DHL Supply Chain integrates Tesla Semi into California fleet
DHL Supply Chain is a division of DHL Group that specialises in warehousing and transport services for industrial customers. The division was one of the early adopters of the Tesla Semi, placing an order for ten units back in 2017. Almost eight years ago, it ordered ten vehicles. Following a test phase, the first vehicle is now set to join the fleet. It will join a fleet of around 150 battery-electric Class 8 trucks already operational at DHL Supply Chain in the USA.
The Tesla Semi for DHL is still a pre-production vehicle, which will now operate from a site in Central California. According to DHL, it covers around 160 kilometres daily, requires charging approximately once a week, and offers a range of up to 800 kilometres when fully loaded. The logistics provider has high expectations for the model: “During testing, the all-electric truck demonstrated outstanding efficiency, averaging 1.72 kWh per mile while hauling a gross combined weight of 75,000 pounds (34 metric tons) over a 390-mile (625 km) long-haul route.” Converted to kilometres, the consumption equates to 1.07 kWh per kilometre.
Based on these results, DHL plans to expand its fleet with additional Semi trucks in 2026, once Tesla begins series production. “Our pilot of the Tesla Semi exceeded expectations, proving its ability to efficiently haul a typical DHL freight over long distances on a single charge,” said Jim Monkmeyer, President of Transportation at DHL Supply Chain North America. “Integrating the Tesla Semi into our fleet is an important step toward achieving our decarbonization goals and delivering more sustainable solutions for our customers. With its range of up to 500 miles, the Semi unlocks opportunities that were previously beyond the limits of heavy-duty EVs, and we’re excited to partner with Tesla to make that a reality.”
Dan Priestley, Director of the Semi programme at Tesla, comments: “DHL has been a great partner to work with, and we appreciate their early and longstanding support for the Semi program. We are excited to support their deployment in North America, and their experience as a trusted logistics provider will help us make the product even better for future global markets.” Tesla recently confirmed in its third-quarter 2025 financial report that the Semi is expected to enter series production next year. The truck’s launch has been delayed for several years.
This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.
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