We talk a lot about cost of electric trucks (with incentives, electric trucks can deliver a cost per mile lower than diesel). But there’s another part of the equation that is important, too: electric trucks are more valuable. With EVs, carriers save customers money, turn more trips, and earn more business.
1) Green lanes mean faster turns and more revenue.
Time is money in drayage, and nothing eats your revenue like waiting. Green lanes at the port are designed to prioritize zero-emission trucks, letting them move through terminal gates faster than diesel rigs. That reduction in turn time doesn’t just feel good—it changes your daily math. More predictable, shorter turns mean more trips per shift or the same trips with less idle time. When dispatchers and beneficial cargo owners see you can clear containers faster, you become the carrier they call first.
APM and WBCT have green lanes already, more terminals are considering, and the recently announced cooperative agreement between POLA, POLB, and SCAQMD will likely result in further operational changes that prioritize access for zero emissions vehicles .
2) Electric trucks cut WAIRE costs for your customers—about $150 per visit.
In Southern California, the WAIRE (Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions) program puts real dollars on emissions. For customers subject to WAIRE fees, using a zero-emission drayage truck can reduce those charges—often by around $150 per WAIRE-covered move. That savings matters to shippers and warehouses operating on tight margins. And here’s the key: when you can offer a service that lowers their fees automatically, you’re not just a truck—you’re a cost-reduction tool. That makes your bids more competitive and strengthens customer loyalty, especially for high-volume lanes where WAIRE adds up quickly.
3) Scope 3 reporting is coming, and shippers will chase low-emission drayage.
With the passage of SB 253, California is moving toward requiring large corporations to disclose Scope 3 emissions—the pollution from their supply chains, including drayage moves. Once those reports become public, big retailers, manufacturers, and logistics firms will be under pressure to show year-over-year reductions. The fastest way for them to cut Scope 3 at the port is to shift freight to carriers running zero-emission trucks. Electric drayage gives them a credible, measurable reduction they can document immediately. Carriers who already have electric trucks will be positioned to secure premium relationships and steady contract freight.
Bottom line: electric trucks help you turn faster, help your customers save money today, and put you in the driver’s seat for the next wave of shipper demand.
Forum Mobility can get you set with electric trucks plus charging at a lower cost per mile than diesel. But its not just cost that’s important – it is also value, and electric trucks are a pathway to building new business.
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