Volvo and 4 Gen Logistics announced the purchase on Sept. 13 during an event at the Port of Long Beach with representatives from 4 Gen, Volvo, TEC Equipment, Electrify America, California Air Resources Board, the Port of Long Beach, and the City of Long Beach.
“4 Gen Logistics has a goal of operating a 100% zero-tailpipe emission fleet in 2025, and the Volvo VNR Electric trucks being deployed in Southern California are an integral part of achieving our goal,” said David Duncan, owner of 4 Gen Logistics.
“Feedback from our drivers showed that the Volvo VNR Electric was their preferred truck choice—from the quiet motor, smooth ride, and hauling power—which was a key factor in our purchasing decision,” Duncan added. “We look forward to putting the Volvo VNR Electric through the daily rigors of our operations and testing out the range of the next-generation trucks while hauling freight.”
The Volvo VNR Electric, which began production in the second quarter of this year, has a range of up to 275 miles. 4 Gen’s VNR Electrics will operate two shifts per day, making up to six runs to and from the Port of Long Beach and the company’s headquarters in Rialto, California.
“The zero-tailpipe emission, Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric is ideally suited for local and regional freight distribution and is enabling pioneering goods movement fleets throughout the region, like 4 Gen Logistics, to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Peter Voorhoeve, VTNA’s president. “We commend the Duncan family on their commitment to both sustainable transportation solutions and driver satisfaction, and look forward to working alongside our dealer partner, TEC Equipment, to support the 4 Gen Logistics team in maximizing the benefits of their Volvo VNR Electrics.”
Family-owned 4 Gen Logistics purchased 40 of the VNR Electrics with funding from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC). The one additional truck is being deployed as part of the Volvo LIGHTS project.
“Together, let’s show the world that zero-emission trucks can reliably serve the demands of the freight transportation industry, while bringing cleaner and healthier air to local communities,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “And let us lead by example.”
To charge its growing battery-electric fleet, 4 Gen Logistics secured more than 4 acres from the Port of Long Beach with a 10-year agreement to build and operate truck charging infrastructure. The site will include 60 350 kW charging stations in two phases at the POLB facility and another 30 at the Rialto facility, also in two phases, which will enable 4 Gen to charge its six-battery pack Volvo VNR Electric trucks (which feature 250 kW charging capability) to an 80% state of charge in 90 minutes. As part of the 10-year agreement between 4 Gen Logistics and the POLB, Electrify America will install the charging at both the POLB location and the Rialto facility.
“4 Gen Logistics has placed the largest order of Volvo VNR Electric trucks to date that will service the Inland Empire, the heart of North America’s goods movement industry,” said David Thompson, founder and CEO of TEC Equipment. “TEC Equipment’s Fontana dealership is invested in supporting the region’s freight transportation companies in navigating the transition to zero-tailpipe emission solutions and is proud of the progress we are helping make toward improving local air quality.”
TEC’s Fontana and La Mirada locations are both Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealerships and helped 4 Gen evaluate the Volvo VNR Electric configurations that would meet the needs of their daily operations. In addition, TEC’s Southern California service teams have completed comprehensive training to perform battery-electric truck maintenance and repairs.
