Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/409540
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2014 49 But even when 2017 arrives, not every fl eet will be able to run out and buy new equipment immediately. Most will con- tinue to run older trucks that nonetheless are doing surprisingly well on the fuel economy front. That prompted CCJ to conduct an online poll to help determine today's top fuel economy specifi cations among fl eets. The top fi ve most common specs showed an interesting blend of technologies, from the latest fuel-effi cient tires to weight consciousness and anti-idling measures, as well as a growing acceptance for aero- dynamic add-on devices. The results indicate that most fl eets seem to understand that overall vehicle fuel economy cannot be increased by sim- ply adopting one or two new technologies or practices. More fl eets appear to be taking a comprehensive approach, with multiple components and proactive strategies working hand-in-hand, day in and day out, to achieve consistently higher fuel economy averages. 1 Roof fairings It's fair to say that the tractor-trail- er aerodynamic revolution began with roof fairings. Long before fuel econ- omy became a priority for fl eets, it was obvious just from looking at a tractor- trailer that having airfl ow directed up and over a reasonably aerodynamic hood and windshield only to smack headlong into a tall, fl at trailer nose was an extremely ineffi cient way to design a vehicle. In 1976, automotive engineer Donald Herpel resigned from Ford Motor Co. and founded Airodyne, which soon introduced one of the fi rst three- dimensional roof fairings for the North American trucking industry. With cheap diesel fuel the order of the day, Airodyne struggled to interest fl eets – until the OPEC oil embargo later in the decade forced carriers to look for new ways to save fuel. Today, roof fairings are standard equip- ment for many North American fl eets. Ai- rodyne says modern full three-dimensional fairings, with closed sides and tops that can extend to the truck cab's rear, can deliver up to a 15 percent fuel savings and pay for themselves in an average of three months. Even more basic fl at-style roof fair- ings, typically found on daycab trac- tors, can deliver up to 5 percent in fuel savings. Airodyne says a full roof fairing delivering just a 10 percent increase in fuel economy can save a fl eet $6,904 a year in fuel per truck. Today, roof fairings are standard equipment for many North American fl eets. 5 4 3