Due to government subsidisation, the process of electrification is well advanced in North America. PowerTorque’s European Correspondent, Will Shiers headed to the United States to talk to a fleet getting smart about transitioning across to electric power.

Located next to Los Angeles’ LAX Airport, Griley Air Freight is a fourth generation, family-run trucking company specialising in air freight.

“My great-grandfather started trucking in our family in 1949, and this was his first ever job,” says Griley CEO, Katie Griley, who took over the day-to-day running of the company from her father, Tom Griley, two years ago.

She’s pointing to a giant invoice printed on the Griley Air Freight boardroom wall. It was to move 360 Firestone tyres to car manufacturer Studebaker, and paid $14.42.

CEO Katie Griley.

These days the company moves far higher value products, working for some of the big worldwide freight-forwarding companies, and transporting both Apple and Microsoft products.

Freight is collected from and delivered to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Most product is stored in its secure 3,000 m3 facility, prior to distribution to customers in the Los Angeles region, whereas other loads are shipped directly to customers’ warehouses.

Although airports aren’t considered, what is referred to in the US as drayage, short distance freight like containers, Katie knows that it’s only a matter of time before regulations relating to the use of electric trucks at LAX will be introduced.

With this in mind, two years ago she decided to get some valuable experience with the vehicles, and added a Volvo VNR Electric to the company’s 90-strong mainly Freightliner fleet. The truck has been leased from Zeem Solutions (see box), which also takes care of the charging.

“Volvo approached us, and we never even looked at anyone else,” explains Katie. “We run a lot of Freightliners, but the eCascadia didn’t come out until after we had acquired the Volvo. Anyway, we are very happy with Volvo.”