FreightWaves reported that Intracoastal Trucking, a 100-truck, 600-trailer truckload carrier based in the Northeast, is currently running a two-week demo of a Tesla Semi on some of the region’s most demanding urban delivery corridors. According to the report, the company’s leader, Bob Lewis, projects savings of about $0.65 per mile on fuel and maintenance, and plans to add five of the electric trucks to the fleet as early as next year if the economics hold up.
Two Drivers, Two Divergent Impressions
FreightWaves reported that Intracoastal put two drivers on the truck. One performed a stop-and-go shuttle operation and praised the acceleration, ride quietness, and cab visibility. The other ran roughly 180-mile lengths of haul through Paterson, New Jersey, Astoria, Queens, and Long Island before returning via the Cross Bronx Expressway. That driver discovered the truck required active energy management — leaning on cruise control and regenerative braking rather than the friction brake — and on one run nearly depleted the battery before returning.
“He actually pressed the battery charge and almost didn’t get back,” Lewis told FreightWaves. “So he found that he had to manage the truck by using more of the cruise control. The regenerative braking is definitely a thing.”
Where the $0.65-Per-Mile Savings Come From
According to FreightWaves, the projected savings stem from the elimination of engine oil, filters, a transmission, turbocharger, DPF, and DEF system. Lewis also cited reduced downtime as an underappreciated variable, noting it is not uncommon for a conventional truck to sit for a week waiting on parts — a cost that rarely gets fully accounted for.
“Between the maintenance and the fuel, I mean, we’re looking at probably maybe $0.65 per mile savings.” — Bob Lewis, Intracoastal Trucking
The long-range Tesla Semi is rated at 525 miles; a shorter-range variant is rated at 325 miles. FreightWaves noted that Intracoastal has not achieved 525 miles in real-world operation.
| Tesla Semi Variant | Range Rating | Real-World Achievement at Intracoastal |
|---|---|---|
| Long-range | 525 miles | Not achieved in the two-week demo |
| Short-range | 325 miles | Not reported |
Charging Infrastructure Remains the Bottleneck
Charging infrastructure is the sharpest constraint for Northeast operators, according to FreightWaves. The only location where Intracoastal can currently charge the demo truck is in Elizabeth, New Jersey — an 8-to-10-hour process to reach 96% state of charge using what Lewis called a “2.0” charger. Tesla’s Megacharger, which Lewis said could be installed at Intracoastal’s facility, cuts that to 20 minutes, but FreightWaves reported that there is no Megacharger coverage in the Lehigh Valley, where the carrier runs significant freight volume. Tesla has indicated it will place Megachargers at truck stops across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, though no firm timeline was given.
The Route That Could Justify the First Five Semis
FreightWaves reported that the business case sharpens considerably on predictable, short routes. Intracoastal runs 6,000 loads per year on an 8-mile shuttle between a manufacturing plant and a co-packer, and that use case is where the carrier intends to deploy its first five Semis, targeted for delivery in 2027. The demo was originally initiated at the request of a customer with zero-emissions goals, and Lewis noted that other prospective customers — ones Intracoastal does not currently haul for — have reached out after learning about the demo, citing their own sustainability requirements.
Center Seat and Telematics: The Operational Adjustments
The cab’s center-seat driving position drew initial hesitation from drivers, who instinctively compensated for lane position as they would from a left-side seat. According to Lewis, that adjustment largely resolved itself within about a day of driving. Real-time telematics accessible via smartphone — showing speed, power consumption, cab temperature, and charging status — have also given Lewis visibility into daily operations he described as a notable operational advantage.
The two-week demo is ongoing, and the order decision for the five Semis will hinge on the economic validation. FreightWaves’ report, published August 17, 2026, suggests the truck’s viability for Northeast routes is promising but still conditioned on charging network expansion.
Sources:
