Trucking news and briefs for Monday, March 4, 2024:
Martin Brower using Kodiak autonomous trucks on Dallas-Oklahoma City runs
Martin Brower runs an autonomous lane between Dallas and Oklahoma City with Kodiak's autonomous trucks, with local drivers getting freight to restaurants.Kodiak
Autonomous truck maker Kodiak Robotics and the Martin-Brower Company are working together to autonomously deliver time-critical refrigerated freight for quick service restaurants eight times a week between Dallas and Oklahoma City.
Since the companies began working together in July 2022, Kodiak has completed more than 600 autonomous deliveries for Martin Brower. The companies are also exploring ways to expand their commercial operations across the Martin Brower network.
Kodiak operates what Martin Brower calls a “shuttle lane,” where autonomous trucks shuttle full trailers between major hubs, and local drivers handle distribution of goods to multiple restaurants, including two of the top five largest fast food chains in the United States. The companies are working together to explore additional shuttle lane opportunities that will optimize and future-proof Martin Brower’s network, allowing it to better serve the growing demands of its customers.
“We chose Kodiak because we share a mutual commitment to safety and customer service,” said Mark Grittner, Director – Global Capital, Fleet & Facilities, Martin Brower. “By working together, we are able to benefit from the safety, reliability and efficiency provided by Kodiak’s autonomous technology while also ensuring our local drivers can continue to provide the best-in-class customer service that is foundational to Martin Brower’s reputation.”
As part of the partnership, Martin Brower has joined the Kodiak Partner Deployment Program, which helps carriers establish autonomous freight operations and seamlessly integrate the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak's self-driving system, into their fleet.
[Related: Kodiak Robotics debuts production-ready driverless tech]
NFI deploys 50 battery-electric trucks, partners for charging depot
NFI is deploying 50 battery-electric Class 8 trucks for its Southern California operations.JETSI
Port drayage and intermodal fleet NFI announced this week that it has received 50 Class 8 battery-electric trucks to put to work in its Southern California operations.
The trucks -- 30 Freightliner eCascadias and 20 Volvo VNR Electrics -- were funded through the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI) project.
To support its scaled battery-electric fleet, NFI has collaborated with Electrify America and Southern California Edison to energize its electric charging depot at its warehouse facility in Ontario, California, completing a crucial milestone in the electrification of NFI’s dedicated port drayage services. The charging depot supports refueling speeds up to 350 kW for capable trucks and will feature roughly 7 MW of DC charging capacity shared across 38 individual DC fast chargers when the facility is fully completed.
NFI’s newly inaugurated electric truck maintenance shop at the site is also operational.
NFI’s battery-electric fleet is used to run routes from Ontario, California, to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, performing drayage operations and delivering products to warehouses in Southern California. Its fleet of Freightliner eCascadia and Volvo VNR Electric trucks typically runs two port pickups per day, per truck, for an average of 220 miles driven between being recharged.
“NFI is committed to driving innovation and sustainability in the logistics and trucking industries,” said Brian Webb, president of port services, NFI. “Through NFI’s participation in the JETSI electrification project, battery-electric Class 8 trucks have proven to be a reliable and efficient solution for our drayage operations to deliver goods to our customers, many of which appreciate the zero-emission freight strategy we offer.”
The 50 additional battery-electric trucks deployed through the JETSI project will offset approximately 4,400 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly, resulting in 2.45 tons of weighted criteria pollutant emission reductions and displacing over 2,750,000 gallons of diesel throughout the five-year project, the company said.
[Related: NFI expands SoCal Class 8 electric fleet]
Averitt donates $1.5M to St. Jude
Averitt associates contribute a record $1,500,001 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, reflecting their commitment to aiding in the fight against childhood cancers.Averitt
Truck drivers and other Averitt associates recently donated $1,500,001 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – a record amount for Averitt’s associates and the fifth consecutive year of a donation over $1 million.
It’s also the ninth consecutive year Averitt associates have either matched or broken their fundraising record, the company said.
The milestone was made possible through two avenues.
First, the donation was funded by contributions from Averitt associates and retirees participating in Averitt Cares for Kids. More than 95% of associates are members of the charitable-giving organization.
Second, the donation was made possible by a $1 million company contribution in honor of associate accomplishments, milestones, life events and participation in community service projects.
“I’m humbled by the way our team comes together to help others, and partnership with St. Jude is one of the most important ways we do that,” said Averitt Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Sasser. “As has become the tradition for the last several years, the extra $1 in our donation represents what we call ‘The Power of One,’ showing the difference every person can make. Donations like these provide life-saving care to children in need, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to build our relationship with St. Jude in 2024 and the future.”
Averitt Cares for Kids began in 1987 and has contributed more than $15 million to numerous charities, including over $12 million to St. Jude. Since 1990, Averitt Cares for Kids contributions have been designated to St. Jude as part of their special partnership. And in 1997, Averitt Cares for Kids completed a $1.5 million endowment to help fund the initial construction of the St. Jude Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic – 80% of all St. Jude patients visit the clinic at some point during their treatment.
