Although professional drivers have long recognized the importance of fuel efficiency, the growth of personal electric vehicles has introduced the general public to the concept of aerodynamic drag. A.K.A, the force caused by air when a moving object goes through it to slow it down. Measured in drag coefficient (Cd), the lower this number is, the less resistance an object faces when moving through wind. As we just saw in long-distance speed skating at the Winter Olympics, aerodynamic drag played a role in determining the gold, silver, and bronze winners. Just as humans are, vehicles are also affected by aerodynamics. Many new EVs brag about their extremely low drag coefficients (Cd), which hover around 0.2, and even the worst passenger EVs and electric pickups average around 0.35 Cd. However, even with the aerodynamic improvements manufacturers have made since it became a focus in the 1970s, class 8 tractor-trailers average around 0.65Cd. Now, I just threw some meaningless numbers at you, so let’s make this the fun kind of math, the type that saves you money (and carbon emissions).
Aerodynamic drag increases as the square of speed, meaning that as your speed doubles, your drag force increases by 4x (and the power required to move increases by 8x). All of this to say, aerodynamics play a critical role in fuel economy, and fighting drag accounts for approximately 65% of fuel consumption at highway speed. Now comes the previously-mentioned “fun” part. EPA’s SmartWay reports that a fully-optimized truck-trailer combo can achieve fuel reduction benefits up to 20% through a combination of largely low-cost aerodynamic upgrades. Not only that, but as these technologies have matured, the barrier to entry has dropped; roof fairings, gap reducers, and trailer side skirts are now estimated to pay themselves off within 12 months and offer up to 12% fuel efficiency improvements alone. Maintenance concerns have also been alleviated due to modern kits’ increased durability and flexibility. Obviously, the payback period is subject to local diesel prices and average driving speed, but with operational costs on the rise, where fuel represents 20-30% of total expenses, fuel efficiency improvements provide substantial savings even when diesel is “cheap.” Just to play with a little thought experiment (assuming $4 diesel), a long-haul truck running 110,000 miles a year will save approximately $4,000 – $6,000 in fuel costs for $5,000 in truck optimization, and remember, that upfront cost only exists for the first year. For a fleet of 10 trucks, that adds up to $50,000 straight to your bottom line every year after the first.
More so than we have seen in the previous few years, shippers are reprioritizing resilient business partners, as sustained tough conditions have caused many logistics companies to shutter in the post-COVID market. Additionally, ESG requirements continue to expand. With new regulations like California’s SB 253 requiring large organizations to report their entire value chain’s carbon footprint, carriers with high-efficiency equipment aren’t just saving money; they are becoming the ‘preferred capacity’ for the nation’s largest shippers. Aerodynamic upgrades provide an opportunity to combat rising operational costs while future-proofing equipment to meet ever-expanding emissions standards. If you’re a shipper looking for low-cost ways to improve your sustainability ratings or a carrier looking to optimize your margins and thrive in the years ahead, aerodynamic upgrades may be for you!
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