Kemira Drives Sustainable Change with PacLease
September 4, 2025
As a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, Kemira is committed to socially and environmentally responsible action. Kemira products play a vital role in addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges: untreated wastewater. According to Kemira, roughly 80% of the wastewater produced globally is discharged back into rivers and seas without any treatment to ensure water is safe and clean before coming into human contact. Kemira changes all of that by combining over 100 years of expertise, innovative technology and chemistry.
With locations throughout the world, its North America headquarters is based in Atlanta. Tommy Haverdill is Senior Manager, Fleet Operations, North America at Kemira, overseeing the company’s 160 trucks, domiciled at nine locations. Those handle 80% of the company’s coagulant chemical shipments. Seventy of those trucks are leased through PacLease, using a mix of Peterbilt and Kenworth models with and without sleeper units.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with PacLease, working with them for decades,” said Haverdill. “They’ve always done well by us, helping with guidance and credibility in following through. Their support has been extremely helpful. They understand our business and match opportunities within our locations. That’s important since we’re a chemical company and not a transportation company.”
That help has also come in the form of steps to strategically transition Kemira from diesel power to alternative fuel. This aligns with Kemira’s corporate goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, while reducing its carbon footprint by 52% by 2030.
“Two years ago, we began leasing two Kenworth T680Es from PacLease in Fontana (California),” said Haverdill. “PacLease helped us obtain grant funds from California, and those funds helped offset the cost of the lease. We put in power pedestals at our location for charging. Those trucks have allowed us to watch how EV trucks work within our transportation system. Currently, those trucks are handling deliveries to municipalities in L.A. County.”
While Haverdill said recent regulation and funding changes in California have posed additional challenges for the company, it hasn’t changed the company’s goals. “Those changes don’t impede us at all,” he said. “Our roadmap may get adjusted as things are dynamic, but we’re very optimistic on EVs as new generation trucks with longer range have been introduced. What’s more, we’re looking at CNG as an option, and we know PacLease can work with us on those trucks as well.”