Mike Roeth, NACFE’s Executive Director, highlights the importance of this phase in the evolution of trucking technology, saying, “The Messy Middle is a time when fleets can choose from a variety of powertrain solutions and other efficiency-enhancing technologies. For this Run, we are featuring tractors powered by diesel, natural gas, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells. These four powertrain solutions represent currently available options for fleets today.”

The Fleets and Technologies Driving the Run

A total of 13 fleets will be participating in the event, utilizing a mix of advanced powertrains. Here’s an overview of the trucks involved in this groundbreaking demonstration:

• Albert Transport (Laredo, TX): Operating a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia sleeper tractor powered by a Detroit DD15 diesel engine.

• Frito-Lay (Topeka, KS): Using a Volvo VNL sleeper tractor equipped with the Optimus Technologies system running on B99 biodiesel.

• TBA: Deploying a heavy-duty tractor fueled by renewable diesel.

• Mesilla Valley Transportation (Las Cruces, NM): Running an International LT sleeper tractor with a Cummins X15 2027 NOx diesel engine.

• Kleysen Group Ltd. (Edmonton, AB): Operating a Kenworth T680 sleeper tractor featuring a Cummins X15N engine using natural gas.

• UPS (Salt Lake City, UT): Using a Kenworth T680 day cab tractor with a Cummins X15N natural gas engine.

• Wegmans (Rochester, NY): Running a Peterbilt 360 day cab tractor powered by a Cummins X15N natural gas engine.

• 4Gen Logistics (Rialto, CA): Featuring a Volvo VNR day cab electric tractor.

• JoyRide Logistics (Phoenix, AZ): Leveraging a battery-electric Windrose day cab tractor.

• Nevoya (Colton, CA): Operating a battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia day cab tractor.

• Saia (Stockton, CA): Showcasing a battery-electric Tesla Semi day cab tractor.

• Pilot Travel Centers (Bloomington, CA): Utilizing a Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell day cab tractor.

• Penske Logistics (Katy, TX): Also operating a Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell day cab tractor.

A Collaborative Effort Across the Industry

Taki Darakos, Vice President of Vehicle Maintenance and Fleet Services at PITT OHIO, expresses his enthusiasm for this wide-reaching effort, stating, “PITT OHIO, as well as other fleets I’ve spoken with, are thrilled to have such a wide range of fleets and solutions in this Run. We believe this truly represents the state of long-haul trucking today and by capturing data from these 13 vehicles that we will help the industry see the role these various powertrains play in both return-to-base and over-the-road long-haul trucking.”

Key Details About the Program

The three-week event is scheduled to begin on September 8, with Geotab acting as the official telematics and data partner. Fleet profiles will be featured on the Run on Less website throughout August, while the event will stream live data and insights during September.

The Messy Middle Bootcamp also continues to explore the technologies driving the Messy Middle. On April 8, at 1 p.m. ET, the focus shifted to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), complementing sessions on diesel and natural gas that have already concluded. Discussions on hydrogen fuel cells are set to follow.

Cummins and Shell Take Center Stage

Cummins and Shell proudly sponsor the event as title sponsors, with significant contributions from other event sponsors and supporting sponsors. Roeth expressed his gratitude, noting, “We want to thank our title sponsors, event sponsors, and supporting sponsors for helping fund this Run. We could not do this work without their assistance. We are still seeking additional support, and anyone interested in supporting the Run should contact me at 260-750-0106.”

The diversity of participating fleets and technologies underscores the complex transition underway in the trucking industry. Stay updated on the Run on Less – Messy Middle program and learn how these innovations pave the way towards a more sustainable and efficient transportation future.

Source: The Trucker
Image Source: RunOnLess

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Targeting Freight’s Largest-Impact Segment

Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, NACFE has explained their decision to focus this Run on what they call the “messy middle.”

“We chose to focus this Run on the messy middle and specifically on long-haul, return-to-base, and over-the-road duty cycles because it is the largest emitting market segment and there is confusion surrounding it,” said Mike Roeth, NACFE’s executive director.

Set to take place in September, the event will highlight four distinct powertrain options—diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Each powertrain type will be represented by three trucks from different fleets, offering valuable real-world data to help better understand the long-haul segment.

“By having trucks with a variety of powertrains, we will be able to capture real-world data and bring some clarity to the long-haul portion of the messy middle,” Roeth noted.

NACFE is actively working with fleets to select an accurate mix of participants to reflect current industry trends. The organization has announced that details about the selected fleets will be shared this spring, followed by on-site visits to each of the 12 fleet locations.

Leveraging Data to Drive Insights

For this Run, like previous ones, each participating truck will be equipped with Geotab telematics devices. Geotab, NACFE’s official data partner for Run on Less – Messy Middle, will enable the event to collect and analyze critical data.

The Run on Less website will also play a central role, featuring updated fleet profiles, video stories, and a dashboard tracking various metrics. Additionally, information and results from the prior four Runs will still be accessible through the site, allowing for comprehensive knowledge sharing.

Educational Bootcamp Series Kicks Off in February

Complementing the September event is a 13-session Bootcamp series, set to begin on Wednesday, February 11, at 1 p.m. EST, with sessions continuing every other week. The Bootcamp is designed to educate and engage industry professionals across various fuel technologies, including diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Three sessions will specifically cover each powertrain type, followed by dedicated recap workshops. A concluding session will address additional fuel-efficiency technologies critical to the messy middle.

Rachel Ellenberger, NACFE’s industry engagement manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the Bootcamp program, saying, “The NACFE team has been hard at work over the last few months putting together stellar programming for the Run on Less – Messy Middle Bootcamp, and I’m excited to unveil it to our audience.”

She added, “This year’s Bootcamp will include the educational sessions we all know and love along with workshops designed to be more conversational and encourage further audience participation. The agenda is set, and we’re excited to continue to recruit engaging speakers who are talented storytellers in their corner of the industry. I’m looking forward to seeing you in February!”

Participants can register for the Bootcamp today, with ACT News, published by TRC Companies, assisting NACFE in coordinating the program mechanics.

Event Sponsors and Industry Backing

NACFE has already secured two major title sponsors for the upcoming Run—Cummins and Shell. Additional sponsors announced include Chevron, Clean Energy, The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Eaton, ExxonMobil, FlowBelow, Geotab, PepsiCo, Prologis, and TeraWatt.

“We are grateful to the Title and Event Sponsors that have stepped up so early in the process to help sponsor Run on Less – Messy Middle,” Roeth stated. “The Run is not possible without industry support, and we still need Executive, Title, Event and Supporter Sponsors.”

Don’t Miss Out on the Action

The Run on Less – Messy Middle is poised to be another groundbreaking initiative by NACFE, offering game-changing insights into how fleets can tackle emissions, operational efficiency, and a clearer path through the so-called “messy middle.”

Follow NACFE for updates on participants, sponsor additions, and insights from the Bootcamp! Don’t forget to register for the Bootcamp today and stay ahead of the curve in exploring innovative solutions for freight efficiency.

Source: The Trucker  

The post NACFE Shares Plans for Run on Less – Messy Middle and Educational Bootcamp appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

It only takes looking at three months over the summer to realize the variableness of natural gas truck sales. June, July, and August of 2022 saw significant differences from their 2021 sales. June plunged 33%, July saw a 204% increase, and August jumped 20%.

Steve Tam, who works as ACT Research’s vice president, further broke down the disparate prices.

“In the near term, June was relatively benign compared to May (-4%), while July spiked 82% month-over-month,” he said. “Unable to maintain, volumes pulled back 33% from July to August. Combined, sales in the three-month period extended and increased the year-to-date gain.”

There has been a clear increase of natural gas truck sales, but any pattern has been challenging to establish. To add to the uncertainty of the natural gas truck market, natural gas fueling stations are on the decline. As of September, there is 822 public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations in the United States and 54 liquid NG (LNG) stations, according to Tam.

“This translates to 15 fewer public CNG stations and no change to the number of public LNG stations since mid-June 2022,” he said. “Given the existing station count’s downward trajectory, it isn’t a surprise that planned CNG stations are also contracting.”

The number of planned public CNG stations dropped 38% in comparison to data from 2021. But there are also private CNG stations that can provide natural gas.

“It is worth noting that private U.S. stations also exist and are being planned,” Tam said. “These currently include 4,572 existing stations and six planned sites, a decrease of 31 existing stations from last quarter, but we presume these are temporarily offline, rather than shuttered.”

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