Carriers know they are getting a qualified tractor ortrailer by the special logo affixed in the cab or trailer. Equipmentmanufacturers have developed unique specification sheets detailing equipmentrequirements and options for placing an order for an EPA-certified SmartWaytractor or trailer. U.S. EPA-certified SmartWay trailers can be ordereddirectly from the following manufacturers and their dealers:
• GreatDane Trailers
• HyundaiTranslead
• StoughtonTrailers LLC
•Trailmobile Corp.
• UtilityTrailer Manufacturing Co.
• WabashNational Corp.
Many trailer dealers will sell upgraded trailers that havebeen certified SmartWay. The U.S. EPA suggests that fleets contact their localtrailer dealer to see if it offers new and retrofit equipment that meetsSmartWay specifications. Only SmartWay Transport Partners in good standing andwho agree to certain conditions may apply the mark to the exterior of theirEPA-certified SmartWay equipment.
A partner that purchases an EPA-certified SmartWay tractormust make a commitment to use low-rolling resistance tires and eliminateextended idling periods. The company must also sign the SmartWay markguidelines. A partner that purchases an EPA-certified SmartWay trailer andsigns the SmartWay mark guidelines may affix the “SmartWay Trailer” mark on theoutside.
These marks signify the tractor and/or trailer meet EPA’senvironmental and fuel-efficiency standards for excellence. This is anexclusive designation that sets the SmartWay Partner apart from its peers inthe industry. For carriers and truckers, the SmartWay mark is a signal toconsumers and the community that they are taking actions to limit the negativeenvironmental impacts of their business operations.
Any company may purchase U.S. EPA-certified SmartWaytractors and trailers. however, only SmartWay Transport Partners are eligibleto place the SmartWay Tractor or Trailer mark on the exterior of theirequipment.
Fleets see the benefits
Celadon operates a fleet of approximately 3,000 trucks and8,000 trailers, and, because of its SmartWay participation, has included thefollowing changes in its equipment and operations: installation of auxiliaryair heaters on all of its new trucks to eliminate the engine’s need to idle incold weather; equipping trucks and trailers with what the fleet has found to bethe most fuel efficient tires for its operation, shortening trailer-to-tractorgaps to minimize aerodynamic drag, and conversion of its trailer fleet tolightweight, high cube, 53-ft. plate trailers.
A certified dry van trailer connected to a certified tractordelivers a proven 6.5% better fuel economy than its non-certified counterpart.Utility Trailer recently introduced its model 4000D-X in a SmartWayconfiguration, which says that a fleet can expect a 6.5% increase in fueleconomy simply by using this unit in place of the equipment it normally runs.Even more recently, the company has introduced an even lighter version that ithas named the 4000D-X Composite.
Craig Bennett, Utility’s senior vice president of sales andmarketing says, “A SmartWay trailer needs to have a certifiable SAE Type 2 testproving it can save 6.5 % of the fuel needed by a tractor-trailer rig. Whateveryou save by virtue of low weight is in addition to that, so it’s always good tostart with a lightweight vehicle. Every 300 lbs. you take out saves 0.2% ofyour fuel bill.”
The result of this quest to reduce weight is the company’s4000D-X Composite, which uses the same technology as that used in thepolyurethane foam core aluminum exterior side skin panels in the company’s3000R reefer. The primary advantage in Utility’s polyurethane foam core overthe polyethylene core found in common plate trailers is that it has a muchlower density. This translates to an even lower weight trailer than the 4000D-Xand about 1,000 lbs. less than a trailer using polyethylene.
The 4000D-X Composite, which is expected to offer a fleet upto 20 years of service, will provide fuel savings during its entire servicelife because of its light weight. Chuck Cole, Utility’s manager of technicalsales and product training, says, “Because of the 1,000 lbs. you won’t bepulling, you can expect a fuel savings of between 0.6% and 0.7 % all the time,not just when the vehicle is doing over 50 MPH like the fuel savings offered bymost aerodynamic devices.”
Ralph Dove, vice president, marketing at Brown NationaLease,a full-service leasing company based in Des Moines, Iowa, fields about 1,200trailers, the majority of which are Great Dane Classic reefer, Classic SSL dryfreight vans and FREEDOM platform models. Purchases, which average 150 unitsannually, are made for specific customers.
“Last year,” Dove relates, “we started buying some EPASmartWay compliant dry vans for specific customers. The units have LaydonComposites trailer side fairings and Michelin X-One wide-base single tires onaluminum wheels. Those customers were very interested in saving fuel, and withGreat Dane’s vast number of offerings and capabilities, we were able to helpmeet that need.”
SmartWay Transport, an innovative collaboration between theU.S. EPA and the freight transportation industry, is designed to improve energyefficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and improveenergy security. One way they accomplish that is by purchasing U.S.EPA-certified SmartWay trailers. Based on performance specifications developedby the agency and companies like Great Dane, the trailers are equipped withside skirts, weight-saving technologies, front gap reducers or trailer tails,and in many cases optional low-rolling resistance tires (wide-base single orduals) mounted on aluminum wheels. Tires approved by EPA as meeting SmartWaytrailer specifications and offered by Great Dane include Bridgestone R-195Fduals, as well as Bridgestone Greatec wide-base singles, Continental HTL,Goodyear G316 LHT Fuel Max and Michelin XTA Energy, XT1 and X-One XTA models.
Great Dane outlines the options in the EPA SmartWay TrailerSpec that are available on 53-ft. or longer dry freight vans, and the basetrailer model must be equipped and/or retrofit with the following:
Aerodynamic trailer side skirts
Designed to smooth airflow and reduce cross-flow along andbelow the side edges of the trailer, side skirt fairings must be constructed ofrigid or semi-rigid material that is impact-resistant and lightweight.Specified for permanent installation, side skirts should not interfere withvisibility of lights or with the operation of brakes, landing gear, and othertrailer functions. For applications based upon testing, side skirts provide afuel savings of at least 4%.
Front and/or rear mount gap fairing
Designed to smooth airflow around exposed top and side edgesof the trailer and reduce tractor-trailer gap, front fairings should notinterfere with the turning swing radius of the trailer, consistent with DOTrules. Fairings should be constructed of rigid or semi-rigid material that isimpact-resistant and lightweight, and should be permanently installed. Forapplications based upon testing, front fairings provide at least a 1% fuelsavings.
Aluminum wheels
Add to weight savings and contribute to fuel economy.
Lightweight materials
New trailers can achieve greater weight savings by usingaluminum, composite, and/or other lightweight components.
Low-rolling resistance tires
Duals or singles mounted on aluminum wheels provide a 3%fuel economy benefit, relative to mid-range rolling resistance tires as definedby EPA. Certain manufacturers and tire models qualify.
Fleets already participating in the SmartWayPartnership with power unit purchases might want to take a look at the fuelsavings opportunity of specifying certified SmartWay trailers.
