Path to a Greener Fleet

As we continue to grow our geographic footprint with new stores and a new distribution center, we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint. One area where we we’re making meaningful strides is in our private fleet. Once fully reliant on diesel, 76 percent of our heavy-duty trucks now operate on compressed natural gas or electricity. 

Compressed Natural Gas 
The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in our fleet isn’t new – we first introduced three CNG-fueled tractor trailers to our Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Retail Service Center fleet in January 2015. Two years later, we added 15 CNG trucks to our Rochester, New York, fleet. 

“Our early model CNG trucks were everything we hoped they would be from a diesel reduction standpoint,” said Matt Harris, Wegmans sustainability manager for energy and fleet technology. “However, when compared to our diesel-powered trucks, it was clear that if we wanted to continue increasing the ratio of CNG trucks in our fleet, improvements in the trucks’ performance were needed.” 

Our fleet team spent the next two-and-a-half years working with numerous partners to build a CNG-powered truck that offers the necessary power, performance, range, and driver comforts that would allow us to completely reimagine our fleet as diesel-free. Today, with 147 compressed natural gas trucks, we are on our way to achieving a diesel-free fleet by the end of the year. 

Electric Yard Trucks 
Our commitment to a greener fleet doesn’t stop at the tractor trailers customers are accustomed to seeing on the road. Getting those trailers and the products they’re hauling to our stores first requires the work of yard trucks, which are designed to move trailers on and off our warehouse docks with ease and efficiency. 

The job of a yard truck is never done, operating nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 2021, we took delivery of our first two fully electric yard trucks from Orange EV, the leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) providing industrial fleets with heavy-duty electric vehicle solutions. At a top speed of 15 miles per hour, the yard trucks maneuver trailers around the yard, offering 20-plus hours of run time. In just four to six hours, they are fully recharged and ready for the next shift. 

“The fully electric yard trucks are a great example of the importance of using electrification in the right application,” explains Matt. “With 20 hours of run time, they fit seamlessly into our operation, and each one eliminates 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel annually, not to mention the 85% reduction in maintenance they offer.” 

In 2022, we added another six fully electric yard trucks between our operations in Pottsville and Rochester, and in 2024, we eliminated all remaining diesel-powered yard trucks, for a total of 17 electric yard trucks between our three service centers.