Pilot Company and Volvo Group have signed a letter of intent to develop a high-performance charging network open to all battery-electric Class 8 truck brands to support fleet customers in their electrification and decarbonization efforts.

Chargers will be located at select Pilot and Flying J travel centers, which are positioned along transportation corridors and are well-equipped to serve professional drivers, according to a statement from the two companies. Pilot Company said it recently embarked on a $1 billion ‘New Horizons’ initiative to upgrade and prepare its locations for the future of travel, further enabling the development of charging networks for both passenger vehicles and Class 8 trucks. Chargers will be installed at mutually identified travel center locations based on customer needs, current and anticipated battery-electric truck density, and the availability of public funding to support infrastructure costs.

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“Pilot Company is eager to help our customers attain their sustainability goals by partnering with the Volvo Group to develop the infrastructure and systems needed to move towards a more decarbonized future,” said Shameek Konar, CEO of Pilot Company. “Volvo Group’s proven expertise in electric trucks combined with our nationwide travel center network and robust energy platform leverages our respective knowledge and resources to advance the nation’s charging infrastructure.”

This collaboration between Pilot Company and the Volvo Group aligns with bipartisan goals to increase BEV charging capabilities and reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation industry, according to the joint statement. Through this strategic partnership, both companies are committed to overcoming infrastructure roadblocks in support of medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification, creating an ideal opportunity for public funds from federal, state, and local agencies to accelerate the development of a high-performance charging network.

FedEx Freight to deliver Christmas trees to military families

For the 18^th year, FedEx Freight will partner with the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation to deliver nearly 15,000 live Christmas trees to military families through the Trees for Troops program. Since 2005, Trees for Troops has delivered more than 250,000 trees to service members, and this year, the program is expanding its efforts by delivering to an additional 30 military bases.

Each year, FedEx Freight drivers move fresh-cut Christmas trees from 54 locations to more than 80 military bases representing all branches across the U.S. The effort brings together hundreds of tree farms spanning 24 states–from Maine to Oregon–to help execute the program.

Trees for Troops kicks off Nov. 28. There are two ways the public can support Trees for Troops:

Donate a tree for delivery to a base at one of several official Trees for Troops locations. Some locations offer online tree purchase options for shopper convenience. Donated trees must be purchased by Dec. 5 to ensure pick-up and delivery by FedEx Freight.
Visit participating tree farms and retail lots and pen a personal holiday or supportive message that will be attached to a tree being donated to a military family.

A full list of participating locations can be found at ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org.

Trucker dies in I-80 collision in Iowa

A truck driver died in an accident on westbound Interstate 80 near Grinnell, Iowa Monday morning.

The collision occurred near the 187-mile marker, around 7:35 a.m. Sgt. Alex Dinkla with the Iowa State Patrol told WHO13 a mechanical error with a tire on a Chevy pickup truck caused the vehicle to hit the cable barriers. The truck then bounced back into traffic, according to the trooper.

Dinkla said two tractor-trailers slowed down so they wouldn’t hit the pickup, but a third truck did not slow down and struck the rear of one of those semis. The driver in the third semi was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Dinkla.

A passenger in the semi that was struck was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.