Fleetmaster Express recently ordered 10 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks as part of the company’s plan to transition from a diesel fleet to an electric one.
The Roanoke, Virginia-based carrier said it expects to receive the first two by early December. They will be the first Class 8 electric trucks in operation in the U.S. outside the West Coast, according to Fleetmaster Express. They will be based at the company’s terminal in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fleetmaster officials said they want to develop a sustainable, energy-efficient fleet through the use of the electric trucks, which are estimated to have 40% greater efficiency than diesel-fueled trucks.
“Our goal is to create a better environment as we deploy these trucks,” CEO Travis Smith said in a statement.
Fleetmaster operates over 300 trucks with 1,000 trailers from 13 terminals across the country. The company offers dedicated hauling, as well as freight brokerage, warehousing and spotting services.
Volvo Trucks North America is based in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Volvo’s VNR electric Class 8 truck are produced at the company’s New River Valley truck assembly operations in Dublin, Virginia.
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