Under the U.S. SmartWay Transport Partnership Technology Program, aerodynamic trailer technologies are verified for their fuel-saving potential. Included are trailer boat tails with an estimated fuel savings of 1% or more; trailer side skirts with estimated fuel savings of 4% or greater; and advanced trailer end fairings and advanced trailer skirts, each with estimated fuel savings of 5% or more.
Five years of fuel-economy evaluations of trailer side skirt and undercarriage aerodynamic technologies conducted by the Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) group of FPInnovations confirm their value as well. The testing organization, which works in cooperation with the U.S. SmartWay Transport Partnership, Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada, reports that trailers with side skirts consume 5.2% to 7.45% less fuel, for an average of 6.69%, compared to similar vehicles without skirts. Additionally, trailers with undercarriage aerodynamic devices consume 1.43% less fuel on average (in a range up to 2.2%) than similar units without deflectors.
PIT testing of trailer aerodynamic devices was performed in accordance with SAE J1321 Fuel Consumption Test Procedure-Type II. For each test, unmodified control and test vehicles of the same general configuration were coupled to the same trailers for base and test segments and maintained the same load weights throughout the test period. Fuel consumption was measured by weighing portable tanks before and after each trip. Results presented reflect the ratio between the average fuel consumed by the test and unmodified vehicles.
MULTIPLE OPTIONS
A large number of suppliers are offering trailer aerodynamic devices for side, undercarriage and rear applications.
Freight Wing’s newest trailer side skirt, the AeroFlex Composite, joins the company’s AeroFlex DMP line. Last year, Freight Wing joined forces with Ridge Corp., manufacturer of Green Wing aerodynamic fairings that feature a ground clearance arc that allows trailers to travel over obstacles such as railroad tracks.
Laydon Composites offers a number of aerodynamic devices for trailers, including Trailerskirt TS225 and TS248 models featuring panels from Crane Composites.
Aerofficient fixed fairings for trailers featuring bottom panels that swing in and out to pass over obstructions are available in “toe-in” and “landing gear wrap” models and will not interfere with intermodal trailer lifting equipment.
DuraPlate AeroSkirts from Wabash Composites are available in sizes for 28-, 48- and 53-ft. trailers. The division of Wabash National Corp. recently produced its 100,000th DuraPlate AeroSkirt.
Utility Trailer’s line of side skirts features a bracing system that allows the skirt to flex inward and outward. Mounted on galvanized high tensile steel braces, the USS-120A-4 skirt is made of fiberglass reinforced plastic.
The SmartTruck UT6 Plus Trailer UnderTray system incorporates the company’s side fairing design and is installed inside the footprint of the trailer.
The AirFlow Deflector for trailers is designed to control airflow around the axle. Mounted on the axle assembly, the deflector slides with the rear axle.
CUTTING REAR DRAG
ATDynamics offers its TrailerTail to eliminate drag at the rear flat surface of the trailer. TrailerTail AutoDeploy systems eliminate driver interaction with the device altogether. The systems utilize radar technology mounted under the trailer to measure vehicle speed and automatically deploy the TrailerTail at 35 mph. Also available is the TrailerTail AutoAware system, which adds a driver notification light on the front left corner of the trailer.
Recently, ATDynamics announced a new deployment sensor for refrigerated trucking fleets operating satellite tracking systems. The optional system utilizes a modified door sensor to detect when a driver properly deploys a trailer’s TrailerTail.
Airman’s AirWedge II forces airflow to break vacuum at the rear of the trailer. Transtex Composite produces the Maximum Flex Skirt, which is designed to accommodate trailers used in intermodal rail loading applications.
One other way to reduce aerodynamic drag around trailers is to use wheel covers. The Deflecktor, designed with fabric and stainless steel wire for use on 22.5 x 8.25-in. aluminum and steel wheels and 22.5 x 14-in. wide-base wheels, does not require tools for installation.
RealWheels Aero Covers for 22.5- and 24.5-in. aluminum and steel dual and wide-base single wheels feature ventilating ports to help eliminate corrosion. Made from stainless steel, the Aero Covers are available with braided stainless steel air valve extensions.
For more information, visit these websites:
Aerofficient
www.aerofficient.com
AirFlow Deflector
www.airflowdeflector.com
Airman
www.airmansystems.com
ATDynamics
www.atdynamics.com
Deflecktor
www.deflecktor.com
Freight Wing
www.freightwing.com
Laydon Composites
www.laydoncomp.com
RealWheels Corp.
www.realwheels.com
Ridge Corp.
www.ridgecorp.com
SmartTruck
www.smarttrucksystems.com
Transtex Composite
www.transtexcomposite.com
Utility Trailer
www.utilitytrailer.com
Wabash Composites
www.wabashcomposites.com
