Teslas hauling Teslas: Will this be the solution to on-time deliveries?

Courtesy: Alex Anderson

A few years ago, seeing a Tesla drive past you on your commute was a rarity. Today, you may pass a few and think nothing of it.

But this is something you don’t see every day: a Tesla semi-truck hauling Teslas. Recently, folks took to Twitter to show off what they had witnessed in Fremont, California.

https://twitter.com/sacramentotesla/status/1277749654281576450

Telsa has always been looking for a better way to haul its products. In a 2018 SEC filing, the company articulated why it wanted to get into the car-hauling business by acquiring Central Valley Auto Transport Inc.

“As part of Tesla’s ongoing logistics strategy to increase its vehicle transport capacity, reduce vehicle transportation time, and improve the timeliness of scheduled deliveries, Tesla agreed to issue shares of Tesla’s common stock in connection with its acquisition of certain car-hauling trucks and trailers from Central Valley Auto Transport, Inc. …, an automotive transport provider. We are registering these Tesla shares pursuant to registration rights granted to the selling stockholder in connection with the acquisition.”

The news of Tesla acquiring the California-based trucking company came in Q3 of 2018, a time when Elon Musk was ramping up production of the Model 3.

According to Business Insider, in March of this year, Tesla still hadn’t figured out an efficient way to haul. An internal memo obtained by Business Insider revealed that the company was looking for employees to help deliver Teslas on their off days and that they would receive overtime as compensation.

Fast forward to today and Tesla is still having trouble delivering. This time the company’s founder and CEO took to Twitter to personally apologize for the late delivery of his cars.

It is not yet known how vast the Tesla hauling production is. But on June 10, FreightWaves reported on a leaked internal memo in which Musk said, “It’s time to go all out and bring the Tesla Semi to volume production.” Read more here: https://fwstage.finescale.com/news/musk-time-for-tesla-semi-to-get-on-the-road

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now