HOUSTON, TX – There is no time like the future, according to Sysco Corporation. As it looks to the evolution of the market, when companies are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, Sysco has requested 50 of Tesla’s new fully-electric Semi tractors, which will begin production in 2019. Sysco’s reservation is one of the biggest electric truck orders the automotive company has received from the food industry thus far.

“We are excited to begin the process of incorporating alternative-fuel trucks into our fleet,” said Tom Bené, Sysco’s President and Chief Operating Officer in a recent press release. “This reinforces Sysco’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility by reducing the environmental impact of our operations. In addition to the positive environmental impacts, we will also benefit from reduced fuel and maintenance costs and drive associate enthusiasm with the introduction of new and unique technology.”

Sysco’s partnership with Tesla is now joining the ranks of Meijer’s and Loblaw’s, as companies look to the automotive ingenuity of the trucks for ways to keep their pockets fuller and the air clearer. What makes these trucks so special is their ability to traverse up to 500 miles on a single charge while lessening the cost of cargo transport—all the while helping to reduce the global foodservice distribution company’s environmental footprint. Sysco’s initial request for 50 trucks is an effort to move towards a completely electric fleet.

As the industry looks to electric vehicles for adherence to eco-friendly business practices and as a new way to save money on transportation, how will the growing number of partnerships with Tesla affect the industry? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

Sysco Corporation