Trucking companies dress up vehicles by adding skirts, tails for savings

Sept. 9, 2014
Those who spend a lot of time on the highway may have noticed a new feature on tractor-trailers. Increasingly trucks are being fitted with aerodynamic features called skirts and fins that reduce drag and increase fuel economy.

Those who spend a lot of time on the highway may have noticed a new feature on the tractor-trailers moving goods across the continent.

Increasingly trucks are being fitted with aerodynamic features called skirts and fins that reduce drag and increase fuel economy.

The panels under the body of the truck are called aerodynamic panel skirts or "California skirts," for the first state to make them mandatory. The panels that hang off the back are often called rear tail fairings, or trailer tails, or sometimes boat tails.

They not only save money, but make for a "greener fleet," said Pat Healey, president of the Penn's Best Inc. in Meshoppen, and allows for reduction in carbon emissions.

"For those reasons and others, the industry has become all about aerodynamics," he said.

Mr. Healey calculates skirts, which cost about $1,500 to $2,000, pay for themselves in three or four years and Penn's Best has them on about half their trailers.

Such aerodynamic features work best on long hauls where trucks have a steady, consistent speed.

Road Scholar Transport has the California skirts on trailers destined for out-of-state runs, said owner Jim Barrett. He found they can add two-tenths to three-tenths of a mile per gallon on a trip. In trucking that's huge, yielding a savings between $2,000 and $3,000 per year per truck, he said.

Positioned behind the dolly rigs and in front of the rear tandems, the skirts don't get in the way of servicing.

The skirts direct air moving under the trailer to the sides of the trailer, reducing air resistance of the rear tires and helping the tractor trailer cut through space.

Some savvy fleets looking to cash in even more turn the side skirts, conveniently eye-level to those in passenger cars, into moving billboards, leasing advertisements on them.

Truck fins, which attach to the back of the trailers and bend inward folding nearly to a point, shed air in a way that creates pressure behind the truck, pushing it forward.

For the longest time, tractor trailers have been big rectangles moving through space in a very inefficient way. Three sides of the trailer's container are smooth, of course. Wind tunnel tests showed that most of air resistance occurs below the trailers, where air hits trailer ribs, axles, suspension and other obstructions creating an air churn, said Brian Fanelli, director of sales for Wabash National Corp.'s composite division.

"Instead of tires catching that wind, the skirts move that activity away to the sides," Mr. Fanelli said.

About half of the new trailers manufactured by Wabash are ordered with the skirts option, Mr. Fanelli said. But the number is growing. Aftermarket skirts cost between $1,000 and $2,000.

"It's taken some education, but fleets understand fuel savings and this is a return on investment," Mr. Fanelli said Wabash claims between a 4 and 6 percent fuel savings.

Not every hauler dons tails and skirts. Kane is Able trucking, predominantly a regional carrier, doesn't see the payback on its mostly shorter runs and feels that in poor weather, slush, muck and ice will attach to the skirts, adding weight and negating some of benefits, said Kane spokesman Alex Stark.

Manufacturers say the skirts vibrate and are flexible, sloughing off any slush or ice accumulation.

"We support the movement toward aerodynamics and efficiency," Mr. Stark said, noting Kane recently added natural gas tractors and Great Dane featherlight trailers to its fleet. "We want to keep being innovative and progressive, but have to find those areas that match our business."

The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

Sponsored Recommendations

ZEUS+: The Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Solution for Smart, Fast, and Efficient Auto Repairs

The new ZEUS+ simplifies your diagnostic process and guides you through the right repair, avoiding unnecessary steps along the way. It gives you the software coverage, processing...

Diagnostic Pre- and Post-scan Reports are Solid Gold for Profitability

The following article highlights the significance of pre-scans and post-scans, particularly with Snap-on scan tools, showcasing their efficiency in diagnosing issues and preventing...

Unlock Precision and Certainty: TRITON-D10 Webinar Training for Advanced Vehicle Diagnostics

The TRITON-D10 lets you dig deep into the systems of a vehicle and evaluate performance with comparative data, systematically eliminating the unnecessary to provide you with only...

APOLLO-D9: Trustworthy Diagnostics for Precision Repairs

The APOLLO-D9 provides the diagnostic information and resources you need to get the job done. No more hunting through forums or endlessly searching to find the right answers. ...

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Vehicle Service Pros, create an account today!