Best Transportation, headquartered in Port Newark, NJ, announced its first usage of a fully electric class A tractor. The company successfully picked up a container in Maher Terminal, also headquartered in the Port, and delivered the container to a Costco Wholesale location within New Jersey using the BYD tractor.

Best Transportation is the first trucking company to move a container from the Port of New York & New Jersey using an electric vehicle.

It is still early on in the development of electric powered class 8 heavy duty over the road tractor trailers. Unlike passenger vehicles which have become viable and popular, large trucks do not yet have the range or the amount of horse power and torque required to move heavy loads. Best Transportation is purchasing and testing electronic vehicles (EVs) in order to stay ahead of the learning curve and be ready when the next generation becomes available.

Best Transportation completed the test run as part of its ongoing sustainability program. In addition to the BYD Zero Emissions On Highway Tractor, the company plans on introducing four electric yard hostlers for use inside the Port.