In a significant step towards sustainable shipping solutions, PGT Trucking successfully transported its first-ever shipment of low greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity steel using Nikola’s Class 8 battery-electric vehicle. The steel was transported from Nucor’s new plant in Brandenburg, KY, to a nearby fabricator. To mark this milestone, the companies hosted a special event at Nucor Brandenburg, inviting team members, media representatives, and local officials to witness the cutting-edge equipment and commodities that are revolutionizing the steel and transportation industries.
PGT Trucking President, Gregg Troian, expressed pride in collaborating with companies like Nikola and Nucor, emphasizing their shared vision and commitment to a greener future. Troian stated, “We are confident that these relationships will help guide PGT’s Future of Flatbed® initiatives, allowing us to reach our goal of a 35% reduction in emissions of our company-owned equipment by the year 2025.”
During the event, formal presentations were given by key figures including Jason Roycht, Nikola’s Global Head of FCEV Market Development, Al Behr, Nucor’s EVP of Plate & Structural Products, and Johnny Jacobs, Nucor Steel Brandenburg’s GM. Attendees were then taken on a guided tour, providing an interactive experience with the Nikola Class 8 battery-electric semi-truck and its charging station.
Behr highlighted Nucor’s commitment to sustainable steel production over the past five decades, emphasizing the company’s low carbon footprint. He acknowledged the need to further reduce greenhouse gas intensity and praised the partnership with PGT and Nikola as an innovative approach to achieving this goal.
To enable the use of battery-electric flatbed trucks, Nucor has installed charging stations at several mills, including the one in Brandenburg. It is estimated that each short-haul delivery made using these trucks will result in a 40% reduction in carbon emissions and a 20% savings in energy costs per trip.
A study conducted by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) revealed that replacing 50% of heavy-duty regional haul tractors with battery-electric trucks could potentially save the industry an estimated 29.4 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
Expressing pride in their partnership with PGT Trucking, Jason Roycht of Nikola underscored the importance of collaboration between product manufacturers, transportation providers, and vehicle manufacturers to drive the industry towards zero-emission trucking. Roycht concluded by stating, “We look forward to continuing this journey with PGT Trucking and Nucor.”
Gregg Troian of PGT Trucking added, “By aligning our business objectives with those of our customers, PGT is advancing the transportation industry to move more freight in an efficient and environmentally clean manner.”
The successful delivery of low GHG intensity steel by PGT Trucking using Nikola’s battery-electric truck signifies a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable transportation and steel production. With the combined efforts of these forward-thinking companies, the industry is making notable strides towards a greener future.
