Hydrogen Freight Gets Real at One of America’s Busiest Ports

A Rutgers-led pilot will run hydrogen trucks at Port Newark in 2026, testing whether fuel cells can handle daily freight work at a major port

14 Dec 2025

Hydrogen trucks have long promised a cleaner future for freight. At Port Newark, they are about to face the daily grind that defines modern logistics.

In early 2026, a new pilot program will send six Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks into regular drayage service at one of the country’s busiest ports. The $13 million project is led by Rutgers University with support from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Its goal is simple and demanding: see if hydrogen trucks can do the same work as diesel, day after day, without special treatment.

These trucks will not be confined to test tracks or short demo routes. They will haul containers between ships, warehouses, and nearby distribution centers, working on real schedules with real deadlines. Breakdowns, delays, and slow refueling will matter here in the same way they do for any commercial fleet.

For the freight industry, that realism is the point. Heavy duty transport is among the toughest sectors to clean up. Battery electric trucks are improving, but long routes, tight turnarounds, and limited grid capacity still pose challenges. Hydrogen fuel cells offer longer range and faster refueling, at least in theory. What has been missing is proof from live operations.

The Port Newark trial aims to supply that evidence. Over a full year, researchers will collect independent data on performance, reliability, and operating costs. The results could help fleet operators decide whether hydrogen belongs in their long-term plans or remains a niche option.

Infrastructure is part of the test as well. PSEG is coordinating hydrogen supply and refueling systems, reflecting a basic truth of clean transport. Trucks and fueling networks must work together, or neither succeeds.

The timing is hard to ignore. Ports across the country face growing pressure to cut emissions and protect local air quality. Decisions made in the next few years will shape fleets for decades.

Hydrogen still has hurdles to clear, especially around cost and scale. But as these trucks roll through Port Newark, they will replace promises with data. For an industry hungry for clear answers, that alone makes the experiment worth watching.