FlowBelow‘s Tractor Aerokits has been chosen by Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) to be installed on its entire fleet of trucks. FlowBelow’s Tractor AeroKits reduce fuel consumption and are expected to provide a return on investment in less than 12 months, said the manufacturer.
Each Tractor AeroKit consists of Quick-Release Wheel Covers and Tandem Fairings which fill the gap between and behind the tractor drive wheels. The fairings and wheel covers work together as a system, reducing aerodynamic drag and saving fuel by guiding airflow smoothly along the side and past the tandem area of the truck. FlowBelow claims that the AeroKit provides 2.23% in fuel savings according to SAE J1321 fuel economy testing performed using MVT’s trucks and trailers.
According to Royal Jones, chief executive officer of MVT, “The more efficient we are, the more competitive we can be. But getting to this point has not been easy. We are always skeptical of the numbers vendors give us, so after FlowBelow provided their test results we actually went back and did additional SAE fuel economy testing ourselves to verify the savings.”
Since the AeroKit is mounted to the tractor rather than the trailer, fleets can expect a faster payback than other aerodynamic technologies they’ve already adopted for their trailers, said FlowBelow.
“Forward-thinking trucking companies like MVT are making serious efforts to reduce fuel expenses, maximize profitability, and stay competitive. We are very pleased to work with Mesilla Valley Transportation to help them maintain the competitive advantage they have as the most fuel efficient fleet in the country,” said FlowBelow President Josh Butler.
