Tesla Semi climbs 8% grade with 70,000 lbs—diesel truckers take note
A former diesel loyalist calls Tesla’s electric truck "a dream to drive" after hauling 32 tonnes up a steep hill.
The most striking moment came when Wingfield, a former Schneider driver with a commercial driver’s licence, approached the 8% grade. In a diesel truck, drivers typically build momentum before tackling such an incline. But with the Tesla Semi, Wingfield waited until he reached the base of the hill before accelerating, a move that would have been counterproductive in a conventional rig.
“When I say it walked that hill, it walked that hill with no problems,” Wingfield said. “And I even had to ask the engineer that was with me, like, hey man, you guys, is this trailer even loaded?” The Tesla Semi’s performance on the grade was so effortless that Wingfield questioned whether the trailer was carrying its full weight.
The truck’s regenerative braking system also stood out: Wingfield used the physical brake pedal only once or twice during the entire test, relying instead on lift-off deceleration to slow the vehicle. This dynamic, he noted, could significantly reduce brake pad wear and maintenance costs over time.
The centre-driving position, another early point of scepticism, took only “a mile or two” to feel natural. Wingfield credited the truck’s camera system, which eliminates traditional blind spots, for making the transition smoother than expected. Backing the trailer from the centre seat, he said, was easier than anticipated, thanks to the real-time camera feeds.
How the Tesla Semi defied diesel-truck conventions
Tesla engineers made several key updates to the Semi between its Gen 1 prototype and the current production model, incorporating feedback from early fleet customers like PepsiCo. Among the changes: side windows were redesigned to include a smaller pass-through slot for bills of lading, screen interfaces were streamlined, and the cab was reduced to just three physical buttons. The production version also eliminates belts, hoses, and a differential, reducing the risk of roadside failures.
Wingfield’s remaining reservation about the Tesla Semi is its range. The truck’s 500-mile rating is an intentional trade-off: extending the range would require adding battery weight, which would reduce payload capacity. Tesla’s product team told Wingfield that the 500-mile ceiling steers the Semi toward regional, local, and pickup-and-delivery applications rather than long-haul runs.
Wingfield suggested that the long-haul segment may increasingly shift toward automated solutions, while electric trucks dominate shorter hauls where their efficiency and lower maintenance costs make them a more practical choice.
Why Tesla’s 500-mile range is a calculated trade-off
Despite these advancements, Tesla remains far short of its 2017 production target of 200,000 Semi units.
“When I say it walked that hill, it walked that hill with no problems. And I even had to ask the engineer that was with me, like, hey man, you guys, is this trailer even loaded?”
Adam Wingfield·FreightWaves Industry Analyst and Former Truck Driver
The Tesla Semi’s performance on the 8% grade and its ease of handling could signal a turning point for electric trucks in the freight industry. While diesel trucks still dominate long-haul routes, the Semi’s strengths in regional and local applications, combined with its lower maintenance requirements and environmental benefits, may accelerate the shift toward electrification in trucking. For sceptics like Wingfield, the test drive was enough to change their minds. For the industry, it could be the start of a broader transformation.
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