Electric terminal tractors are moving beyond pilot programs and into broader fleet deployment.
A new study from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), Beyond the Pilot: Electric Terminal Tractor Adoption, Four Years Later, examines how electric terminal tractor adoption has changed since 2022, what fleets are experiencing in real-world operations and what companies should consider before electrifying their yards.
The research features Lazer Logistics’ 9+ years of experience operating battery-electric terminal tractors at scale, providing a real-world perspective on what it takes to move yard electrification beyond a pilot program.
NACFE’s 2026 study evaluates fleet experiences, purchasing behavior and market development surrounding electric terminal tractors.
The findings point to an industry gaining practical experience with the technology. Among fleets surveyed:
• 54% have moved beyond the pilot stage into partial deployment or full standardization.
• 76% report at least moderate operating-cost savings compared with diesel.
• 58% either adopted electric terminal tractors before other battery-electric vehicle types or have electrified terminal tractors exclusively.
The report also makes clear that electric terminal tractors are not the right fit for every operation. Capital requirements remain a significant barrier, while utility and infrastructure timelines can also affect deployment.
For more than nine years, Lazer has been putting battery-electric terminal tractors to work in real yard operations.
That experience has helped Lazer understand that successful yard electrification requires more than selecting an electric vehicle. Companies also have to consider the operation, charging strategy, infrastructure and site conditions needed to support reliable day-to-day execution.
NACFE highlights Lazer among the fleets demonstrating electric terminal tractor deployment at scale, describing Lazer’s experience as “fleet-wide scale.”
"Data from our 9+ years of experience with battery electric terminal tractors inform our belief that the yard is the best use case for battery electrification of heavy-duty transportation today."
— Chris Bennett, VP of EV, Energy and Sustainability, Lazer Logistics
For companies evaluating electric terminal tractors, the question is increasingly becoming less about whether the technology can operate in the yard and more about where electrification makes operational and economic sense, what infrastructure is required and how it can be integrated without compromising execution.
That is where experience matters.
Lazer brings together the people, process and technology needed to help customers evaluate and implement yard electrification around the realities of their operations. The goal is not simply to deploy an EV. It is to build an electrification strategy that works in the yard every day.
An beverage company partnered with Lazer Logistics to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its yard management operations.
In Southern California’s Inland Empire, a major retail corporation and Lazer Logistics, a provider of yard logistics solutions,
A large meat processing plant relies on transporting its perishable goods across the United States. The company operates within a highly competitive market where efficiency and reliability are paramount.
A large meat processing plant relies on transporting its perishable goods across the United States.
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