North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)

What North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) does

NACFE is an independent, US-domiciled non-profit research organization founded in 2009 that produces freight-efficiency research, tools, and demonstration programs for the North American trucking industry. Its core products are the Confidence Reports (covering eight technology categories including chassis, idle reduction, powertrain, tires, tractor and trailer aerodynamics), Guidance Reports on emerging technologies such as electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and autonomous trucks, the Annual Fleet Fuel Study tracking adoption across major fleets (14 fleets operating 75,000 trucks in the 2024 edition), an interactive Benchmarking Tool, the bi-annual Run on Less demonstration series, and supporting educational content via podcast, video library, and workshops. The underlying platform is a research and knowledge operation built on longitudinal fleet data, payback calculators, and confidence matrices rather than software-as-a-service technology.

NACFE's primary audiences are fleet operators (UPS, PepsiCo, Schneider, Penske, Covenant), truck and trailer OEMs (Daimler Truck North America, International/Navistar, Great Dane), component and energy suppliers (Michelin, Cummins-Meritor, Shell, Geotab), logistics infrastructure (ProLogis), government agencies, and industry consultants. Distribution is anchored by a self-serve web portal offering free downloads with account registration, supplemented by direct consulting engagement, event presence at FTR, TMC, ATA MC, Forth Roadmap, ACT Expo, and the proprietary Run on Less series. The organization operates a remote, North America-distributed team led by Executive Director Mike Roeth with strategic alliance partner RMI playing a foundational role since 2010.

NACFE's revenue mechanics combine three streams: freemium distribution of downloadable research, hire-for collaboration reports and consulting services with custom project pricing, and recurring sponsorship and board-level support. Additional revenue levers include Spanish translation sponsorships and event underwriting. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue or funding totals consistent with its non-profit structure, and Mike Roeth's dual role as Executive Director of NACFE and trucking lead at RMI (a separate independent non-profit) reflects a closely coordinated but legally distinct operating arrangement.

Name

North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)

Legal name

North American Council for Freight Efficiency

Website

https://nacfe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NACFE is an independent US non-profit that produces independent freight-efficiency research, Confidence and Guidance Reports, an Annual Fleet Fuel Study, a Benchmarking Tool, and the Run on Less demonstration series for North American fleet operators, OEMs, and suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Efficiency Research and Advisory

akta.pro primary industry

Fleet Fuel & Energy Management (Fuel Programs, EV Charging Ops) (TLABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fuel, Idling & Emissions/Carbon Analytics (TLABAJAF)

Keywords

• Freight efficiency research
• Commercial trucking analysis
• Fleet fuel benchmarking
• Transportation emissions reporting
• Freight technology advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Various (Remote)

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Free Resource Distribution: All downloadable resources including research reports, Confidence Reports, Guidance Reports, and executive summaries are available for free to users with accounts on the website.
2. Collaboration Reports and Consulting Services: NACFE is available for hire to support industry projects or collaborate on mutually beneficial projects. Staff has decades of trucking industry experience and networks numbering in the thousands. Services include fuel economy tests, surveys, and research papers.
3. Sponsorships and Support: Organization accepts support and sponsorships, with opportunities to translate materials into Spanish and sponsor various portions of the organization's work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NACFE produces independent, unbiased research on freight efficiency technologies and practices for North American commercial trucking, offering Confidence Reports on existing efficiency technologies, Guidance Reports on emerging technologies (electric, hydrogen, autonomous), an Annual Fleet Fuel Study benchmarking adoption across major fleets, an interactive Benchmarking Tool, and the bi-annual Run on Less real-world demonstration series. The organization supplements research with educational workshops, a podcast series, and a video library to help fleets reduce fuel consumption and navigate the transition to cleaner transportation.

Product overview

NACFE operates as a research and knowledge organization offering a portfolio of advisory products and services focused on freight efficiency and trucking industry sustainability. The core offering consists of published research including Confidence Reports on existing efficiency technologies and Guidance Reports on emerging technologies, supplemented by the annual Fleet Fuel Study tracking technology adoption across major North American fleets. Supporting products include an interactive Benchmarking Tool for fleet comparison, the Run on Less event program demonstrating real-world efficiency achievements, and educational content through podcasts, videos, and workshops. NACFE also produces Collaboration Reports developed in partnership with industry suppliers. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather serves as an independent, unbiased research source providing decision-making tools, confidence matrices, and payback calculators to help fleets and manufacturers evaluate efficiency investments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Run on Less: A bi-annual freight efficiency demonstration event that showcases real-world fuel economy achievements by participating fleets.
• Confidence Reports
• Guidance Reports

Products and services

• Confidence Reports In-depth research reports assessing current freight efficiency technologies across eight categories (chassis, idle reduction, operations practices, powertrain, tires and rolling resistance, tractor aerodynamics, trailer aerodynamics, and trailer general), with confidence matrices, payback calculators, and decision-making tools for fleets.
• Guidance Reports Research reports exploring emerging technologies including electric trucks, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and autonomous vehicles, providing recommendations for fleets on understanding, planning, and deploying emerging technologies.
• Annual Fleet Fuel Study Annual deep-dive investigation into the adoption of fuel efficiency technologies and practices among major North American fleets, tracking technology adoption curves, fuel economy trends, and cost savings across participating fleets operating approximately 75,000 trucks.
• Benchmarking Tool Interactive online tool that enables fleets to compare their adoption of fuel-saving technologies against leading North American fleets, generating customized reports comparing fleet technology adoption rates to study participants.
• Run on Less Events Bi-annual real-world freight efficiency demonstration events showcasing best-of-the-best fleet operations, including Run on Less (diesel), Run on Less Regional, Run on Less Electric, Run on Less Electric DEPOT, and Run on Less Messy Middle.
• Collaboration Reports Custom research reports produced in partnership with industry suppliers and organizations, providing industry expertise for fuel economy tests, surveys, and specialized research papers on specific technology topics.
• Freight Efficiency with NACFE's Mike Roeth & Friends Podcast Regular podcast series hosted by Executive Director Mike Roeth featuring industry leaders discussing current technologies, emerging technologies, and best practices for achieving freight efficiency and sustainability in goods movement.
• Video Library Collection of educational and promotional videos covering Run on Less events, webinars, technology demonstrations, and thought leadership content related to freight efficiency and trucking industry sustainability.
• Workshops Educational workshops conducted by NACFE staff covering freight efficiency technologies, emerging technologies, and industry best practices for fleets, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fleets operating 75,000 trucks saved $512 million in 2023 compared to average trucks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010NACFE partners with RMI, an independent nonprofit that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions. The partnership covers the Run on Less demonstration series, electric trucks, emissions reductions, and low-carbon supply chains. Mike Roeth also serves as the trucking lead for RMI.
• EPA SmartWaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince NACFE's launch in 2010, NACFE and EPA SmartWay have collaborated on many technology and communications efforts to accelerate adoption of efficiency and lower emissions solutions.
• NPTC (National Private Truck Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2024, NACFE and NPTC have a partnership to bring sustainable technologies and strategies developed at NACFE to the private fleet sector through NPTC.
• ACT ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated event organization. ACT Expo is a major clean transportation conference where NACFE participates and presents.
• Clean Cities and CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated program. DOE-affiliated organization supporting alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle deployment.
• Women In TruckingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization focused on encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Trucking Associations (ATA): Largest US trucking industry trade association; covers policy, safety, and technology adoption broadly. Serves many of the same fleets (UPS, Schneider, Penske are ATA members) and overlaps on technology adoption advocacy but is policy-led rather than research-led.
• ACT Research: Commercial vehicle industry research and forecasting firm producing market intelligence for trucks, trailers, and components. Adjacent to NACFE in OEM and fleet audience but commercial market data rather than efficiency research.
• FTR Transportation Intelligence: Long-standing trucking industry market research and forecasting firm serving carriers, OEMs, and suppliers. Overlaps with NACFE in serving fleet decision-makers with data-driven insights, but focused more on freight economics than efficiency technologies.
• NAFA Fleet Management Association: Professional association for fleet managers across vehicle categories; provides education, certification, and benchmarking to fleet professionals. Comparable audience (fleet managers) but broader scope beyond freight efficiency.

Others

• SAE International: Engineering standards body whose SAE Buckendale Award has been awarded to NACFE leaders (Mike Roeth, Rick Mihelic). Overlaps in audience and recognition of trucking engineering excellence but is a standards and credentialing body, not a research producer.

Direct peers

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): NACFE's longest-standing core partner and co-producer of the Run on Less series; operates a Carbon-Free Transportation program covering trucking electrification. Overlap in mission (clean freight), audience (fleets and OEMs), and content (electrification guidance).
• International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Independent research nonprofit producing freight and heavy-duty vehicle emissions analyses; affiliated partner of NACFE on technology uptake studies in California and Canada. Same donor base, same fleet/OEM audience.
• Calstart: Nonprofit consortium accelerating clean transportation technology, including heavy-duty trucks; comparable member-based model with industry partners, demonstration projects, and policy research for fleets and OEMs.
• Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA): Clean transportation consulting firm producing heavy-duty EV TCO analyses, fleet deployment studies, and policy work; overlapping customer base with NACFE in commercial fleets pursuing zero-emission transitions.

Regional players

• U.S. EPA SmartWay: US federal program partnering with NACFE since 2010 to accelerate adoption of efficiency and emissions-reduction solutions in freight; comparable program scope and audience (North American fleets and carriers) but government-run rather than independent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NACFE_Freight
• Facebookfacebook.com/TruckingEfficiency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-american-council-for-freight-efficiency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)