Uber Freight Launches Electric Truck Fleet Accelerator Program

Uber Freight, a prominent player in the logistics industry, has announced a significant initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks. At the annual Deliver 2025 conference held in Jacksonville, Florida, the company unveiled its dedicated electric vehicle fleet accelerator program. This program is a direct response to industry feedback and aims to provide subsidized access to Tesla's Semi trucks for fleet operators, ensuring a steady demand from Uber Freight's network of shippers and offering operational support to enhance vehicle utilization and long-term return on investment.

The initiative addresses key barriers to the widespread adoption of electric trucks, including high upfront costs, inadequate charging infrastructure, and uncertain revenue potential. By partnering with Tesla, Uber Freight aims to make the cost of Tesla Semi trucks comparable to that of diesel trucks through financing support. The collaboration will also optimize fleet networks, charging locations, and freight routes to ensure seamless charging during operations.

Tesla's Semi truck, introduced in 2017, is a fully electric Class 8 vehicle designed for long-haul transportation. Production began in 2022, with full-scale production expected by the end of 2025 and market availability in 2026. The Semi truck boasts an impressive range of 300 to 500 miles on a full charge, making it a viable option for long-distance freight transportation.

During a two-month pilot phase of the accelerator program, Tesla Semi trucks accumulated over 12,377 miles of travel and 394 hours of operation. Under conditions of 60 hours of cumulative charging, the average net energy consumption was 1.72 kilowatt-hours per mile. The Deliver 2025 conference, spanning three days, brought together approximately 200 shippers and industry experts to discuss a range of topics, including last-mile delivery, fraud, tariffs, nearshoring, artificial intelligence, cross-border logistics, and multimodal transportation.

Rebecca Tinucci, the newly appointed CEO of Uber Freight, highlighted the growing importance of logistics as a strategic priority for boards of directors. She emphasized that recent global events, such as import tariffs, rail disruptions, and geopolitical tensions, have significantly impacted shipping routes and corporate profitability. This shift has prompted a transition in logistics from cost control to a growth lever. Tinucci, who took over from Lior Ron, who is now the COO of Waabi, an autonomous trucking startup backed by Uber, noted that the company is focusing on enhancing logistics processes and connectivity.

Uber Freight introduced new platform features designed to streamline logistics operations and improve connectivity. The transportation management system (TMS) now includes an "order to cash" tracking feature, allowing shippers to manage receivables and payables directly on the portal. This feature is expected to reduce disputes by up to 20% and accelerate payments to carriers. Additionally, the procurement exchange platform has expanded its capabilities through scenario analysis, enabling shippers to build multiple bidding strategy models in minutes. This allows for cost comparisons, service evaluations, and carrier combinations, ultimately reducing costs and enhancing reliability. Contract award information can be exported to any TMS system, further integrating the logistics process.