Electric big rigs are getting their own lane out of the Port of Long Beach, at least on paper for now.
The port on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with Lincoln Transportation Services and Wonderful Real Estate Development to launch a Green Truck Corridor linking the docks to inland distribution hubs in the Central Valley. Announced at a ceremony at the port’s maintenance facility, the agreement is meant to speed the shift of short-haul freight from diesel rigs to battery-electric heavy trucks and to cut pollution in nearby neighborhoods. Port and company leaders said the initial phase will test electric tractors and heavy-duty conversions on scheduled drayage and regional runs.
The memorandum of understanding, which lays out partnership principles, pilot goals and data-sharing plans, was first reported by the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Port CEO Noel Hacegaba joined Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna and company officials for the signing, according to the outlet.
Port Targets Zero-Emissions by 2050
The move folds into the port’s long-running Green Port policy and its stated aim to reach zero-emissions operations by 2050, part of a multi-decade effort to reduce diesel particulates and greenhouse gases. The Port of Long Beach’s Green Port timeline and State of the Port materials document those milestones and ongoing investments in charging, shore power and on-dock rail, according to the Port of Long Beach.
Who Signed On and What Trucks They Will Run
Lincoln Transportation Services CEO Jose Cardenas and Wonderful Real Estate Development President Joe Vargas were among the signatories, and the MOU outlines pilot runs between Long Beach and the Central Valley, the Press-Telegram reports. Lincoln plans to test Tesla Semi tractors alongside heavy-duty electric models from Voltz Innovations on the corridor, while Wonderful will coordinate inland staging and property support. Vargas is listed as president of Wonderful Real Estate Development on SIOR.
Tesla Semis and Pilots Already Rolling
The corridor plan comes as battery-electric Class 8 pilots are already running in the port complex. Companies such as WattEV have put Tesla Semis into service at Long Beach, and MDB ran a short drayage pilot this spring to test real-world port cycles. Electrek notes that the equipment can work in short-haul, high-turnover duty with the right depot chargers in place.
Local Impact and Next Steps
Port leaders described the MOU as a framework rather than a binding contract, saying it is intended to guide pilot design, charger siting and funding applications instead of launching immediate, systemwide electric service. The agreement also lines up with broader efforts, including the port’s Clean Lanes priorities and on-dock rail projects meant to remove truck miles from local roads, an initiative Hoodline covered as part of the port’s America's Green Gateway revamp.
Officials said next steps include drafting detailed pilot agreements, mapping charging-infrastructure needs and pursuing public grant funding to underwrite depot chargers and any necessary grid upgrades. Industry observers say a working corridor that pairs electrified drayage with rail and warehouse investments could become a template for other U.S. ports, a strategy explored in recent reporting on the Port of Long Beach’s long-range plans by Seatrade Maritime.
