Stemco says it has developed a fuel efficiency testing device that shows the results of using its TrailerTail aerodynamic product in under four hours.

The palm-sized DataLogger, developed with IOSiX, LLC., plugs into the tractor’s J1939 diagnostic port and accesses engine data. A Stemco field technician conducts a controlled test with the fleet’s truck, trailer and driver. Engineers then analyze the data to precisely break down how much fuel the TrailerTail will save that specific fleet.

The device’s testing protocol and filtering algorithm were developed specifically to provide a customized data stream, said Bob Montgomery, vice president of the company’s Innovative Tire & Mileage Solutions group.

The data stream isolates the aerodynamic variables while minimizing the disruptive effect that inconsistent wind, temperature and traffic can have when comparing different test runs to measure fuel economy improvements.

“TrailerTail technology has proven in numerous standardized aerodynamic tests that it reduces fuel consumption by over five percent at highway speeds,” he said. “But many fleets really want to know that it will work for them in their specific operation, not just on a test track or in someone else’s fleet. The DataLogger provides a means to prove fuel savings in a matter of hours.”

More than a dozen fleets have tested TrailerTail using the DataLogger with results consistently showing fuel savings of approximately 4.5% or 0.44 mpg, Montgomery said. These results are also consistent with fuel savings reported from fleet-wide TrailerTail deployments.

“Historically, trying to find the ROI on an investment such as this has required an enormous financial expense, as well as an intense study of fuel purchases and mileage data over a long period of time,” said Trevor Kurtz, of Brian Kurtz Trucking.

“In just four hours on a rainy, cold day in December we were able to obtain real fuel savings numbers using the DataLogger test. With over 70 TrailerTails now installed, we are consistently achieving the test results or better.”

Fleets seeking additional information or a DataLogger fuel savings demonstration can contact the Stemco TrailerTail team at 888-283-TAIL (8245) or visit TrailerTail.com.