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Salem Carriers will begin using two Freightliner eCascadias in order to service some Daimler Truck North America inbound logistics requirements in the Carolinas. The companies announced this on June 25.
A DTNA spokesperson said in an email on June 27 that the initiative is part of the company’s plans to expand the use of battery-electric vehicles on specific inbound lanes leading to Daimler Truck’s manufacturing facilities in the Carolinas.
Salem, a contract logistics specialist, services the Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant, Mount Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant, Thomas Built Buses in High Point, N.C., Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp., in Gaffney (S.C.), and DTNA Gastonia Parts Plant, in North Carolina.
Mount Holly is Freightliner’s largest U.S. plant, while Cleveland Truck produces the company’s medium-duty models. The Gastonia facility is responsible for stamping, metal fabrication, and subassembly cab and chassis components.
Salem’s eCascadias will be based in the company’s Statesville hub, N.C.
A Salem Carriers’ employee at a charging point. (Daimler Truck North America)
The initiative is a part of DTNA’s strategy to electrify regional logistics networks that serve manufacturing plants and distribution centers for parts within a 250-mile radius.
In April, Freightliner- and Western Star-owner DTNA announced that it would expand its use of battery electric trucks across multiple business divisions, including operations in North Carolina and South Carolina, Arizona and Michigan, as well as operations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
The Salem initiative will see Daimler Truck Financial Services and Cincinnati-based fleet electrification specialist Electrada provide an all-in-one charging-as-a-service solution. DTNA reported that this is the first time DTFS has teamed up with Electrada.
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DTFS will develop, operate, and maintain the charging infrastructure. Electrada and DTFS will also sign a power contract. The infrastructure will include a top-off charging station for vehicles on route next to the Mount Holly facility.
Salem is just one of the carriers that DTNA uses to meet its inbound logistics requirements in the Carolinas. The spokeswoman confirmed this in an email. DTNA aims for carbon neutrality by 2039 for all new products from direct suppliers in Europe and the United States.
By 2020, DTNA’s Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant, in Oregon, where Freightliner’s eCascadia, eM2 and eCascadia trucks are manufactured, will have achieved carbon-neutral manufacturing by reducing energy usage and offsetting on site emissions.
DTNA plans on achieving carbon-neutral production in all of its remaining truck manufacturing facilities by 2025.
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