DHL orders 10 Tesla electric Class 8 trucks

DHL Supply Chain will test the trucks at its customer operations in major U.S. metro cities, and they will be used for shuttle deliveries and same-day customer deliveries when they become available in 2019, the company said in a statement.    DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, has placed an order for 10 Tesla electric Class 8 semi-trucks.
   DHL Supply Chain will test the trucks at its customer operations in major U.S. metro cities, DHL said.
   The trucks will be available in 2019, and will be used for shuttle deliveries and same-day customer deliveries. They will also be tested for mileage efficiency on longer runs from major markets to other DHL operations across the country.
   In addition, DHL Supply Chain plans to evaluate the trucks’ impact on drivers’ quality of life and job satisfaction, noting how according to the American Trucking Associations, the driver shortage could double from 48,000 in 2015 to nearly 100,000 in 2020.
   Tesla earlier this week announced its base pricing for the new elective-powered semi following the truck’s unveiling at an event in Los Angeles a few weeks prior.
   “Factors like comfort and time on the road play a large role in driver job satisfaction,” said Jim Monkmeyer, president of transportation at DHL Supply Chain North America. “While we always try to optimize transportation routes to allow our drivers to be home same-day, we’re also excited about the potential to bring our drivers the comfort and safety benefits that the Tesla Class 8 truck could offer.”