November/December 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 25
regulations. Th e U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Phase
2 regulations included aerodynamics as part of
its rulemaking, and in 2008, the California Air
Resources Board mandated the use of SmartWaycertifi
ed tractors and trailers driven in the state
of California. Regulations such as these have
driven the initial investment in trailer aerodynamics.
As these regulations continue to dictate
that fl eets become increasingly effi cient, aerodynamic
devices are an option
for fl eets to meet these effi -
ciency standards.
“Th ere have been and still
are in place regulations that
require some level of aerodynamics,”
SmartTruck’s Ingham
says. “Let’s say, for example,
that a fl eet put skirts on their
trailer so they can be compliant
and go into and out of
California. Th ey will notice a
modest improvement in fuel
economy as part of that, and
will be more open to other
aerodynamic devices moving
forward.”
While adoption of aerodynamic
devices was mandated
by regulations initially,
SmartTruck anticipates that
future adoption will be driven
by a desire to improve
effi ciency, because the initial
devices helped improve fuel
effi ciency.
“We foresee a trend of trailer
manufacturers providing
complete aerodynamic devices
as an option at build,” adds
STEMCO’s Piper.
This trend will be
compounded as the industry
explores alternative
fuel sources such as electric
vehicles, which are currently
limited by their range
between charges. Improving
overall vehicle effi ciency can
help extend the range a vehicle
can travel on the same
amount of fuel. “Th at fuel
in an electric truck is juice
out of the battery,” Ingham
explains. “One of the ways
you manage the size of the
battery is to make sure that
the tractor trailer system is
as aerodynamic as possible.”
“Another trend in trailer
aero products is toward
eliminating driver involvement,”
FlowBelow’s Butler
says. Drivers have enough to
worry about already, without
needing to deploy aerodynamic
devices at highway
speeds and monitor that
those (devices) are operating
correctly. Aerodynamic
device manufacturers are
working towards developing low-maintenance
devices that don’t require driver input.
“Fleets should expect to see more robust and
effi cient aero devices on trailers with little-to-no
maintenance in the future,” Great Dane’s Lee adds.
Aerodynamics off ers a solution to the effi ciency
challenges that fl eets are currently facing. Th e
economy is dependent on the trucking industry,
and the structure of the industry isn’t likely to
change anytime soon, Ingham says. So, the question
becomes, how can trucks and trailers be as
effi cient as possible, while still off ering a good
return on investment?
“Th e point is, aerodynamics matter, and they’re
going to continue to matter for a long time,”
Ingham concludes.
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