Plus: New truck designs from ACT Expo | Why one color spells trouble on the road
With today's diesel prices, do alternative fuels make business sense—now and long term? Industry execs, including a FedEx leader, share how they're thinking about the bottom line.
Plus, truck makers showed off their latest and greatest designs at last week's ACT Expo.
And does this color just spell bad luck for transportation?
⬇️ $5.639
AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 05/11, DOWN -0.001¢
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
From niche to mainstream. A deep look at the economics of the Tesla Semi and what's next for the EV. The first one just rolled off the line a few weeks back.
Coming up. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association will host a webinar this Thursday discussing strategies to prevent and respond to cargo theft. Details and registration here.
Family business. Do truckers want their kids to work in the industry someday? This article shares a few owner-operators' perspectives.
Truck line-up. Mack Trucks showcased some of its latest designs at ACT Expo. Check out the photos.
How FedEx Freight thinks about sustainability and business
Recent regulatory changes have stripped away a lot of the incentives to buy electric trucks or use alternative fuels. But the investments are still part of FedEx's strategy. The company is using compressed natural gas powered by renewable natural gas for longer hauls, and it's deploying electric vehicles in areas with shorter distances and predictable access to charging, like service centers.
But it all comes down to the balance sheet. "Sustainability is only sustainable if it makes business sense," said FedEx Freight CEO John Smith.
Why this matters: With the cost of diesel today, some fleets may be wishing they had invested in alternative fuels or electric trucks. The decision is more complicated than that, with fleet owners having to consider their specific operations and needs—and whether the total cost of ownership is lower for diesel, alt fuel, EV or a combo fleet. (CCJ Digital)
MOTION DENIED: Judges reject request to pause non-domiciled CDL rule
JOBS REPORT: Trucking adds 4,300 jobs in April
ELD LIST: FMCSA revokes two more ELDs, bringing the total to 67 this year
EXTRA TIME: FMCSA extends comment period for registration fee increase
BUYING SPREE: Paccar says capacity crunch boosts demand for trucks
DRIVERLESS ROUTE: Volvo opens third autonomous lane, first to cross state lines
"You can do this at an economic price that is lower than what you're getting today using diesel."- Scott Brinner, Vice President of RNG Solutions at Nopetro Energy
Brinner says the sustainability benefits of renewable natural gas are really just the icing on the cake. The fuel can lead to lower costs and higher margins for fleets, and make carriers attractive to shippers who want to reduce their supply chain emissions. (The Logistics of Logistics Podcast)
Amazon opens up logistics network to external businesses
Amazon has launched Amazon Supply Chain Services for businesses of all shapes and sizes—not just the sellers on its marketplace. The service includes freight transportation across modes, parcel shipping and inventory storage.
Why this matters: Amazon is stepping even deeper into the world of logistics. The newest service makes Amazon function as a carrier, a 3PL and a marketplace. If the company adds additional trucking infrastructure and drivers, it's possible that Amazon will steal some freight volume from other motor carriers in the trucking industry. (Supply Chain Dive)
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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