Stuck in the Messy Middle? Here’s How Fleets Can Actually Pick the Right Powertrain (Without Guessing)

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

🚛 Because nobody wants to drop six figures on the wrong truck tech.

Intro: "Messy Middle" or Corporate Buzzword?
The trucking world is changing faster than a DOT inspection in July. One minute it’s all diesel, the next it’s batteries, hydrogen, natural gas, unicorn farts—you name it. We’re officially in what Mike Roeth from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) calls the “Messy Middle.”

And messy it is.

Everyone’s pushing for sustainability, but how the heck is a fleet supposed to pick the right alternative powertrain without playing a multi-million-dollar game of Eenie Meenie Miney Moe?

Let’s break it down—with facts, not fluff.

Key Points: Choosing the Right Alternative Powertrain (Without Losing Your Shirt)
🛠 1. Know Your Routes Like You Know Your Wrench Sizes
Battery-electric trucks? Cool. But if you’re running coast-to-coast loads, good luck finding charging stations in the middle of Wyoming.
Short-haul, urban deliveries? Batteries might actually work.
Long-haul, heavy freight? You might want to look at hydrogen or natural gas.

Lesson: One size does not fit all.

A real-world example? Penske Logistics tested battery-electric trucks for last-mile grocery deliveries in California. Worked like a charm. But they tried the same trucks on longer routes and got stranded like a rookie driver with a blown clutch. Context matters.

⚡ 2. Infrastructure: If It Ain’t There, It Ain’t Real
You can’t run what you can’t refuel (or recharge). If your fleet’s powertrain needs a fueling unicorn that only exists in California, it ain’t the right pick. Mike Roeth and NACFE hammer this point: Pick what works where you are.

Translation: No chargers? Don’t buy electric.

Some fleets are even collaborating with local governments to build charging stations. But that takes time—and money. And most small fleets don’t have either to spare.

💰 3. Don’t Get Distracted by Shiny Brochures — Do the Math
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is king. Yeah, that electric or hydrogen truck might cost more upfront, but what does it save you in fuel, maintenance, and downtime?

NACFE’s white paper says it straight: look past the sticker shock. Your diesel rig might be cheaper now, but long-term savings from alt-fuel rigs might surprise you—especially when diesel hits $6 a gallon again (and it will).

Bonus Tip: Keep your eye on federal incentives. There’s money out there, but you gotta be fast—those grants disappear quicker than a dispatcher when you need detention pay.

📜 4. Watch the Rules (Because They’re Changing Monthly)
If your state’s shoving zero-emission mandates down your throat, you might have no choice but to go electric or hybrid. If you’re in a red state that still thinks diesel is king, you’ve got more wiggle room.

Pro tip: Keep your eyes on incentives and penalties. They’re changing faster than your ELD on a restart. New York and California are pushing hard on clean truck rules—ignore those shifts at your own risk.

Multiple Perspectives: Ain’t Just One Way to Do This
Old-school fleet owners: “We’ll switch when diesel’s outlawed.”

Progressive fleets: “Early adoption = competitive edge.”

Drivers: “Just give me something that runs and pays.”

NACFE’s take: “Test what works, kill what doesn’t, and scale smart.”

Even mega fleets like PepsiCo are running pilot programs—not going all-in, but easing in smart. The trick? Test small, learn fast, grow later.

Industry Response: Tools That Don’t Suck
Thankfully, NACFE isn’t just throwing buzzwords at fleets—they dropped a white paper that’s actually useful:
📄 “Navigating the Messy Middle” – breaks down powertrain options and gives real-world advice on how to test, track, and transition without torching your bottom line.

Bonus Resource: The Run on Less campaign offers data from real-world electric truck runs. Not cherry-picked, marketing fluff—but actual results from trucks on the road, under load, doing the work.

Bottom Line: Test It Like a New CB Radio Before You Bet the Farm
This powertrain mess isn’t going away. Diesel ain’t dead (yet), but the future’s coming in electric volts and hydrogen pumps. Mike Roeth and NACFE are yelling from the mountaintop: “Test now or get left behind later.”

You don’t have to overhaul your fleet today. But you do need a plan that doesn’t involve wishful thinking and TikTok videos of Tesla Semis.

Start small. Track results. Stay flexible. That’s how you win in the messy middle.

Call to Action
📣 Still riding diesel ‘til the wheels fall off? That’s cool—just don’t wait for a regulation or repair bill to force you out.

Want to start building your exit plan from the grind?
👉 Go to retirefromtrucking.com or hit the link in the description.

There’s a free AI course waiting that shows truckers how to make money online before burnout, blowouts, or dispatch finally break you