Robert Heath Trucking of Lubbock, Texas, will install fuel-saving aerodynamic TrailerTails from ATDynamics, also known as boat tails, across its entire fleet of trailers.
The 6.6% fuel savings achieved by the aerodynamic trailer tails at highway speed according to SAE J1321 testing will exceed fuel economy standards announced by President Obama this week. According to ATDynamics, it will become the first refrigerated fleet in the U.S. to outfit its entire fleet with the devices.
Robert Heath plans to have the trailer tails installed by September. The company pulls more than 300 temperature controlled semi-trailers serving Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California as well as other regional markets across the United States.
TrailerTails reduce the low-pressure suction drag behind the large rear flat surface of trailers. Robert Heath has already addressed the aerodynamic drag underneath their trailers with aerodynamic trailer skirting.
The devices extend 4 feet from the rear of the trailers to improve the aerodynamic profile of the trailer when traveling at highway speeds. The tails collapse automatically out of the way to provide unhindered access to the rear cargo doors of the trailers when loading or unloading freight.
Each TrailerTail installed on an average refrigerated trailer will offset the oil used and carbon emitted of approximately two passenger vehicles on an annual basis, according to the company.
