Survey Says: Major Carriers See Diesel Continuing Dominance

PGT Holdings described a "wait-and-see approach" regarding electric truck adoption and alternative fuels. (PGT Holdings)

Prominent for-hire motor carriers generally agree that diesel will remain the trucking industry's predominant fuel well into the future.

The commercial vehicle emissions landscape has changed significantly during the past year with the rollback of greenhouse gas emissions regulations and electric vehicle mandates at the federal and state levels.

However, stricter nitrogen oxide emission limits are still set to go into effect in 2027. Meanwhile, diesel prices surged amid the U.S. military conflict with Iran.

Large and midsize motor carriers from various segments of the trucking industry outlined their views on the future of diesel and alternative fuels and powertrains as part of their responses to Transport Topics’ annual survey of for-hire carriers for its Top 100 list.

TT has curated the following comments from those survey submissions.

“We have several service centers in major markets currently operating on 100% biodiesel, and that seems to be a very positive step in meeting demands of greener energy while balancing the requirements of our business. EVs fail to meet demands of both P&D and linehaul. We have them, and the drivers that use them love them, but they are not cost-effective nor efficient for the LTL world. They are too expensive, are undersupported by energy infrastructure, and they simply cannot travel enough miles before recharges are necessary to meet business needs.” — Oak Harbor Freight Lines

“We still believe strongly that diesel will be the most prominent power source for years to come. … The [total cost of ownership] for alternative-fuel vehicles that are not significantly supported with grant funding just isn’t there. All that being said, we have completed successful pilots with Tesla Semi and, with the help of significant grant funds, are hopeful we can implement some of their trucks soon at near equal TCO.” — C.R. England

“We believe that diesel will remain the primary power source in heavy-duty trucking for the foreseeable future, even as the regulatory and energy landscape evolves. … In the near term, the most viable alternative is renewable diesel (hydrotreated vegetable oil), which can be used as a drop-in replacement without new equipment or infrastructure. It allows fleets to reduce emissions immediately while maintaining uptime and operational flexibility. … The most realistic path forward is not a full replacement of diesel, but a multifuel ecosystem. Diesel — augmented by renewable fuels — will remain the backbone of the industry, while electric and hydrogen solutions expand into the segments where they make operational and economic sense.” — Gulf Winds International

“We believe the transition away from diesel will not be defined by a single alternative but by a portfolio of solutions. In the near term, renewable diesel and natural gas offer the most practical and scalable path. Over time, electrification will play a growing role in dedicated and regional applications, while hydrogen holds long-term promise for longhaul operations.” — Transervice Logistics/Lily Transportation

“We do not foresee diesel engines going away in the near future. We utilize biodiesel and are testing electric straight trucks. We believe hydrogen combustion could be the future.” — Dayton Freight Lines

“In the region we operate, the infrastructure is really not in place to extensively deploy alternate-fuel equipment. We are always trying to improve our specs to optimize the fuel economy of the fleet during all replacement cycles.” — System Freight

“We are not currently looking at alternative fuel power equipment until the viability and reliability improves. I think the future of diesel-powered trucks is still strong, and reasonable alternatives might be measured in decades away.” — Apache Logistics

“Diesel will remain the backbone of trucking for the foreseeable future. It continues to deliver the reliability, range and infrastructure needed to support time-sensitive freight, especially in regional networks like ours. At Hogland Transfer Co., we evaluate alternative fuels closely, but the infrastructure and technology for electric and hydrogen solutions are not yet mature enough in our markets to support our service model at scale. Range limitations, payload trade-offs and charging availability remain real constraints. In the near term, renewable diesel and biodiesel show the most promise as they offer emissions benefits without operational disruption. Longer term, battery-electric and hydrogen will play a role as infrastructure and performance improve. For now, diesel remains the most viable and dependable option for delivering consistent service to our customers.” — Hogland Transfer

“We use lots of renewable diesel and biodiesel now on the West Coast.” — Cheema Freightlines

Image

Many major for-hire carriers were bullish on diesel's status as trucking's primary fuel. (Melton Truck Lines)

“Longhaul over-the-road fleets will be diesel-based for the foreseeable future.” — Melton Truck Lines

“Diesel is going to remain the backbone of the trucking industry for the foreseeable future. Despite recent regulatory changes and uncertainty around greenhouse gas and EV mandates, the reality is that diesel still offers the range, reliability and infrastructure that most operations depend on today. That said, upcoming NOx regulations in 2027 and ongoing fuel price volatility are going to continue pushing the industry to evaluate alternatives more seriously. From our perspective, this isn’t a near-term replacement story — it’s more of a gradual evolution.” — Market Express

“[We are] currently operating compressed natural gas equipment and purchasing large amounts of R99 diesel. New engines will come with NOx improvement. Anything extra will only come with true participation from the interested shipper. Partnering will be critical to greater investment.” — Pride Transport

“We have been using more renewable diesel/biodiesel and will continue to look for ways to improve our operation.” — Peninsula Truck Lines

“We believe natural gas could be a bridge to hydrogen, but electric is not the right direction.” — Andrews Logistics

“Our fleet is predominantly diesel, but we incorporate other technologies as well, which is predicated on customer demand. Our Fleet Lab rigorously tests various technologies that we can then recommend to our customers.” — Penske Logistics

“NFI is a leader in operating electric drayage fleets across both the East and West coasts with over 100 battery-electric Class 8 tractors and yard tractors. We also have expertise in trucks powered by renewable natural gas.” — NFI

“We’re not operating any alternative-fuel trucks. We’re taking a wait-and-see approach. I think electric trucks will eventually become more popular as we develop our charging infrastructure and the technology gets cheaper, closely matching the cost of a diesel truck. The costs of an electric truck are still way too high to make them profitable.” — PGT Holdings

Image

Seagrove, N.C.-based truckload carrier Chief Express is sticking with diesel in the near term. (Chief Express)

“Currently, we are not utilizing equipment powered by alternative fuels, and we do not have any near-term plans to adopt them. Of the available alternatives, I believe natural gas holds the most promise for trucking applications, as it offers a more practical and reliable solution compared to options that rely on intermittent charging, which can create operational constraints for over-the-road freight.” — Chief Express

“Diesel-powered equipment will remain essential for many freight applications, particularly in drayage and longhaul operations where reliability and infrastructure are critical. At the same time, upcoming 2027 NOx standards and continued fuel price volatility reinforce the need to invest in alternative solutions and smarter freight optimization. … Looking ahead, we believe that no single technology will define the industry’s future. Instead, the greatest progress will come from combining cleaner fuels, electrification where practical and smarter logistics solutions that improve efficiency across the supply chain.” — STG Logistics

“Diesel-powered equipment will continue to play a critical role in the North American trucking industry for the foreseeable future, particularly in longhaul and cross-border operations, where infrastructure, range, payload capacity and operational consistency remain essential. ... Our forecast is that different technologies may ultimately serve different operational applications rather than a single universal solution replacing diesel across all freight segments. Battery-electric vehicles may become increasingly viable for shorter regional or urban applications, while renewable fuels and future hydrogen-based technologies may have greater long-term potential for heavier longhaul operations. The industry’s transition toward lower-emission transportation will require balanced collaboration among regulators, manufacturers, infrastructure providers and carriers to ensure technological advancement remains operationally feasible, economically sustainable and scalable across the supply chain.” — Alina Savo, director of marketing, Highlight Motor Group

“Diesel was and remains the most effective fuel for our fleet, and we don’t see that changing in the coming years. There is some merit to electric trucks for smaller/lighter loads, but when it comes to the tanker industry, diesel will continue to be the best choice.” — United Petroleum Transports

“We see diesel-powered trucks being utilized for the foreseeable future. We are currently running no trucks powered by alternative fuels or any battery-powered vehicles.” — Cargo Transporters

“The future of diesel-powered trucking equipment will remain important for the foreseeable future, particularly in longhaul and high-utilization applications where performance, range, infrastructure and total cost of ownership continue to favor diesel. ... We recognize that no single technology will serve as a universal solution. Instead, we are pursuing a diversified, data-driven strategy that evaluates multiple pathways to decarbonization while maintaining the service levels our customers depend on. We expect diesel to remain the backbone of the industry in the near to mid-term. … Diesel will remain essential, but its role will increasingly be complemented by more efficient operations and a growing mix of alternative fuels and technologies.” — Sara Graf, vice president of sustainability, culture and communications, Estes Express Lines

“We are not utilizing or considering utilizing alternative fuel sources. It just doesn’t seem practical for our business at this point. Being based in Minnesota, it gets cold here, and we know that in order to heat a truck, it takes energy, which decreases the truck range. I don’t see battery-powered trucks as an option with the current technology.” — Koch Cos.