The middle is messy—maybe even messier than we thought when we coined that phrase in 2019 to describe the time it will take for the trucking industry to transition to zero-emissions freight movement.
NACFE has long contended that messy does not necessarily mean bad. However, it does mean that fleets are faced with a variety of choices, and no one solution is right for every application. That’s messy, especially considering that diesel has been the go-to fuel for nearly all commercial vehicles for the past 100 years.
So, I understand why fleets are struggling with what to do now and in the short term. A host of powertrain solutions need to be investigated, vetted, piloted, and evaluated. Fleets are very likely to discover that they may have to choose a different powertrain for their local delivery trucks, regional haul trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. That, without a doubt, complicates things. It could cause parts proliferation and increase the type and amount of training fleet technicians need.
But just because it seems complicated does not mean that fleets can avoid the whole issue. Even if the change of administration sets different priorities regarding climate-related matters, many companies already have set sustainability goals, and the way their goods get transported figures into achieving those goals.
See also: Roeth: Well-deserved recognition for fleets making efficiency strides
And the challenge isn’t only for the fleets. This messy middle will impact truck OEMs and their dealers, suppliers, service organizations, and training firms. Nearly every one of us in trucking will deal with different challenges in the messy middle.
What’s needed today is some clarity, and the only way the industry will achieve that clarity is to think through what we know versus what we heard or think we know. Fleets that have experience with the various powertrain options must share what they’ve learned from their experiences—the good and the bad. Manufacturers have to provide realistic information about the capabilities of the products they are bringing to market. In some cases, they need to tone down the marketing hype, as Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday used to say, “Just the facts, ma’am.”
Most importantly we must face the messy middle with an open mind. We all have biases, but I challenge all of us to try to set aside those biases and be willing to evaluate each of the powertrain options objectively so we can all have some clarity about which powertrains are best suited for various applications. If we do that, the middle won’t be quite so messy before long.
