Saia, with a 100-year history in freight transportation, has introduced two Tesla Semis into its fleet, marking yet another company that is helping test the class 8 electric truck ahead of mass production.
Before fully integrating the Tesla Semi into its fleet, Saia conducted an extensive evaluation to determine the truck’s performance across several parameters, including range, payload capacity, grade performance, and driver comfort. The results were impressive. According to Patrick Sugar, Saia’s Executive Vice President of Operations, the Tesla Semi achieved efficiency of 1.73 kWh per mile during testing, aligning with previous testing and announced figures by Tesla.
Along with the impressive efficiency, drivers praised its smooth acceleration, comfortable interior, and ability to maintain speeds on steep inclines even with heavy payloads, echoing similar sentiments from PepsiCo drivers.
“We were very impressed with the Tesla Semi as it demonstrated an ability to handle both local and longer haul applications while still delivering notable power and efficiency. During a demonstration earlier this year, we achieved 1.73 kWh per mile. Our drivers were equally impressed, noting the smooth acceleration, comfortable design, and its ability to maintain speeds on steep inclines, even while hauling heavy payloads. This feedback underscores the enormous potential of the Tesla Semi,” said Sugar.
With Saia’s Tesla Semis currently based in California, they are already being deployed in real-world operations. Remarkably, the trucks have been in active use for over a month, yet had not been spotted by fans, as revealed by Dan Priestley, Sr. Manager, Semi Truck Engineering at Tesla on X.
Along with Saia, Tesla has also delivered Semis to PepsiCo, Costco, Walmart, Sysco, US Foods, DHL, and Martin Brower.
Tesla is currently building its Semi manufacturing facility on the grounds of Giga Nevada. The facility is expected to be completed in 2025, with mass production of the Semi starting soon thereafter and the first customer deliveries taking place in early 2026. Once complete, the factory will be able to produce 50,000 Semis annually.
We’re excited to announce the introduction of @Tesla Semi trucks to our fleet! Our investment with Tesla is a testament to our commitment to sustainability as we work to embrace our responsibility to the environment and the communities in which we operate. #saialtlfrieght pic.twitter.com/cn2WwhLtZG
— SaiaLTLFreight (@Saia_Inc) December 18, 2024
