For more than four decades, Henry Albert, owner and operator of Albert Transport, has made a career out of proving that fuel efficiency isn’t just a function of technology — it’s a mindset. Since launching his one-truck operation in 1983, Albert has refined every element of his business to squeeze the most performance out of every gallon of fuel.

Operating out of Laredo, Texas, Albert hauls general freight across the country in his 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. As a longtime member of Freightliner’s Team Run Smart and a returning participant in the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's Run on Less, Albert brings a veteran’s discipline to his work. To date, he’s achieved a lifetime high of 13.7 mpg and averages 10.5 mpg, all remarkable results for a Class 8 diesel tractor.

Driver Discipline Meets Technology

Albert’s operation demonstrates that technology can enhance performance, but only when it’s paired with a driver who understands it. His results are as much a product of careful technique as they are of cutting-edge design.

“Drivers play a large role in fuel economy,” Albert explained. “Just knowing the spec and the product that they’re moving along, they have a lot of control in the way that they drive.”

He treats every mile as an opportunity to learn, constantly monitoring conditions, anticipating traffic, and minimizing idling — something he’s famously done just once in his career.

For Albert, efficiency isn’t only about profit margins — it’s about professionalism and stewardship. “I focus real keenly on fuel mileage for a couple of reasons,” he said. “One, it’s just the right thing to do — it’s good for the environment. The other is, it’s my number one expense as an owner-operator — my fuel bill.”

A Truck Built for Efficiency

Albert’s current truck, a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia, serves as a rolling case study in how equipment design and driver behavior can work together. Every spec, from aerodynamics to powertrain, has been optimized for fuel savings.

The truck is equipped with solar panels that power a dual HVAC system, allowing Albert to stay comfortable without idling — one of many small changes that add up to significant gains.

Albert explained that another tool in his arsenal is the Hendrickson OptiMaax liftable axle, which automatically adjusts based on load weight, reducing friction, tire wear, and fuel consumption. 

“Because of having a lift axle, I’m only powering one differential,” he said in a NACFE interview video.

Aerodynamics and Design in Motion

Efficiency for Albert extends beyond the tractor itself. His trailer configuration, which includes full-length side skirts and wide-base single tires, maximizes airflow and minimizes drag. Albert also runs wide-base single tires on all axles to reduce rolling resistance and unnecessary weight.

“Why have more tires on the ground than you need?” he asked. “I’m saving close to 750 pounds by having all these axles as single tires that are wide instead of a dual-wheel assembly.”

Progress Through Experience

Albert has been driving Freightliner Cascadias since their introduction and has witnessed firsthand how engineering advances translate into measurable fuel savings. 

Since its 2007 debut, the Freightliner Cascadia has seen fuel efficiency improve by more than 35%, with the latest fifth-generation model delivering nearly a 2% gain over its predecessor.

That steady progress — driven by collaboration between manufacturers and drivers — keeps him motivated. Albert emphasized that improving efficiency is an ongoing process. With each truck and every mile on the road, he continues testing new ideas and refining his driving habits to see how much more performance can be gained from each vehicle.

Sharing Knowledge, Shaping the Future

Beyond his own operation, Albert dedicates time to mentoring other drivers through Team Run Smart and NACFE’s educational initiatives. Helping others understand fuel-efficient technologies and practices is, to him, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job: 

“One of the things I really enjoy, especially since becoming part of Team Run Smart, is that it gives me a chance to give back to an industry that’s given me so much,” he said.

“When drivers see all this Freightliner Team Run Smart, they might be struggling with the technology. Showing them how to use it and getting them comfortable with it — knowing their day is going to be better, more profitable, and safer — that’s one of the most rewarding parts to me.”

Driving the Example Forward

Albert Transport’s participation in Run on Less: The Messy Middle continues a decades-long commitment to showing what’s possible when focus, technology, and consistency align. 

In a world moving toward zero-emission solutions, Albert’s work proves that discipline and efficiency behind the wheel remain just as vital to a sustainable freight future.