It’s begun. The California mandate (Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation, approved on 28 April 2023 by the California Air Resources Board) to only purchase tractors (the kind that haul trailers) that are powered by hydrogen or electricity. The problem is that there are insufficient charging stations for these tractors (let alone a dearth of hydrogen fuel supply sites).
Continue reading What does the electric vehicle mandate mean for truckers?
So, yesterday, we spoke about electric drayage trucks and the California mandate for big rigs to convert from diesel.
Continue reading 22% of truck market opts for ZEV
So, we’ve been discussing (Wednesday, yesterday) electric trucks- the big rigs, Class 8 vehicles. And, you’d think that Tesla was the only one getting ready to market these rigs from those discussions. No way!
Continue reading Tesla has company- lots of it!
Yesterday, we touched on the new tractors that Tesla is developing. The Tesla Semi incorporates what they call “Enhanced Autopilot” – the same sort of stuff that exists in Tesla cars. This means the rig is loaded with cameras and radar- and those devices let it determine what is the traffic flow, how to safely change lanes- and, most importantly, how to pull over into a controlled sop should the driver fall asleep or become incapacitated (via a heart attack or something similar.)
Continue reading Big Rigs, electric and otherwise
I have always had an enamored view of truck-drivers. Since I was a little boy. Back then, there really were no interstate highways. And, my family would travel the roads (yes, late at night- that’s how I learned that was the best time to travel). And, when we wanted to pass a slow-moving truck, my dad would double-flash his brights (bright lights) to inform the vehicle of our attempt. And, when we were in front of the truck, ready to return to our lane, the truck driver would double-beam my dad, letting him know that he was absolutely clear of the vehicle.
Continue reading Big Rigs a-comin’, comin’ down the road…
There are some half million truck drivers in the US. It’s their job to move our products from factory to store, from train depots to local warehouse, from our ports to our doors. About ½ of them are independent drivers- which means they drive their own rigs (tractors and trailers) for whoever needs goods moved from point A to point B.
