When it comes to fleet sustainability at Wegmans, we have switched our focus from diesel efficiency to diesel elimination through the use of alternative fuels, electrification, and collaborative partnerships with technology suppliers.

Today, we have 175 trucks – 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors, with another 49 on order. The impact of those CNG trucks will change our footprint in Rochester from 80% diesel, to 80% natural gas. That’s 880,000 gallons of diesel eliminated annually.

But we’re not stopping there. We continue to explore new technologies with the ultimate goal of having a fleet that is net carbon zero, or net carbon negative, if possible. Last month, we took a look at Hyliion’s Hypertruck ERX, its next generation electric powertrain that’s recharged by an onboard natural gas generator and has the potential, through renewable natural gas, to be a net carbon negative vehicle.

“With three fully-electric class 8 truck pilots planned for next year, we’re excited about what the future holds, and hopeful that as more and more of these technologies become available, we’ll be able to fit them into our operations,” says Matt Harris, Wegmans sustainability manager for energy and fleet technology.