US Foods, a foodservice distributor, announced Tuesday that it has received the company’s first battery-electric powered Freightliner eCascadia trucks at its La Mirada, California distribution center. Over the year, it plans to add a total of 30 electric trucks to its fleet at the location.
“Our ongoing investment in alternative fuel vehicles is a testament to our dedication to reducing the environmental footprint of our growing fleet. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone," said Dan Bennett, VP of fleet and sustainability at US Foods, in a statement.
The electric trucks also support the company’s efforts to reduce its Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5 percent by 2032. They will also help to reduce harmful fine particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emissions throughout Southern California, according to US Foods.
US Foods will continue to reduce GHG emissions by optimizing routing to reduce miles driven, deploying new vehicle technology, and investing in alternative fuels, according to the company.
The trucks can travel up to 230 miles and will be used to support US Foods’ regional delivery needs.
"We’re proud to contribute to the strong sustainability goals of US Foods by providing the Freightliner eCascadia to their fleet and share the commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of both our own operations, as well as the domestic and global supply chains," said David Carson, SVP of sales and marketing at DTNA, the company that produces the electric trucks, in a statement.
The company plans to build charging infrastructure at its La Mirada distribution center to power its electric fleet.
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