Tradelink Transport has added 15 Volvo VNR Electric heavy-duty trucks to its fleet, increasing the share of electric vehicles in its operations at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to nearly one-third. The California-based haulage company aims to enhance sustainability while improving driver working conditions.
The newly deployed electric trucks operate within a 100-mile radius of the ports, handling morning runs to San Bernardino and Riverside and shorter, local routes in the afternoons. Charging is conducted overnight at the company’s depot using ABB chargers with power capacities of 180 kW and 350 kW.
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“Once drivers experience battery-electric trucks, they often don’t want to switch back to conventional vehicles,” said Tradelink Transport President Rigoberto Cea. “The Volvo VNR Electric truck provides a smooth, quiet ride, and we’ve seen strong enthusiasm from our team as they adapt to this new technology.”
Tradelink, based in Compton, California, operates a fleet of 48 trucks, comprising 15 electric, 21 compressed natural gas (CNG), and 12 diesel vehicles. The company ordered the 15 VNR Electric trucks in October 2022, with ten of them acquired through financial support from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Additional funding programs also contributed to the purchase.
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The move aligns with California’s broader efforts to reduce emissions from freight transportation, particularly at its major ports, which are among the busiest in the United States.