Tesla Semi hits the port: drayage operator MDB launches 3-week freight pilot

MDB Transportation, a Southern California drayage operator, has launched a three-week pilot running a Tesla Semi on active port freight lanes — marking the second port trucking company to put the electric Class 8 truck to work hauling containers.

The Compton-based carrier is testing the Semi in one of the most demanding urban freight environments in the country, tracking energy efficiency, cycle time, and driver experience throughout the deployment.

Port drayage is the Tesla Semi’s sweet spot

Port drayage, the short-distance hauling of containers between ports and warehouses, is arguably the ideal use case for electric trucks. Routes are short, repetitive, and return to a home depot frequently, making charging logistics far more manageable than long-haul operations.

MDB specializes in exactly this kind of work, running container moves out of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Founded in 2002, the company is a fully asset-based carrier handling port and rail drayage, dedicated services, and full truckload transportation across the Southwest.