Trucking news and briefs for Monday, June 15, 2026:
ArcBest adds more Tesla trucks to its LTL fleet
ABF said its two Tesla Semis will primarily support linehaul operations within California, with planned extension into Reno, Nevada, and potentially other locations.
ABF Freight (CCJ Top 250, No. 19) has purchased two Class 8 Tesla Semi electric trucks, expanding its evaluation of heavy-duty electric vehicles, the company announced.
The acquisition follows a 2025 pilot program focused on the Reno-toSacramento corridor. The new long-range, all-electric trucks will primarily support linehaul operations within California, with plans to extend routes into Reno, Nevada, and other locations.
“Our 2025 pilot gave us valuable insight into how electric Class 8 equipment can perform in real-world LTL operations,” ABF Freight President Matt Godfrey said. “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.”
During the initial pilot, the Tesla Semi achieved an average energy efficiency of approximately 1.55 kWh per mile. Drivers reported positive feedback regarding comfort, visibility, and performance, notably during demanding routes like the 7,200-foot climb over Donner Pass.
ArcBest plans to benchmark the electric trucks against its existing diesel fleet, analyzing the total cost of ownership, operational efficiency, safety, and employee experience before making further investment decisions.
U.S. slaps 131% tariff on Chinese van trailers
A trade coalition is applauding a federal decision to slap preliminary antidumping duties of more than 130% on van-type trailers imported from China.
The American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition said Thursday that the U.S. Department of Commerce's determination of a 130.76% duty targets trailers sold in the U.S. at unfairly low prices. The decision follows a June 3 preliminary finding by Commerce that Chinese trailer producers benefit from significant government subsidies.
Once the determination is published in the Federal Register, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting the duties. The fees will also apply to Chinese-origin subassemblies that enter the U.S. through third countries, including Canada.
The new fees will be tacked onto previously announced countervailing duties.
Robert E. DeFrancesco, trade counsel to the coalition and a partner at the Wiley law firm, said in a statement that Chinese producers have long used unfair pricing and government backing to capture U.S. market share. He added that the decision "sets the conditions needed for them to compete on fair terms."
A parallel antidumping investigation into trailers from Mexico is ongoing, with a preliminary determination expected in late July.
