Carriers across the industry join NACFE's 'Messy Middle' Run
Alternative powertrain pioneers are preparing for this year’s major freight efficiency showcase. The North American Council for Freight Efficiency today announced 13 carriers will take part in its latest freight efficiency demonstration: Run on Less – Messy Middle.
“I’m thrilled with the participation,” Mike Roeth, NACFE’s executive director, told FleetOwner. “I’m excited to help these pioneering fleets tell their stories—that’s what the Run is all about.”
A diverse sample is key for accurate market research. NACFE has no shortage of unique operations among its participants.
The Run goes beyond covering different powertrains: The event will capture a wide range of companies, manufacturers, routes, loads, and geographies.
“It’s a really nice mix, all performing in long haul,” Roeth said. “I’m thrilled with the diversity: We have the different technologies they’re running; they’re hauling different loads; we have mega fleets all the way down to an owner-operator.”
Albert Transport running straight diesel, for example, belongs to Henry Albert: an owner-operator known in the industry for outstanding fuel efficiency.
“His trailer and his tractor are together all the time, so he’s able to put technologies on the trailer that he knows is going to be behind his tractor 100% of the miles,” Roeth said.
Albert uses various aerodynamic solutions like trailer skirts and a trailer tail, as well as solar power to complement his HVAC.
Some of the carriers are repeat participants. Albert Transport, Pepsi’s Frito-Lay division, Mesilla Valley Transportation, UPS, and Penske all contributed to previous NACFE Runs.
What information will NACFE share?
Throughout 2025 and 2026, RunOnLess.com will feature a growing collection of stories and data points.
Throughout August, the Run on Less website will feature profiles for each participant leading up to Stories from the Run and data streaming from each truck in September. NACFE will visit each of the participants’ sites with video crews to record the carriers’ stories.
The three-week Run will feature metrics from data captured by Geotab telematics devices. As the Run gets underway, the group will publish the carriers’ operational data on different dashboards for each of the four powertrain options, sharing key statistics such as miles per kilogram of fuel.
Once the Run concludes, NACFE will share its immediate findings in early October. Throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026, the group will share deeper analysis and produce reports on its learnings.
Roeth splits the information NACFE provides into “right brain, left brain,” the popular concept explaining people’s preferences for creative or analytic thinking. The Run’s operational statistics provide hard data for real-world hauls using nascent technology, satisfying the more analytic people in trucking. NACFE’s profiles and interviews, meanwhile, share a more personal look into how the carriers collaborate with countless partners to push forward the cutting edge of powertrain tech.
“We all talk about collaboration and how it’s going to take a lot of collaboration,” Roeth said. “Here’s 13 examples of how they’re actually doing it.”
Roeth said that NACFE expects to conduct 100 interviews or more, ranging from the truck drivers to charging companies, manufacturers, and beyond.
