Breaking news in transportation and supply chain: Wisconsin-based carrier Paper Transport Inc. (PTI) is putting the Tesla Semi Long Range to the test, launching a dedicated evaluation program in the Chicago freight market.
What’s Happening
PTI, headquartered in De Pere, Wisconsin, announced this week that it will run the Tesla Semi within its dedicated fleet operations in Chicago — a setup built around predictable routes and consistent mileage, ideal conditions for judging how a battery-electric truck holds up in real-world logistics work.
PTI CEO Tyler Ellison framed the move as an extension of the carrier’s long-running sustainability push, noting the company has spent over 15 years building out lower-emission options for shippers. The Tesla Semi now joins renewable natural gas and intermodal service in PTI’s toolkit for helping customers cut Scope 3 emissions without giving up performance or cost efficiency.
Why It Matters for Supply Chain
This pilot lands right as Tesla ramps up actual production of the Class 8 electric truck after years of delays. Tesla has said volume production is underway, with leadership describing an “S-curve” ramp — slow initial output that accelerates through 2026 and into 2027 as supply chain kinks get worked out. Tesla is also building out Megacharger infrastructure to support heavy-duty electric freight at scale.
For ocean freight and trucking stakeholders watching the electrification trend, PTI’s dedicated-lane approach is a smart proving ground: fixed routes and known mileage make it far easier to benchmark an EV semi’s range, uptime, and total cost of ownership against diesel before committing to a broader rollout.
The Bigger Picture
PTI’s fleet has already logged more than 87 million miles on compressed and renewable natural gas, underscoring how sustainability has become a genuine competitive differentiator — not just a checkbox — for shippers evaluating carrier partners in today’s supply chain landscape.
Keep watching this space as more dedicated carriers begin testing electric Class 8 trucks in real freight lanes.
Source: FreightWaves — Tesla, Paper Transport partner on electric semi evaluation in Chicago
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