Drayage (i.e., the short-distance transport of shipping containers or freight) is one of the hardest use cases to decarbonize. The payload demands can be unforgiving, duty cycles relentless, and the refueling window short.
And that's exactly why the truck Savage Companies (Savage) and Symbio North America (Symbio) just commissioned matters to the hydrogen future. The companies recently announced that their first 4Ă—2 fuel cell electric drayage truck is fully built, commissioned, and preparing for real-world deployment at California ports and regional operations.
"Drayage fleets need zero‑emission solutions that don’t compromise on uptime," said Rick Breunesse, Director Business Development at Symbio North America (H2FCP Associate Member). "Only the transition to hydrogen-electric can deliver the performance and operational continuity they depend on. This truck was designed for high‑utilization duty cycles, maximum payload with fast hydrogen refueling and full‑shift capability, exactly the operational profile port customers care about.”
Built on a Mack Anthem platform, the vehicle has a curb weight of approximately 17,000 pounds, making it the world's lightest known ZEV tractor in its class, with a payload capacity that matches diesel tractors. The powertrain uses Symbio's 150kW multi-StackPack™ architecture paired with FORVIA's 70 MPa XL hydrogen storage tanks, storing 34 kg of onboard hydrogen.
Refueling takes under 15 minutes. The truck is engineered for 24/7 drayage duty cycles without mid-shift stops.
“Delivering this truck is a proud moment for our engineering and integration team,” said Rick Breunesse, Business Development Director and Technical Advisor at Symbio. “This vehicle is specifically designed around a use case which benefits from electrification, quick refueling time and diesel weight parity, this package has it all.”
Savage continues to expand its zero‑emission fleet strategy through targeted investments in advanced clean technologies. The completion of this truck marks the beginning of a broader pathway to transition Savage’s 70+ California drayage trucks to zero‑emission solutions.
“This truck will allow us to reduce our environmental footprint while delivering the same reliability and performance our customers expect,” said Tyler Flynn, Vice President of Procurement at Savage.
The partnership was formalized less than a year ago at ACT Expo 2025. Deployment is next.
"What makes this milestone exciting is the combination of lightweight integration and a modular fuel‑cell architecture that supports strong payload and practical fleet deployment," said Juan Andres Garza, Site Director at Symbio. "It’s a solid step toward scaling hydrogen‑electric trucks in real operating environments."
We’re proud to collaborate with Symbio (Associate Member) as we work together to build the hydrogen future. There’s never been a better time to join the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership - explore member benefits and opportunities today!
