When a logistics company that’s been hauling materials for Tesla since 2012 decides to buy Tesla’s own electric truck, that’s not a press release. That’s a verdict. RoadOne IntermodaLogistics just announced it’s expanding from one Tesla Semi to potentially ten units serving its Oakland, California operations, and the real-world performance numbers explain exactly why.

The company’s first Tesla Semi has been quietly operating for months, hauling heavy aluminum loads between RoadOne’s Oakland facility and Tesla’s Fremont factory. According to RoadOne, the truck is achieving 1.9 kWh per mile with payloads averaging 38,000 pounds. That efficiency figure lands right in line with what other operators like ArcBest reported during their pilot program and actually beats the sub-2.0 kWh/mile threshold Tesla originally promised when the Semi was unveiled in 2017.

What RoadOne’s Real-World Numbers Actually Mean

The Tesla Semi in RoadOne’s fleet reaches 60 mph in 20 seconds and delivers a range of up to 500 miles, according to the company’s statement. But the efficiency metric matters most for fleet operators calculating total cost of ownership. At 1.9 kWh per mile and typical commercial electricity rates, RoadOne is looking at fuel costs somewhere between $0.20 and $0.30 per mile. Compare that to diesel trucks running $0.60 to $0.80 per mile in fuel alone, and the economic case becomes obvious.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first of what could be up to ten fully-electric semi-trucks into our fleet,” said Eric Weakley, senior vice president of operations at RoadOne IntermodaLogistics. “This investment reflects our commitment to efficient, environmentally responsible logistics solutions.”

The Randolph, Massachusetts-based company isn’t gambling on unproven technology. RoadOne’s partnership with Tesla stretches back 13 years. The company started moving aluminum coils destined for Tesla’s Fremont stamping plant in 2012 and expanded to a just-in-time warehousing and delivery system by 2014. Today, RoadOne manages substantial inventories of aluminum and steel coils onsite and runs continuous, multi-shift deliveries to keep Tesla’s stamping operations supplied.

The Charging Infrastructure Piece Falls Into Place

One detail that separates RoadOne’s deployment from earlier Tesla Semi pilots is the maturing charging ecosystem. Tesla recently demonstrated the Semi pulling more than 1.2 megawatts during a charging session, showing that the Megacharger network can replenish these massive battery packs during standard driver breaks. As we reported earlier about the ACT Expo, Tesla’s V4 charging architecture delivers up to 1.2 MW through a compact, modular unit that leverages the same technology as passenger vehicle Superchargers.

Tesla Semi program lead Dan Priestley confirmed that 46 public Megacharger locations are already underway across key logistics corridors, collectively hosting over 300 MW-capable charging posts. For regional operations like RoadOne’s Oakland-to-Fremont route, the charging requirement is minimal. The company reports the truck only needs to charge periodically despite hauling heavy loads across multiple daily shifts.

A Growing List of Commercial Operators

RoadOne joins an expanding roster of major logistics players now running Tesla Semis in daily freight duty. DHL recently put its own Tesla Semi into service after completing a successful pilot program where the truck averaged 1.72 kWh per mile while hauling 75,000 pounds over a 390-mile long-haul route. PepsiCo has been operating Tesla Semis since late 2022, and ArcBest’s ABF Freight completed a three-week pilot in 2025 logging 4,494 miles at 1.55 kWh per mile.

The California HVIP (Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project) data tells the demand story clearly. Approximately 892 vouchers have been requested or issued for Tesla Semis, representing more than 80% of all Class 8 battery-electric vehicle vouchers. To receive a voucher, a fleet must have an existing reservation for a Tesla Semi, meaning these aren’t speculative orders.

Nevada Factory Timeline Shifts to Early 2026

Tesla was planning to officially open its dedicated, high-volume Semi factory in Nevada in late 2025, but that timeline has slipped into early 2026. The company still plans to reach full production of up to 50,000 units annually by the end of 2026. As we covered when Tesla ramped up hiring at the facility, the 1.7 million square foot factory has completed exterior construction, with equipment installation now underway.

Dan Priestley stated during Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings call that the factory is proceeding on schedule, with validation trucks driving on the road and larger builds expected before online production begins in Q1 2026. Real volume production is targeted for the second half of the year.

EVXL’s Take

RoadOne’s expansion from one to ten Tesla Semis tells us something the broader trucking industry has been slow to accept: the Tesla Semi isn’t a concept truck anymore, and the economics are already competitive with diesel. When a company with a 13-year logistics relationship with Tesla validates the product with their own capital, that carries more weight than any press release.

The 1.9 kWh per mile efficiency RoadOne reports, combined with similar figures from DHL, ArcBest, and PepsiCo, systematically dismantles the argument that Class 8 battery-electric trucks can’t handle heavy commercial duty. Every operator running the Semi in real-world conditions is reporting efficiency better than Tesla’s original 2.0 kWh/mile promise.

Watch for the first half of 2026 to become a tipping point. Once Tesla’s Nevada factory hits volume production, the conversation shifts from pilot programs to fleet conversions. Legacy truck makers have been slow-walking electric Class 8 development, betting the charging infrastructure wouldn’t materialize. That bet is looking increasingly wrong as Tesla’s Megacharger network expands and real operators prove the Semi can do the job diesel trucks do, at a fraction of the fuel cost.

Editorial Note: This article was researched and drafted with the assistance of AI to ensure technical accuracy and archive retrieval. All insights, industry analysis, and perspectives were provided exclusively by Haye Kesteloo and our other EVXL authors, editors, and Youtube partners to ensure the “Human-First” perspective our readers expect.