US Foods is acting on its climate commitments—the foodservice distributor has received the first delivery of its 30 battery-electric powered trucks at its La Mirada, Calif., distribution center.
The company is investing in alternative fuels to support its plan to reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet, a commitment which has been validated by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). In 2022, the company pledged to reducing its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5 % by 2032.
“The deployment of our first zero-emission trucks is a critical step in our long-range plans to achieve this commitment,” said Dan Bennett, vice president of fleet and sustainability at US Foods, in a statement. “Our ongoing investment in alternative fuel vehicles is a testament to our dedication to reducing the environmental footprint of our growing fleet.”
The company recently opened an environmentally friendly distribution center in Sacramento, Calif., and is also working on optimizing routes to reduce miles driven.
US Foods has already started deliveries with the electric vehicles. Currently, the trucks are charged using portable charging stations, but the company plans to install charging infrastructure at the La Mirada facility.
The trucks are similar in size to traditional diesel trucks, and Jim Johnston, director of fleet management at US Foods, noted that operators may notice quieter deliveries. Besides that, Johnston said it’s “business as usual,” for its customer, who shouldn’t expect any changes to service schedules.
Despite recent trucker shortages, the company is not concerned about labor when it comes to operating the trucks.
“We have a valued driver labor force in place in La Mirada and those who have started to make deliveries with the EV trucks are reporting very positive experiences with the trucks,” said Johnston. “We haven’t experienced any significant challenges integrating the trucks into our existing fleet.
Johnston did not disclose if the company intends to add electric vehicles to other fleets across the country.
UPDATE: This story has been corrected to change: has received the first delivery of its 30 battery-electric powered trucks