Gordon Trucking is set to begin installing 2,000 additional side skirt sets on its trailers that will join the 2,200 plus trailers already using the skirts in the GTI fleet.

"During our testing, we saw a 0.3 mpg improvement, and that gives GTI a payback of less than 18 months," said Kirk Altrichter, vice president of maintenance.

With $3.80 for diesel as a benchmark price, GTI will save approximately $2.2 million a year in fuel costs with side skirts. If the fleet were completely outfitted, that number would rise to about $4.5 million per year, while saving more than 13,000 tons of CO2 annually. With the Freight Wing side skirts, Altrichter said Gordon Trucking expects a 10-year life cycle because of the quality of construction and brackets that allow the skirts to flex.

Gordon Trucking has been a multi-year recipient of SmartWay's Environmental Excellence award. ConAgra's 2009 Innovation Transportation Partner of the Year, The Truckload Carrier's 2010 National Fleet Safety Award, and The Washington State Trucking Association's 2010 Grand trophy. Gordon Trucking runs 1,700 power units and is the 24th largest truckload carrier in North America.