Independent Owner-Operator Deploys First Volvo VNR Electric Truck in California

[Freight Relocators]

Saldivar’s Trucking has become the first independent owner-operator to deploy a Volvo VNR Electric truck for drayage operations at the Ports of LA and Long Beach. With the support of TEC Equipment, Saldivar’s secured $410,000 in funding through CARB’s Voucher Incentive Program to make the switch to zero-emissions.

Given the challenges smaller operators face with transitioning to electric trucks, do you think more owner-operators will follow suit? How viable is this transition for the average independent trucker?

Saldivar’s Trucking Becomes First Independent Owner-Operator to Deploy Volvo VNR Electric Truck for Drayage in California

Independent owner-operator deploys first Volvo VNR Electric truck for drayage in California, thanks to funding and support from TEC Equipment

www.freightrelocators.com

 

[Mike]

@Electric Chicken What would you do if a similar proposal was offered to you? I mean, if there was the option of being able to secure funding in a similar way that this guy did with CARB?

 

[Electric Chicken]

Hard pass. Don't want strings or anyone paying attention to me.

If it's a viable business decision I'll finance it like a normal person.

 

[Mike]

Hard pass. Don't want strings or anyone paying attention to me.

If it's a viable business decision I'll finance it like a normal person.

Do you see electric trucks in Drayage being a viable path for owner operators anytime soon?

Seems to me like it will be the first place they could have a chance at being successful.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Do you see electric trucks in Drayage being a viable path for owner operators anytime soon?

Seems to me like it will be the first place they could have a chance at being successful.

Not here. We cover too much ground.

 

[Mike]

Not here. We cover too much ground.

What kind of range would be needed for East Coast operations?

 

[Electric Chicken]

What kind of range would be needed for East Coast operations?

Can't speak for the entire east cost but a typical day here can be 580 miles, repeated pretty regularly if you have enough human stamina.

It's one customer but it's enough volume to need that range. Unless you're lazy like me, at which point you can't afford the EV truck anyway.

445 miles was my typical normal before I stopped doing the Upper Marlboros as of yesterday.

 

[Mike]

Can't speak for the entire east cost but a typical day here can be 580 miles, repeated pretty regularly if you have enough human stamina.

Much higher than I expected, wow.

 

[Electric Chicken]

When you're exclusively drop and hook at the same customers all the time you can basically get regional if not OTR miles in.

Some guys have the stamina for it, I don't. At least not every day. But even if you only did it once a week it already takes the EV without that range out of the equation.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I did ~450 on a regular basis at Schneider. Since I was nights and back then you could count on a pretty clean run down 81 and across 64, I'd run to West Rock Covington VA and back frequently.

 

[Mike]

When you're exclusively drop and hook at the same customers all the time you can basically get regional if not OTR miles in.

Some guys have the stamina for it, I don't. At least not every day. But even if you only did it once a week it already takes the EV without that range out of the equation.

580 miles per day is typically easy.

580 miles daily on the East Coast is a nightmare.

 

[Electric Chicken]

580 miles per day is typically easy.

580 miles daily on the East Coast is a nightmare.

It's really just up and down 81 for that one. The 445 was down 81, across 66, around 495 then up 301. Then back 495, up 270, 70 West, and 81 north. Takes almost as long as the 580 miler when you time it way wrong.

 

[Electric Chicken]

So yeah I'd say if you want to cover EVERYTHING without compromise you basically need a 600 mile range. You're not stopping mid shift to charge for this.

Unless a 15 minute "fuel stop" can give you like a 300 mile quick charge.

 

[Mike]

So yeah I'd say if you want to cover EVERYTHING without compromise you basically need a 600 mile range. You're not stopping mid shift to charge for this.

We won't see that kind of range for quite some time, if ever.

 

[Electric Chicken]

We won't see that kind of range for quite some time, if ever.

That's why I don't think they'll ever work everywhere. Even for "local"

We're local because of our radius we aren't local for lack of miles.

 

[krelithous]

What kind of range would be needed for East Coast operations?

don't forget things like climate affect the battery range. then there's the issue of if it would even charge when it's to hot or to cold.

 

[krelithous]

That's why I don't think they'll ever work everywhere. Even for "local"

We're local because of our radius we aren't local for lack of miles.

EV'S are not the way of the future to many problems with em. so glad trump is gonna get rid of the mandates or atleast slow em down and let the people choose if they want an ev. we need to ramp up the power system and the power would still need to come from fossil fuels and not farts and sunbeams. the roads would ned to be ramped up.

 

[krelithous]

instead of ev's why not have someone invent a decarbonizer seems more logical and economical

 

[krelithous]

When you're exclusively drop and hook at the same customers all the time you can basically get regional if not OTR miles in.

Some guys have the stamina for it, I don't. At least not every day. But even if you only did it once a week it already takes the EV without that range out of the equation.

why would you buy something that has 80% more issues than an ice truck. you'll be spending a fortune on tires alone since the batteries are so heavy

 

[krelithous]

CARB needs to be closed down and forgotten. people have told me they have gotten really loony!!!