New aerodynamic trailers deliver efficiencies
The industry faces pressure to reduce carbon footprints, improve fuel economy and maintain productivity, and trailer manufacturers are coming up with innovative new aerodynamic designs to help. A roundup of the latest trailer technology uncovers a number of new aerodynamic trailers which have delivered efficiency savings.
The Cheetah system from Cartrwright group, previously showcased by Pulling Power, is the most widely-used aerodynamic system and is being updated with the support of CFD technology which is used in F1 racing design. The Cheetah Fastback, being tested by TNT in Germany and Holland, has been developed with CFD and adopts a variable air-suspension system to reduce drag by lowering the running height.
The Lawrence David FuelSave trailer delivered a 3.54% fuel saving from a standard trailer in a recent test and uses a rear sloping roof and rear tapered chassis and body to achieve its efficiencies.
A similar design is the SDC Trailers Aeroliner with a more prominent tapered rear body and chassis, doesn't recude trailer capacity and keeps air as close to the body as possible. With the Aeroliner SDC claim an 8% improvement in fuel economy.
Eco-Air from Gray & Adams is the latest in its Eco-range. The design includes tapered side-skirts, rounded top cappings and modified rear roof section, and claims a 10% fuel saving.
The Don-bur Teardrop, again showcased previously by Pulling Power, is possibly the most striking design, with a 4m version for the European market. The second generation Teardrop launching later in 2010 includes a sub-chassis streamlining designed to maintain smooth airflow. Again CFD technology is being used in the Don-bur design process.
Other trailer designs deliver efficiencies to operators in other ways, for example the Schmitz Cargobull UK Freepost trailer which has been improved with stronger rear frame, front corner pillars and cross-members and interlocking steel roof sections. The Krone Profi Liner Ultra has a revised chassis to reduce overall weight by 500kg.
Trailer design is an important element of improving haulage and logistics efficiencies. Operators can also optimise their existing trailer fleets by utilising Axscend trailer management systems. GPS trailer tracking enables careful fleet optimisation, reduce overall trailer fleet size and reduce capital expenditure on new trailers.
