ArcBest (ARCB), the multibillion-dollar logistics company, is purchasing two Tesla Semi electric trucks for its ABF Freight fleet after a successful 2025 pilot program that averaged 1.55 kWh per mile over 4,494 miles.
The purchase marks a significant step beyond piloting and into actual fleet investment for the less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, which is now expanding its electric Class 8 testing across a broader operating footprint.
From pilot to purchase
We covered ABF Freight’s Tesla Semi pilot last year, which demonstrated impressive efficiency results. Over three weeks, the electric truck logged 4,494 miles averaging 321 miles per day on routes between Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California, including regional Bay Area runs and rail shuttle operations.
The 1.55 kWh per mile result was a notable improvement over earlier Tesla Semi efficiency numbers. When Tesla unveiled its “production version” in 2022, Elon Musk claimed 1.7 kWh per mile. DHL got 1.72 kWh per mile in its own testing, and Saia got 1.73 kWh per mile. ArcBest’s 1.55 kWh per mile represents a roughly 9% improvement over those earlier figures.
