Well, bless my CB radio — truck drivers are 10-2 (‘receiving well’) when it comes to eVs
The image of commercial truck and van drivers is that of gritty folks who are not much in favor of change. They’ve been basically driving the same vehicles for years and are accustomed to the routine of stops for diesel, certain routes and the intricacies of backing up to loading docks and disgorging their cargo.
MORE ON TRUCKS: The North American ‘Truck Of The Year’ Is An EV
MORE: How The U.S. Rail Strike Vote Proves There Is No Clean Way To Shut Down Big Oil
So, it’s somewhat of a surprise to learn that the relatively small number of commercial drivers who have made the transition to all-electric vehicles are embracing the new mode of transportation.
This insight comes courtesy of The Washington Post, which interviewed several gear-changers who have switched from fossil-fueled jalopies to newfangled plug-ins.
Said New York City-based Frito-Lay driver Gary LaBush of his new rig: “After being in this — it’s just night and day,” before praising the vehicles’ handling, acceleration, smoothness and quiet. “I was like, ‘What’s going on?’” he told the outlet. “There was no noise — and no fumes.”
And Marty Boots, a longtime driver for Schneider in South El Monte, Calif., raved about his Freightliner eCascadia semi-truck. “Diesel was like a college wrestler,” he said. “And the electric is like a ballet dancer.”
The growth of the sector has accelerated in the past couple of years, in part because some companies have embraced green technology and, in California’s case, because of new regulations. Amazon AMZN 0.00%↑, for example, has ordered and deployed thousands of super-cute electric delivery vans made by Rivian RIVN 0.00%↑; the company says it has electric trucks operating in 1,800 areas in the U.S. Meanwhile, FedEx FDX 0.00%↑ has deployed General Motors GM 0.00%↑ EVs on the streets of Los Angeles.
Boots, who also trains other drivers on how to optimize the battery in the electric truck, told The Post that some drivers were hesitant about the technology. But once they try it, he said, most are enthusiastic. “You get back into diesel and it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with this thing?’” he said. “Why is it making so much noise? Why is it so hard to steer?”
Ten-four, good buddy.
