EVwire brief: ArcBest's less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight has purchased two Tesla Semi trucks, following a successful pilot completed in 2025.
The Class 8 electric trucks will primarily run linehaul operations within California, with a planned extension into Reno, Nevada, and potentially other locations. That is a significant step up in lane coverage from the pilot, which focused mainly on the Reno to Sacramento corridor.
Matt Godfrey, president of ABF Freight, said the purchase is about testing the trucks across a much wider slice of the network:
"Our 2025 pilot gave us valuable insight into how electric Class 8 equipment can perform in real-world LTL operations. Adding Tesla Semis to our lineup allows us to expand that across more lanes and operating conditions to evaluate whether heavy-duty electric vehicles meet the same standards for safety, reliability and performance across our existing fleet."
It would not be surprising if this turns out to be a “slowly, then all at once” situation
ABF says it will benchmark the electric trucks against its diesel fleet on total cost of ownership, operational efficiency, safety, and employee experience before making additional investment decisions.
The company has data to build on. During the three-week 2025 pilot, the Tesla Semi logged 4,494 miles (7,232 km), averaging 321 miles (517 km) per day at an energy efficiency of roughly 1.55 kWh per mile (0.96 kWh per km), on routes that included a 7,200-foot (2,200-meter) climb over Donner Pass.
Driver feedback from the pilot was positive on visibility, comfort, and overall performance, and ABF says early impressions from orientation on the new units have matched it.
The Tesla Semi features 500 miles of range fully loaded, which is perfect for LTL applications
Context:
ABF Freight is one of the largest LTL carriers in the US, and it set a clear bar at the time of the pilot. "We're not looking for a truck that performs well 'for an EV.' It must meet or exceed the performance and total cost of ownership targets of our most efficient diesel units," Godfrey said back then.
The purchase also lands at a telling moment for the program. Tesla started high-volume Semi production at its Nevada factory in April, and the order book has been filling up: WattEV alone ordered 370 trucks for its California freight network, PepsiCo runs the largest known Semi fleet, and fellow LTL carrier Saia added two Tesla Semis of its own in March.
High-volume production of the Tesla Semi started in Nevada in April
There is a neat geographic detail in here too: ABF's expanded electric lanes will run into Reno, the same city where the Semi is built.
Early fleet reception of the truck has been notably warm overall, with operators praising its comfort, quietness, and running costs.
I would call the small number the most telling part of this announcement. Two trucks from a multibillion-dollar carrier is not hesitation, it is what I think of as the diesel-parity test: buy a pair, run them against your best diesel units on cost per mile, and only then write the big check. WattEV's 370-truck order makes the headlines, but quiet two-truck purchases from carriers like ABF and Saia are how diesel fleets actually start to turn over.
Source: ArcBest; ArcBest (2025 pilot)
DIG DEEPER into the Tesla industry news with our dedicated TESLAWIRE page. And don't forget to subscribe to our EV industry newsletter to join 14,000+ EV geeks.
