Are FedEx Trucks Air Conditioned in 2024? Everything You Need to Know

With extreme heat waves becoming more common, the question of whether delivery trucks have air conditioning is crucial. For FedEx, a company operating tens of thousands of vehicles across all climates, it‘s especially important.

So are FedEx trucks air conditioned? Do drivers have respite from sweltering temperatures? In this definitive guide, we‘ll uncover everything you need to know about A/C in FedEx‘s massive fleet.

An Overview of FedEx‘s Air Conditioned Vehicles

FedEx operates approximately 90,000 vehicles across its Express, Ground, Freight, and Services divisions. Here‘s a breakdown of how many are air conditioned:

While FedEx‘s owned vehicles are nearly all air conditioned, the situation is mixed for the 60,000+ contractor trucks, especially in milder climates.

Why Air Conditioning Matters

With climate change causing extreme heat waves, air conditioning goes from luxury to necessity.

• According to climate projections, average temperatures across the U.S. will rise over 5°F by 2050. Days above 100°F could double in some regions.

• Inside vehicles, temperatures can spike 20-40° hotter than outside. Asphalt and metal surfaces exacerbate this effect.

When truck cabs reach 110°F or hotter, it becomes dangerous for drivers:

• "You get light-headed and fatigued faster. Reactions slow down no matter how hydrated you are," says 23-year delivery veteran Ron S.

• Per occupational health research, heat strain can impair cognitive function and reflexes, increasing accident risk.

Clearly, air conditioning is a safety issue, not just a comfort issue, for the hundreds of thousands of delivery drivers worldwide.

Why Isn‘t A/C Mandated for All Trucks?

Despite the risks of heat strain, FedEx only requires A/C in its owned vehicles. For leased trucks, it‘s optional.

The reasons behind this discrepancy boil down to logistics and costs:

• Enforcing an A/C mandate on thousands of 3rd party contractors would be extremely challenging. It could require complex coordination with vendors across North America.

• Retrofitting older model trucks with air conditioning can cost thousands per vehicle — an expense contractors may be unwilling or unable to bear.

• In mild climates, trucks can rely on open windows for ventilation, making A/C less essential.

While the current policy is understandable from a business perspective, some argue that FedEx has an ethical duty to improve safety. Either way, public scrutiny on this issue is likely to grow as temperatures rise.

The Forecast: More Cooling Ahead

While air conditioning varies across leased vehicles today, FedEx‘s owned fleet sets an important precedent:

• As older vehicles are retired each year, they are replaced with new models featuring A/C.

• This means the percentage of air conditioned trucks will gradually increase over time.

For workers spending long hours on the road in punishing heat, this cooling trend couldn‘t come soon enough.

The Takeaway

• FedEx ensures air conditioning in all 30,000+ owned vehicles, but not leased trucks.
• With extreme heat increasing, lack of A/C poses a significant health and safety risk to drivers.
• Though FedEx cannot mandate A/C retrofits, leased trucks will cool down gradually through attrition.
• Public awareness and corporate responsibility will play a role in expediting the air conditioning transition.

So while FedEx truck cooling varies for now, the forecast is looking brighter in the long run.