Seashore – Lengthy Seashore, California
The Lengthy Seashore fleet’s major technique is aggressively adopting alternative-fuel autos. Its fleet of roughly 2,200 models makes use of renewable pure gasoline, renewable diesel, renewable propane, full electrical, and hybrid autos. Out of 213 heavy-duty vans, 126 are pure gasoline. Out of 180 medium-duty autos, 72 are pure gasoline, plus eight electrical hybrids and two battery-electric. Photo voltaic panels put in on car parking zone shade constructions present 25% of its buildings’ electrical wants. Fleet Providers and the Environmental Providers Bureau are coordinating in 2022-2023 to buy eight new refuse vans to develop town’s organics recycling program and are evaluating a demo of a 2022 Crane Service LNT EV Refuse truck. As well as, Fleet has created a devoted place within the upcoming finances to help with the rising scope of fleet electrification and infrastructure planning/implementation. Consultants have been employed to develop a blueprint for electrifying the medium/heavy-duty fleet.
Hyliion has partnered with Detmar Logistics to impress greater than 100 vans of its fleet over the following 5 years.
Photograph: Detmar
Detmar Logistics – San Antonio, Texas
Detmar Logistics has been a pacesetter within the oil and gasoline sector for enhancing the gas financial system and decreasing GHG emissions of its 150 heavy-duty vans. It has been working Hyliion hybrid-electric vans, presently with 5 within the fleet, and says they elevated gas financial system by 8.2%. It additionally has 5 natural-gas vans. The corporate is constructing a renewable pure gasoline station and has extra RNG-hybrid electrical vans on order. It plans to transform your complete fleet to RNG.
GreenPath Logistics says its different gas fleet helps clients scale back carbon emissions by as much as 85%.
Photograph: GreenPath
GreenPath Logistics – Dallas, Texas
GreenPath Logistics, launched in 2020 as a subsidiary of NGV World Group, makes use of no diesel gas in its operations. Most of its 210 heavy-duty and 30 medium-duty vans function on renewable pure gasoline. It is usually working hybrid-electric vans, shopping for 50 Hyliion Hypertruck ERX models, and is testing all-electric and hydrogen Class 8 vans by producers similar to Nikola, Ideonomics, and Westport. Within the coming 12 months, it plans the deployment of a number of different full-electric Class 8 vans in port drayage and different functions.
In 2020, Knight-Swift’s government committee unanimously laid forth brief and mid-term emissions discount targets that the corporate calls “aggressive and impactful.”
Photograph: Knight-Swift Transportation
Knight-Swift Transportation – Phoenix, Arizona
Knight-Swift runs greater than 18,700 heavy-duty autos. Of these, 100 are pure gasoline, 20 are battery-electric, and greater than 2,800 are working on the most recent clear diesels assembly GHG II emissions requirements. Along with shopping for new gear to benefit from enhancements in effectivity, Knight-Swift is putting in Begin-Cease idle discount expertise. Small-scale testing of hydrogen gas cell and battery-electric autos will happen all through 2022. The corporate is a part of a Division of Power tractor electrification pilot program and will likely be working 20 Class 8 tractors in California by the tip of the 12 months. Since March of 2021, the corporate has improved its rating with quite a few reporting entities, together with CDP, DJSI, and Sustainalytics.
Matheson drivers from Salt Lake Metropolis with one of many firm’s CNG vans.
Photograph: Matheson
Matheson – Sacramento, California
Matheson has been dedicated to leaning into environmental fleet practices and different fuels because the Nineteen Nineties. Nominated by the Nationwide Star Route Mail Contractors Affiliation, the corporate was one of many first U.S. Postal Service contractors to undertake different fuels. Of its 195 heavy-duty autos, near half (95) are powered by pure gasoline. It’s nonetheless had to purchase diesel-powered vans to function in areas with out an in depth natural-gas fueling infrastructure. Lately, Matheson partnered with Hyliion to check the viability of its electrified powertrain techniques in long-haul transportation, significantly over difficult western terrain. “Matheson will likely be a cornerstone of the Postal Service’s formidable Scope 3 emission discount targets and the way forward for a sustainable Postal Service floor transportation community,” NSRMC mentioned.
The M&M Cartage fleet now contains electrical, together with renewable pure gasoline and diesel powered autos.
Photograph: M&M Cartage
M&M Cartage – Louisville, Kentucky
Out of M&M’s 274 heavy-duty vans, 112 are pure gasoline and two are electrical. Pre-planning and most truck utilization assist maximize freight effectivity and educating drivers fuel-saving driving methods helps enhance gas financial system. M&M Cartage’s campus, accomplished in 2015, doubled the dimensions and capability of the earlier facility whereas slicing Scope 2 emissions almost in half. In partnership with Kentuckiana Clear Gasoline, M&M operates CNG gas stations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Sharonville, Ohio. Its newest initiative is incorporating battery-electric vans into the fleet. The objective is to proceed to develop and to deploy further vans on acceptable routes, whereas additionally phasing out previous gear and including to its natural-gas fleet.
Meijer has decreased empty miles by over 4% and racks up spectacular mpg numbers for a regional fleet.
Photograph: Meijer
Meijer Logistics – Lansing, Michigan
This regional non-public fleet operates 248 heavy-duty autos and frequently acts as a check fleet for OEMs. Will probably be the primary fleet to take supply of two Freightliner eCascadia tractors outdoors of California for cold-weather testing. Meijer can even be taking supply of two Autocar electrical yard tractors this 12 months. It presently has two of the most recent GHG II diesels, with supply within the works of 38 extra. In gas mileage, Meijer averages 17% increased than its peer group in benchmarking, and that’s working as much as 90,000 kilos gross automobile weight. The fleet averages 7.61 mpg vs 6.5 mpg in its benchmarking group, and Meijer is presently working at 8 mpg for the 2021 fiscal 12 months with 126 of its Class 8 tractors.
NFI’s fleet of battery-electric tractors has achieved over 750,000+ miles of operation since launching in 2020.
Photograph: NFI
NFI – Camden, New Jersey
NFI has lengthy been a number one adopter of gas effectivity specs and techniques and different fuels. A portion of its gas is sourced from cleaner fuels similar to biodiesel, electrical energy, propane, and compressed pure gasoline. NFI is a associate within the largest industrial deployments of battery-electric tractors in North America, working with automobile producers and infrastructure suppliers. Its fleet of battery-electric tractors (presently 41) has racked up greater than 750,000 miles since launching in 2020. By 2023, NFI’s Southern California drayage fleet will change into the nation’s first 100% zero-emission drayage fleet, including 100 extra battery-electric vans to its operations. Additionally by 2023, it’ll have the primary 100% zero-emission freight logistics facility in the US, together with zero-emission autos and onsite renewable electrical energy. NFI’s actual property staff strives to construct all new development to satisfy LEED requirements. Sustainability efforts in NFI’s 65 million sq. ft of warehousing/distribution operations embrace battery-powered forklifts, battery-powered automated models, and recycling applications, recycling over 250,000 pallets yearly.
Decrease gear ratios on vans and fuel-efficient drivers have helped Nussbaum save 4,000 gallons of oil every year utilizing prolonged oil drain intervals.
Photograph: Nussbaum
Nussbaum Transportation – Hudson, Illinois
Out of Nussbaum’s 551 heavy-duty vans, 170 are the most recent GHG II emissions diesels. For the earlier 12 months, it achieved a fleetwide mpg of 9.10 and idle time share of 14%. It specs 6×2 and 6×4 vans with low gear ratios to cut back rpms. Photo voltaic panels on 290 vans cost Park Good APUs to cut back idling (and improve battery life). Gasoline-efficient specs embrace rear trailer flaps/trailer skirt system, aerodynamic mud flaps, hubcap covers, air dams, single-wide tires, offset wheels, 20-inch cab extenders, and computerized tire inflation techniques. Its proprietary Driver Scorecard and Licensed RED applications practice and incentivize fuel-efficient driving habits. Within the works, Nussbaum is testing 40-inch cab extenders (deploying at 55mph) and an idle reporting device known as Idle Good. In 2023, its objective is an idle time of 10% or much less.
Previous Dominion Freight Line makes use of twin 28-foot trailers and lengthy mixture autos the place permitted to maximise freight effectivity.
Photograph: Previous Dominion
Previous Dominion Freight Line – Thomasville, North Carolina
Previous Dominion Freight Line has simply over 11,000 heavy-duty autos in its less-than-truckload fleet. It maximizes freight and gas effectivity by strategically planning routes and maximizing use of trailer capability with trailer deck bars and racking techniques. Collaborating with producers permits OD to tailor specs for his or her particular utilization profile. The corporate took supply of its first Volvo Class 8 electrical truck, its first Autocar electrical yard jockey, and 5 electrical forklifts on its dock in Rialto, California. Low-carbon diesel accounts for roughly 20% of its complete bulk gas purchases and the corporate is working carefully with renewable and biofuel distributors to develop its use, OD’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions decreased by roughly 12% from 2018 to 2020.
Penske Logistics teamed up with Daimler Truck North America to check the eCascadia battery-electric truck.
Photograph: Penske
Penske Logistics – Studying, Pennsylvania
Out of Penske’s 9,904 heavy-duty autos, three are battery-electric and a couple of,112 have the most recent GHG II clear diesels. It makes use of biodiesel and renewable diesel in some areas and operates one other 678 medium-duty vans. Penske and Daimler Truck North America fashioned a partnership to check Freightliner electrical vans in real-world conditions. Penske is deploying these battery-electric autos in southern California, supported by a community of what it believes are the primary heavy-duty, DC fast-charging stations at six Penske Truck Leasing amenities in Southern California. Penske is implementing quite a few facility-level sustainable applications, similar to renewable vitality infrastructure, vitality effectivity upgrades, and waste discount insurance policies.
With a terminal in Phoenix, Arizona, PGT Trucking has a super location to make use of Nikola zero-emissions vans.
Photograph: PGT Trucking
PGT Trucking – Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
PGT operates each regional and long-haul with a fleet of 981 heavy-duty vans. Its technique to enhance gas financial system and freight effectivity contains decreasing empty/deadhead miles, monitoring drivers and gear to make sure optimum efficiency, and integrating zero-emission autos and autonomous expertise into the fleet. In 2023, PGT will start receiving hydrogen fuel-cell electrical vans from Nikola at its Phoenix terminal, the place it might benefit from Nikola’s fueling stations within the West. PGT additionally will start working semi-autonomous truck convoys from Locomation subsequent 12 months. The corporate has recognized the first lanes that may profit from this expertise. PGT has set a carbon emissions objective to cut back the CO2 emissions of its company-owned fleet by 35% by 2025.
Along with alternative-fueled and electrical vans, Ruan continues to check, research, and implement extra aerodynamic trailers.
Photograph: Ruan Transportation
Ruan Transportation – Des Moines, Iowa
Greater than 95% of Ruan’s fleet of greater than 3,500 vans is 5 years previous or much less, and newer tractors are extra fuel-efficient. Ruan invests in trailer tire inflation techniques, tractor tire inflation/strain monitoring techniques, and low-rolling-resistance tires. It additionally continues to check, research, and implement extra aerodynamic trailers. Ruan was one of many featured fleets in NACFE’s 2021 Run on Much less – Electrical, that includes considered one of its Orange EV electrical yard tractors. The fleet began utilizing pure gasoline in 2011, the bulk sourced from anaerobically digested cattle manure, which has a considerably adverse carbon rating. In 2020, Ruan transformed 10 compressed pure gasoline autos to ultra-low NOx engines for operation within the California Central Valley. The fleet additionally makes use of renewable diesel in California. On order are 13 extra battery-electric vans and 10 Hyliion electric-natural gasoline hybrids.
TCI Transportation’s technique to enhance general gas financial system and freight effectivity is so as to add extra electrical vans and tractors to its fleet.
Photograph: TCI Transportation
TCI Transportation – Commerce, California
TCI Transportation is targeted on including extra electrical vans and tractors to its fleet, in addition to yard tractors. Out of 714 heavy-duty autos, 50 are presently pure gasoline. There are additionally 340 medium-duty, 4 of these electrical. It presently has charging stations in its Fontana and Commerce areas and plans to put in extra to help the extra EVs it has on order: eight Freightliner eCascadia tractors, eight medium-duty electrical Freightliner vans, 4 Nikola fuel-cell tractors, and 50 Tesla Semi electrical Class 8 tractors. It expects to obtain all these by the tip of 2023. Photo voltaic panels are being put in within the Commerce and Fontana areas.
The WernerBlue Process Drive, launched in April, works to contemplate present and rising developments to drive Werner’s ESG methods and priorities.
Photograph: Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises – Omaha, Nebraska
Werner has a dedication to investing in and testing different fuels, gear, and expertise. The fleet of simply over 8,000 heavy-duty autos has a median truck age of two years and trailer age of 4 years, for higher gas effectivity and decrease emissions. Greater than 4,700 vans have GHG II emissions engines. Werner is piloting photo voltaic panels to increase battery life. And it’s utilizing solar-power GPS units on new trailers as a substitute of battery-powered. A brand new 90,000-square-foot facility in New England boasts a full array of photo voltaic panels on its roof, offering sufficient vitality to produce a median of 10% of the vitality for the constructing. The corporate has signed a letter of intent to purchase 500 Cummins 15L hydrogen internal-combustion engines. Werner has a objective to achieve a 55% discount in greenhouse gasoline emissions by 2035.
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