Walmart, Chevron Team Up to Debut First-of-Its-Kind Truck

Walmart recently deployed the first semi-truck of its kind in North America on a debut trip from Indiana to Southern California.

The retail giant said the truck — one of five it expects to add to its private fleet eventually — is powered by an X15N engine, a 15-liter engine manufactured by Cummins that runs on compressed natural gas. Oil and gas company Chevron provided the fuel for the truck by capturing biomethane — a potent greenhouse gas produced by landfill waste, cow manure, or other decomposing organic matter — and processing it into “renewable” natural gas.

The companies timed the beginning of the truck’s journey to coincide with Earth Week. The inaugural trip will wrap up at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim, California, from May 1-4.

Walmart officials said the project moves the retail chain toward its goal of zero emissions across the company’s operations by 2040. The company last year highlighted natural gas as one of several initiatives that could help reduce emissions in its large truck fleet.

Fernando Cortes, Walmart’s senior vice president of transportation, said the company proudly teamed up with Cummins and Chevron to create a lower carbon future.