It’s no big secret that fuel efficiency is the buzz phrase of the day, if not year. Not only are motor carriers increasingly needing to deal with the financial needs of their own bottom lines, but there’s always that constant specter of government regulation lurking in the background.
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For these reasons alone, the focus on fuel efficiency bears merit. Fortunately, the industry is barreling forward in its efforts, from the California-compliant trailer to hybrid-assist trailer motors. Today, we will take a look at how changes in heavy-haul trailers and aerodynamic trailer accessories are impacting the business.
Heavy-Haul Trailer Changes
Logic might dictate that in order to haul a heavy load, it takes a heavy trailer. The fact is, you don’t automatically think “lightweight” when you’re talking about long, multi-axled lowboys, extra-heavy-duty flats or drop decks.
As loads get bigger, wider and heavier, OEMS are loathe to interfere with the integrity of the trailer just for the sake of fuel efficiency, and for good reason. After all, the safety of the driver, others on the road, and the load matters most.
Although today’s heavy-haul trailers are not as heavy as those of yesteryear, advances are being made. Modern steels are far lighter and stronger still than the iron varieties used in decades passed.
A modern heavy-haul trailer might use T-1, or 100,000-pound tensile strength steel for the really big jobs. These trailers can come in weighing up to 70 tons or higher. For lower tonnage models, 80,000-pound tensile strength steel does the trick.
For both manufacturers and end users, one-hundred percent T-1 steel will not just do the trick, but capably handle extra loading. Still others reach the necessary weight savings by leaving off non-essential equipment and accessories.
Still, the lighter the trailer, the more it will flex, and the more it flexes, the shorter its lifespan. So consideration must be taken as manufacturers and customers help shape the heavy-haul trailer industry.
Aerodynamic Trailers and Devices
For many, aero devices have now become the norm. As states like California, and indeed the Federal Government itself, regulate the use of such equipment, expect to see more and more of it out on the open road.
In this case, some say government regulation might not be such a bad thing. Motor carriers end up making a small initial investment that generally pays off over the long term. Fuel savings add up over time.
As an example, a modern fleet of 53-foot vans may be outfitted with any combination of aerodynamic accessories, from side skirts to rear vortex generators. Add in a gap reducer and you could see a 1 mpg fuel savings.
For the image conscious, something like a ribbed-aluminum side skirt might do the trick. Nice quality equipment on good-looking trucks leaves an impression.
Air Tabs work well for fleets who have cost in mind. When you compare them to other devices, they accomplish the same thing – reducing the vortex – at half the price.
Ask any motorcyclist what it’s like to come up from behind on a trailer without a rear aerodynamic device, and the physics behind what’s happening becomes clear. A bare trailer leaves a swirling vortex of turbulence, whereas an aerodynamic device creates a smooth pocket of air.
Even fuel tankers are getting in on the action. New variations have come out that offer a tractor-mounted system quick-release system that redirects airflow from around the vehicle’s wheels.
Other, more basic variants include options that consist of rain guard and side fairings flanking the trailer. The fairings themselves can be manufactured out of lightweight, carbon-based materials or thermoformed plastic and be molded to fit the fairing set up on a number of trailer designs.
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With the trucking fuel saving landscape ever-changing, no doubt the industry must evolve. It will be interesting to see how aerodynamic trailers and trailer accessories influence the market.