The Daily Dash: Zero-emission truck push is on, C.H. Robinson & Microsoft team up, and the vision of Nikola Tesla

Freightliner eM2 electric truck

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, 15 states are banding together to accelerate the adoption of zero-emissions trucks, plus C.H. Robinson and Microsoft team up to digitize the supply chain, and what did Nikola Tesla really know?

States band together to cut emissions

Fifteen states as well as the District of Columbia have banded together in a promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles. The plan, which calls for accelerating the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks, is backed by nealry 40 major companies and follows the initial plan put forth by California.

Linda Baker has more on how they plan to do this: Multistate group to expedite truck decarbonization

Howdy, partner

C.H. Robinson and Microsoft have teamed up in a new partnership that will see Robinson’s Navisphere technology become available within Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Robinson said this will allow it to broaden its reach to new potential customers, deploy technology quicker, and leverage Microsoft’s expertise to develop innovative solutions.

Brian Straight has more on what this means for the digitization of the supply chain: C.H. Robinson, Microsoft partner to boost supply chain digitization

If only we knew …

Nikola Tesla knew. The inventor who has lent his name to two companies — Nikola Corp. and Tesla — seeking to alter the trajectory of vehicle manufacturing is the subject of a film debuting next month. The film details his late 19th and early 20th century visions.

Alan Adler has a look at those visions and how they foretell the future: Nikola Tesla biopic sees a world his namesakes seek to create

What’s Walmart’s end game?

The pending announcement of Walmart+, a new service to rival Amazon Prime, has the industry buzzing. But what impact will it have, and should Amazon be concerned?

Mark Solomon digs into the reasons this makes sense for Walmart: Walmart+ won’t make Amazon quake, but that could be beside the point

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Georgia trucking group: In-person annual meeting led to no COVID infections

US, Canada appear set to extend border closure to Aug. 21

Liftit raises $22.5 million to automate last mile in Latin America

Mexico trade groups create monthly truck industry report

Did you miss this?

With millions of delivery vans jetting around the streets of the U.S., critics have jumped on their alleged poor safety record. Now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will have its say. The agency has confirmed it will be taking a long look at last-mile delivery trucks’ involvement in crashes, given trends revealing a jump in the use of such vehicles in interstate commerce.

John Gallagher has more on what FMCSA will be looking for: FMCSA to request safety data on last-mile delivery

Hammer down, everyone,

Brian Straight

Managing Editor

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Brian Straight.

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