Mike Roeth, NACFE’s Executive Director, highlights the importance of this phase in the evolution of trucking technology, saying, “The Messy Middle is a time when fleets can choose from a variety of powertrain solutions and other efficiency-enhancing technologies. For this Run, we are featuring tractors powered by diesel, natural gas, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells. These four powertrain solutions represent currently available options for fleets today.”

The Fleets and Technologies Driving the Run

A total of 13 fleets will be participating in the event, utilizing a mix of advanced powertrains. Here’s an overview of the trucks involved in this groundbreaking demonstration:

• Albert Transport (Laredo, TX): Operating a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia sleeper tractor powered by a Detroit DD15 diesel engine.

• Frito-Lay (Topeka, KS): Using a Volvo VNL sleeper tractor equipped with the Optimus Technologies system running on B99 biodiesel.

• TBA: Deploying a heavy-duty tractor fueled by renewable diesel.

• Mesilla Valley Transportation (Las Cruces, NM): Running an International LT sleeper tractor with a Cummins X15 2027 NOx diesel engine.

• Kleysen Group Ltd. (Edmonton, AB): Operating a Kenworth T680 sleeper tractor featuring a Cummins X15N engine using natural gas.

• UPS (Salt Lake City, UT): Using a Kenworth T680 day cab tractor with a Cummins X15N natural gas engine.

• Wegmans (Rochester, NY): Running a Peterbilt 360 day cab tractor powered by a Cummins X15N natural gas engine.

• 4Gen Logistics (Rialto, CA): Featuring a Volvo VNR day cab electric tractor.

• JoyRide Logistics (Phoenix, AZ): Leveraging a battery-electric Windrose day cab tractor.

• Nevoya (Colton, CA): Operating a battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia day cab tractor.

• Saia (Stockton, CA): Showcasing a battery-electric Tesla Semi day cab tractor.

• Pilot Travel Centers (Bloomington, CA): Utilizing a Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell day cab tractor.

• Penske Logistics (Katy, TX): Also operating a Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell day cab tractor.

A Collaborative Effort Across the Industry

Taki Darakos, Vice President of Vehicle Maintenance and Fleet Services at PITT OHIO, expresses his enthusiasm for this wide-reaching effort, stating, “PITT OHIO, as well as other fleets I’ve spoken with, are thrilled to have such a wide range of fleets and solutions in this Run. We believe this truly represents the state of long-haul trucking today and by capturing data from these 13 vehicles that we will help the industry see the role these various powertrains play in both return-to-base and over-the-road long-haul trucking.”

Key Details About the Program

The three-week event is scheduled to begin on September 8, with Geotab acting as the official telematics and data partner. Fleet profiles will be featured on the Run on Less website throughout August, while the event will stream live data and insights during September.

The Messy Middle Bootcamp also continues to explore the technologies driving the Messy Middle. On April 8, at 1 p.m. ET, the focus shifted to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), complementing sessions on diesel and natural gas that have already concluded. Discussions on hydrogen fuel cells are set to follow.

Cummins and Shell Take Center Stage

Cummins and Shell proudly sponsor the event as title sponsors, with significant contributions from other event sponsors and supporting sponsors. Roeth expressed his gratitude, noting, “We want to thank our title sponsors, event sponsors, and supporting sponsors for helping fund this Run. We could not do this work without their assistance. We are still seeking additional support, and anyone interested in supporting the Run should contact me at 260-750-0106.”

The diversity of participating fleets and technologies underscores the complex transition underway in the trucking industry. Stay updated on the Run on Less – Messy Middle program and learn how these innovations pave the way towards a more sustainable and efficient transportation future.

Source: The Trucker
Image Source: RunOnLess

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Targeting Freight’s Largest-Impact Segment

Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, NACFE has explained their decision to focus this Run on what they call the “messy middle.”

“We chose to focus this Run on the messy middle and specifically on long-haul, return-to-base, and over-the-road duty cycles because it is the largest emitting market segment and there is confusion surrounding it,” said Mike Roeth, NACFE’s executive director.

Set to take place in September, the event will highlight four distinct powertrain options—diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Each powertrain type will be represented by three trucks from different fleets, offering valuable real-world data to help better understand the long-haul segment.

“By having trucks with a variety of powertrains, we will be able to capture real-world data and bring some clarity to the long-haul portion of the messy middle,” Roeth noted.

NACFE is actively working with fleets to select an accurate mix of participants to reflect current industry trends. The organization has announced that details about the selected fleets will be shared this spring, followed by on-site visits to each of the 12 fleet locations.

Leveraging Data to Drive Insights

For this Run, like previous ones, each participating truck will be equipped with Geotab telematics devices. Geotab, NACFE’s official data partner for Run on Less – Messy Middle, will enable the event to collect and analyze critical data.

The Run on Less website will also play a central role, featuring updated fleet profiles, video stories, and a dashboard tracking various metrics. Additionally, information and results from the prior four Runs will still be accessible through the site, allowing for comprehensive knowledge sharing.

Educational Bootcamp Series Kicks Off in February

Complementing the September event is a 13-session Bootcamp series, set to begin on Wednesday, February 11, at 1 p.m. EST, with sessions continuing every other week. The Bootcamp is designed to educate and engage industry professionals across various fuel technologies, including diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Three sessions will specifically cover each powertrain type, followed by dedicated recap workshops. A concluding session will address additional fuel-efficiency technologies critical to the messy middle.

Rachel Ellenberger, NACFE’s industry engagement manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the Bootcamp program, saying, “The NACFE team has been hard at work over the last few months putting together stellar programming for the Run on Less – Messy Middle Bootcamp, and I’m excited to unveil it to our audience.”

She added, “This year’s Bootcamp will include the educational sessions we all know and love along with workshops designed to be more conversational and encourage further audience participation. The agenda is set, and we’re excited to continue to recruit engaging speakers who are talented storytellers in their corner of the industry. I’m looking forward to seeing you in February!”

Participants can register for the Bootcamp today, with ACT News, published by TRC Companies, assisting NACFE in coordinating the program mechanics.

Event Sponsors and Industry Backing

NACFE has already secured two major title sponsors for the upcoming Run—Cummins and Shell. Additional sponsors announced include Chevron, Clean Energy, The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Eaton, ExxonMobil, FlowBelow, Geotab, PepsiCo, Prologis, and TeraWatt.

“We are grateful to the Title and Event Sponsors that have stepped up so early in the process to help sponsor Run on Less – Messy Middle,” Roeth stated. “The Run is not possible without industry support, and we still need Executive, Title, Event and Supporter Sponsors.”

Don’t Miss Out on the Action

The Run on Less – Messy Middle is poised to be another groundbreaking initiative by NACFE, offering game-changing insights into how fleets can tackle emissions, operational efficiency, and a clearer path through the so-called “messy middle.”

Follow NACFE for updates on participants, sponsor additions, and insights from the Bootcamp! Don’t forget to register for the Bootcamp today and stay ahead of the curve in exploring innovative solutions for freight efficiency.

Source: The Trucker  

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This latest chapter of the Run on Less series focuses on identifying and showcasing viable methods for decarbonizing this niche within the trucking sector. “Each Run has tried to mirror market issues,” says Mike Roeth, executive director at NACFE. “This Run is no different. We are calling it Run on Less – Messy Middle because today’s fleet managers have a variety of options when it comes to what will power their vehicles. While other market segments have proven to be a good fit for battery electric vehicles, we are still looking for the best solutions for the long-haul segment of the industry now and in the future.”

As the fifth event in the Run on Less initiative, which began in 2017 highlighting diesel truck fuel efficiency, this event shifts focus to Class 8 trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 33,001 pounds, whether in sleeper or day cab configurations. Approximately ten fleets will participate, experimenting with various technologies that include battery electric, hydrogen fuel cells, renewable natural gas, bio-diesel, and hybrid systems, along with energy efficiency enhancements tailored to each fuel type.

Roeth underscores the significance of this initiative, stating, “There is a great deal of work being done in the long-haul segment of the market to decarbonize it. This upcoming Run will give us the opportunity to showcase the realities of that market to help fleets make more informed decisions now and in the future about which powertrain options make the most sense for their Class 8 long-haul routes.”

The event is set for September 2025 and will feature NACFE’s pre-Run Bootcamp series, with metrics and dashboards available on the Run on Less website. Throughout the event, NACFE intends to share results and updates via social media platforms alongside blogs and videos, culminating in a detailed report due for publication in early 2026. “We are excited to begin vetting fleets to participate in the Run and to sign on sponsors to help underwrite the cost of the Run,” Roeth added. “All of us at NACFE and RMI are excited to be working on the fifth freight efficiency demonstration in the Run on Less series and look forward to bringing some clarity to the Messy Middle of long-haul trucking.”

Source: The Trucker

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NACFE has posted some early results from the ongoing Run on Less: Electric Depot, which started on Sept. 11 and will continue until Sept. 30.

“The electrification of large depots is more realistic than we originally thought,” NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth said in a statement. “Electric trucks are becoming an option in longer regional haul return-to-base operations.”

Tesla Semis, although impressive, have been outperformed in terms of range by other Class 8 tractors that participated in the 2021 event.

Some companies, including OK Produce, Penske, Performance Team, PepsiCo, and Schneider, have achieved better efficiency through factors such as regenerative braking optimization and return-to-base charging during single-driver shifts.

As part of the NACFE investigation into scaling up from one or two electric trucks to 15 or more, a total of 10 depots are involved in the program.

At PepsiCo Inc.’s Sacramento Beverages depot, the Tesla Semis completed an impressive 384 miles on a single charge and 806 miles in a single 24-hour day, thanks to fast 750-kilowatt charging. This showcases the potential of fast charging, as highlighted by Mike Roeth at a LinkedIn Live event on Sept. 18.

When Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk introduced the Semi in 2017, he promised a range of 500 miles without charging, assuming a full 80,000-pound gross vehicle weight.

“The Tesla numbers speak for themselves. They are showing us sort of the future. It’s like the art of the probable here, we hear art of the possible, well, this is more the art of the probable, because it is real trucks, real freight,” Roeth said, so that longer regional haul options open up.

Are electric trucks viable for high-uptime, slip-seat applications? This has always been a big question in fleet electrification. Mullaney, the carbon-free transportation principal at RMI, admits that he was also skeptical for a long time.

“The fear was always that we’d need more trucks to do the same job in high-uptime situations, adding cost to the system,” Mullaney said. “I was also skeptical. Not anymore. The combination of megawatt level charging and battery packs that are probably close to a megawatt-hour (this number is not officially disclosed) clearly can do the job.”

PepsiCo’s Tesla Semi traveled an impressive 1,600 miles in just under 48 hours, he noted.

Mullaney also discussed the potential of a Freightliner eCascadia at a US Foods Inc. depot in California. This truck not only requires a different amount of charge but also contributes to supporting the state’s power grid. The truck begins its route at 3:30 a.m., making multiple stops throughout the day before returning at approximately 4:30 p.m.

“That’s a full day’s work for the driver, but the truck isn’t tired at all. In fact, it’s 60%-70% SOC represents 285-330 kWh of unused power,” Mullaney said.  “Getting back at 4:30 p.m. is interesting though, because that is just about when solar generation starts to fade, and the ramp of California’s famous duck curve starts to kick in.”

“No operator is going to run down their batteries to zero, so not all of that 300ish kWh are going to be available, but 200 [kilowatt hours] might be if the price was right,” he said. “These truck batteries are big, and they are being operated by sophisticated companies using sophisticated chargers, which makes for a real opportunity for [vehicle to grid].”

Freightliner’s eCascadias performed exceptionally well in intermodal drayage at Schneider Inc.’s South El Monte depot. Mullaney described a 13-hour shift where the truck had to start and stop, showcasing its capabilities constantly.

“This type of duty cycle is where electrics can really shine. This one completed a 185-mile day, with no opportunity charging (and no downtime to charge if it had needed it), in stop-and-go conditions,” he said. “This type of duty cycle is where traditional diesel fare the worst, both in terms of fuel economy and pollution emissions — with emissions management systems often struggling in low engine load conditions like this.”

According to Roeth, NACFE expects to be able to share more data from the program, including payloads for the trucks, in a report which will be issued in October after the study comes to a close.

Source: Transport Topics

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