AJR Trucking, a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and drayage carrier operating in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, announced it's ordering 50 Nikola Tre hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks from Tom’s Truck Centers.

Nikola and its Southern California dealer, Tom’s Truck Centers, will help AJR receive an expected $270,000 per FCEV in point-of-sale incentives through CARB’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project program. An additional $40,000 in federal tax credits is expected from the Inflation Reduction Act. After incentives, the company anticipates rough cost parity with its existing fleet of trucks in its postal service and drayage operations.

AJR Trucking and Nikola will explore the opportunities to deploy Nikola’s 10,000 psi (700 bar) mobile fueling solution at AJR Trucking properties in Compton, California, and Santa Clarita, California. AJR Trucking expects to receive hydrogen fuel delivered by Nikola to its terminals in support of the FCEV deployment.

“We are confident the future of trucking is zero-emissions, and based upon our operational needs, the Nikola Tre FCEVs were the only zero tailpipe emission vehicles that could meet our range, performance, and cost targets,” said Jack Khudikyan, owner of AJR Trucking, in a statement. “We look forward to working with Nikola and USPS to integrate the FCEVs into our mail hauling operations starting in Southern California and envision expanding the use of these trucks throughout our operations nationwide.”

AJR Trucking pioneered some of the first compressed natural gas trucks in operation for the USPS and in 2022 placed the largest order for Class 8 battery-electric vehicles from Kenworth to date. Additionally, AJR Trucking invested in an on-site CNG fueling station in partnership with U.S. Gain at its facilities in Compton. 

Deliveries of the Nikola Tre FCEV trucks are expected to take place between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.