Fleet leadership update: Four actions fleets must take to sustain clean transportation momentum in a changing landscape 

By Lindsay Shigetomi

When EDF published Four actions fleets must take to be sustainability leaders today in 2021, zero-emission trucks were just beginning to move from promise to practice. Only a small number of fleets had zero-emission vehicles on the road, early models were still proving their performance and major federal programs like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act had yet to reshape the market. 

Five years later, the landscape looks very different. Zero-emission truck deployments have been announced for every vehicle class, manufacturers have expanded offerings and utilities and logistics hubs are planning infrastructure at scale. At the same time, companies face new political and economic uncertainties that shape how and when they lead. 

Much has changed, but fleets remain central to whether the freight sector reaches a net-zero future by 2040. The Four Actions for Fleet Leadership continue to guide emissions reductions and responsible industry influence. In today’s environment, leadership requires renewed clarity about how those actions show up in practice. 

Below, we revisit the Four Actions with today’s realities in mind. 

1. Commit to becoming a zero-emission fleet 

In 2021, we called on fleets to set public, ambitious zero-emission goals. That leadership remains and begins with clear, public commitments to fully transition fleets away from fossil fuels.  

What we have learned since 2021:  

Commitments alone are not leadership, but they are a foundational north star. Without time-bound commitments that define an end state and timeline, it becomes difficult to coordinate planning and execution across complex fleet operations. 

Credible commitments define the ultimate goal, a target year, and interim milestones that demonstrate progress. Defining the destination is only the first step. Leadership also requires a defined roadmap to drive success which is further structured by the second step: creating and sharing a transition plan.  

2. Share a transition plan with clear milestones and that prioritizes community health 

In 2021, we called on companies to create and share high-level transition plans that detail how commitments will be implemented over time. A commitment defines where the fleet is going and how it will get there. 

A credible transition plan outlines the operational pathway, including: 

• Interim deployment targets tied to capital cycles. 

• The timeline and sequencing of vehicle replacement. 

• Defining methods to achieve net-zero or zero-emission goals, including hard to capture emissions like Scope 3. 

• Infrastructure, future proofing facilities and charging plans. 

• A plan to communicate impact to senior officers, officials and the public. 

Leadership also requires recognizing the public health impacts of fleet operations as criteria for investment and prioritization. Diesel pollution disproportionately affects communities near freight corridors, ports and logistics hubs. Zero-emission trucks eliminate tailpipe pollution, delivering immediate and meaningful health benefits. 

What we have learned since 2021: 

Transition planning turns ambition into coordinated action. Plans align internal teams, prepare fleets for grant opportunities and surface operational constraints before they become barriers. 

Transition plans should be treated as enabling tools, used to guide and facilitate ambition, rather than being rigid. Fleets should not wait for perfection or certainty before beginning. Companies developing transition plans for the first time can benefit from external support, including EDF Climate Corps fellows and resources available through EDF’s Fleet Electrification Solution Center. 

3. Deploy zero-emission solutions today and share learnings and key challenges 

In 2021, we called on fleets to begin deploying zero-emission vehicles to gain real-world experience. Hands-on deployment is the most effective way to understand operational performance, infrastructure needs and cost dynamics. Early deployments inform transition plans, surface best practices and help unlock additional use cases over time. 

What we have learned since 2021: 

Deployments are most impactful when they are part of a broader strategy, not isolated projects. A single vehicle deployment can generate valuable insight, but lasting change occurs when deployments feed into a transition plan, inform future capital decisions and scale over time. 

As fleets integrate zero-emission vehicles into regular replacement cycles, operational confidence grows and long-term cost dynamics become clearer. 

Zero-emission deployments prove what is possible within a company’s operations. The next step is helping shape the broader conditions that make scaling possible across the industry. 

4. Use policy and industry engagement to make sustainability goals achievable and durable  

In 2021, we called on fleets to engage with policymakers in support of the standards, investments and programs needed to accelerate the transition. That principle remains true. No fleet can scale a zero-emission transition alone. Companies play a critical role in shaping the policies, programs and investments that make clean transportation possible. 

What we have learned since 2021: 

Since 2021, the ways companies exercise influence have evolved. Leadership extends beyond direct public advocacy — trade associations, industry forums and supply chain relationships increasingly shape policy outcomes and market signals. 

Companies with sustainability goals have both the opportunity and responsibility to help create a level playing field that rewards climate leadership. Companies can use their influence constructively to reduce risk, unlock investment and normalize zero-emission solutions. This can include: 

• Engaging responsibly within trade associations. 

• Aligning public positions with stated sustainability commitments. 

• Signaling demand for zero-emission vehicles to manufacturers, utilities and suppliers. 

• Participating constructively in regulatory and policy processes. 

• Supporting peer learning to reduce uncertainty across the sector. 

What matters is alignment between a company’s stated commitments, operational progress and the influence it exercises across the industry. 

Leadership under this action is not about visibility for its own sake. It is about helping create the durable market and policy conditions that make zero-emission fleets achievable at scale. 

Fleets, it’s time for your leadership 

The transition to zero-emission freight is underway, but it is not guaranteed. In a moment of heightened uncertainty, fleet leadership is essential to sustain clean transportation progress, even as EDF works to protect federal standards and incentives that are under threat of rollback. 

By setting clear commitments, sharing credible plans, deploying solutions thoughtfully and using industry influence responsibly, fleets can keep zero-emission progress on track and ensure the benefits of clean transportation reach communities where they matter most. 

In the coming months, EDF will build on this framework with deeper analysis of fleet commitments and real-world practices to further clarify how leadership is taking shape across the sector.