Perdue Farms transports fresh chicken in trucks powered by 100% biodiesel
- Perdue Farms
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Perdue Farms, in collaboration with the Maryland Soybean Board and Optimus Technologies, announced May 29 the deployment of six Volvo trucks powered by 100 percent biodiesel (B100) to transport fresh chicken.
The renewable fuel powering these trucks is made from American‑grown soybeans, including soybeans sourced from within Perdue Farms’ farmer network, creating a direct connection between American agriculture, renewable fuel and food transportation.
This deployment represents the first known use of B100‑fueled trucks in the U.S. livestock sector, and demonstrates how collaboration across farmers, food production and transportation technology can explore practical, scalable sustainability solutions.
“These trucks directly connect the work of our independent family farmers to lower-emission transportation,” said Ben Hildebrand, the director of environmental sustainability at Perdue Farms. “It’s one example of how we’re exploring practical ways to reduce our environmental impact while continuing to deliver fresh, high-quality food. It also reflects the important role agriculture can play in helping advance practical sustainability solutions.”
According to analyses from the U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA, B100 biodiesel can reduce lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 70 percent compared to conventional diesel, while also delivering air‑quality and safety benefits, including lower particulate-matter emissions and a cleaner, nontoxic combustion profile.
Derived from renewable resources, biodiesel also supports energy diversification and agricultural economies.
This deployment is enabled by Optimus Technologies’ Vector System, which allows the trucks to operate on B100, and is supported through collaboration with the Maryland Soybean Board.
“For Maryland soybean farmers, this project shows how locally grown crops can play a direct role in real‑world transportation and sustainability solutions,” said Eddie Boyle, chair of the Maryland Soybean Board. “It creates new demand for soybeans while supporting cleaner transportation and stronger connections between farmers and the food system.”
Colin Huwyler, CEO of Optimus Technologies, added, “This collaboration shows the important role renewable fuel technologies play in helping fleets reduce emissions today. Deploying B100 in livestock transportation highlights how proven technology can help reduce emissions in traditionally hard‑to‑decarbonize sectors where reliability and uptime are critical.”
Looking ahead, Perdue and its partners will evaluate performance and emissions outcomes from this initial deployment.
Insights from these trucks may inform future opportunities to add additional units and expand renewable fuel solutions across additional routes and vehicles as part of Perdue’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
