by Pride Transport | Jan 23, 2025
On the road, it can feel like sticking to your schedule is the least of your problems. Truck drivers keep track of so many variables at once: location, speed, idle time, hours of service, fuel consumption…the list goes on.
Trucking is the balance of precision and decision-making, and every mile matters in this industry. As a driver, you may have to navigate challenges to ensure efficiency, safety, and timeliness.
This is where the science of aerodynamics and the ever evolving trucking industry comes in. Cutting-edge innovations in truck design and performance can help you save fuel, stay on schedule, and extend the lifespan of your vehicle. These insights can make a significant impact on your journey.
Understanding Drag and Its Impact on Fuel Efficiency
Drag is the force that air pushes against a moving truck, creating friction. If you’ve ever tried pedaling a bike into a strong wind, you know what drag feels like. It’s the same with trucks, just on a bigger scale. As they drive down the highway, air resistance makes the engine work harder, which uses more fuel.
That’s why reducing drag can improve fuel efficiency. When your truck glides smoothly down the road, you’ll need less fuel to keep it going. And when you need less fuel, your operational costs go down.
Drag increases as a truck’s speed goes up, meaning highway driving can create significant resistance. Think of how a plane’s wings cut through the air to fly efficiently; trucks need a similar approach to manage drag. Reducing drag not only saves fuel but also reduces wear and tear on your engine. This can lead to fewer maintenance issues and consistent fuel economy, which can make a real dent in your annual fuel spend.
And with most semi trucks netting about 6.5 miles per gallon, every dollar matters.
Truck Design: Key Aerodynamic Features
At Pride Transport, we prioritize equipping our fleet with the latest aerodynamic features to ensure maximum efficiency. On a Class 8 truck, the tractor accounts for 66% of drag, with the trailer axle, wheels, and body making up the remaining 34%. By focusing on aerodynamic improvements in these areas, we enhance fuel efficiency, reduce operational costs, and maintain a top-tier fleet for our drivers.
Trailer Skirts
Also known as trailer fairings, trailer skirts are flexible panels you can attach to the side edges of the trailer to block air from flowing underneath, minimizing turbulence and reducing drag.
Some trailer skirts are made from lightweight materials to keep added weight at a minimum. While more than 50% of new 53’ vans are built with side skirts installed, they can be a smart aftermarket upgrade.
Cab Roof Fairings
Roof fairings are large panels mounted on top of a cab to direct airflow over the trailer, reducing drag at the front of your truck.
Cab roof fairings can be adjustable, which can give you better customization depending on your trailer’s height. However, they are not one-size-fits-all: in trucks hauling flat or tanker trailers, roof fairings decrease fuel economy.
Wheel Covers
Similar to side fairings that reduce turbulence, wheel covers are designed to reduce air resistance around wheels. While cost, weight, and installation time of wheel covers is minimal compared to other aerodynamic add-ons, their contribution to your vehicle’s fuel economy is similarly small.
Hot Tip: Choose wheel covers that are easy to remove, keeping tire maintenance simple.
Vortex Generators
In trucking, vortex generators are small, V-shaped or triangular devices attached to the trailing edge of the tractor and trailer and/or the trailer roof edge.
Vortex generators reduce drag by literally creating vortexes, swirling the air around and smoothing airflow so a truck can glide through, like a boat cutting through water.
Cabs and trailers are now being designed with advanced aerodynamics to optimize efficiency, and we want to ensure that Pride Transport’s fleet remains cutting-edge and environmentally conscious.
Cab and Trailer Design: Aerodynamic Advances
New cab and trailer designs are focused on making trucks more streamlined. Engineers use computer models to test different shapes and angles, looking for ways to make the air move smoothly over the entire truck. Even the smallest details, like mirrors and bumpers, are being redesigned to improve airflow and reduce drag during freight transportation.
Lightweight materials like aluminum and carbon fiber composites are also being used in cab and trailer construction. These materials reduce the overall weight of the truck, making it easier to drive and more fuel-efficient. Innovations like rounded edges and integrated headlights help reduce drag even further. We might see even sleeker designs that blend form and function for maximum efficiency.
The Science Behind Aerodynamic Testing
Before new designs hit the road, they go through rigorous aerodynamic testing. One common method is to use a wind tunnel, where engineers can simulate how air moves around a truck. Wind tunnels are like giant fans, blowing air over a truck to see how it moves.
Engineers use smoke or sensors to model drag, especially while testing new designs or the aftermarket features we mentioned earlier. The idea is to get the air flowing as smoothly as possible to cut through wind and save fuel.
They also use computer simulations to model airflow and spot problem areas. With CFD, or Computational Fluid Dynamics, engineers create a 3D model of a truck and run virtual “wind tests”, which are essentially wind tunnel simulations. The same goal applies here, wanting to reduce drag as much as possible.
Testing doesn’t stop at wind tunnels or simulations, though. After wind tunnel and CFD testing, engineers hit the road in trucks using sensors to collect data on air pressure, drag, and fuel consumption under different driving conditions. This hands-on approach refines designs based on actual performance, ensuring that trucks deliver results in the real world.
The Benefits of Improved Aerodynamics
Better truck aerodynamics isn’t just good for fuel economy, it’s also good for business. Trucks that use less fuel cost less to operate, which can lead to major savings for trucking companies.
Improved truck aerodynamics also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. For every gallon of diesel saved, about 22 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions are avoided. That means drag-reducing devices can cut carbon dioxide emissions by thousands of pounds per year. Studies show that utilizing trailer gap devices can significantly reduce emissions, potentially cutting up to 20,000 pounds annually. By improving fuel efficiency, these innovations help the trucking industry move toward cleaner air and a more sustainable future.
Enhanced Safety Through Aerodynamics
Safety is a cornerstone of Pride Transport, and aerodynamic improvements play a crucial role in keeping our drivers and cargo secure. By reducing drag, trucks experience greater stability on the road, especially in challenging conditions like strong winds or adverse weather. This enhanced stability not only makes the driving experience smoother but also reduces the likelihood of accidents caused by unpredictable shifts or turbulence.
Furthermore, improved aerodynamics decrease wear and tear on the vehicle, minimizing maintenance needs and ensuring trucks remain in peak condition for longer. Stability and reduced maintenance translate to safer operations, benefiting both drivers and the communities they serve. At Pride Transport, we recognize that safety and innovation go hand in hand, ensuring our fleet is equipped to handle the demands of the road with confidence.
Aerodynamics in Trucking: Emerging Technologies
The future of truck aerodynamics looks exciting, with new technologies on the horizon. One promising idea is the use of “smart” materials that can change shape to reduce drag in real time.
Devices like TruckWings automatically close the gap between the cab and the trailer at highway speeds, reducing drag and turbulence.
Some companies are also exploring electric trucks, which have smoother designs since they don’t need large engines. Many of these trucks feature sleeker, more rounded designs that help reduce air resistance. Innovations like covered wheels, smooth underbodies, and integrated battery storage also contribute to lowered drag.
Beyond trucks themselves, renewable energy sources like hydrogen fuel cells could change truck design entirely, allowing for more streamlined shapes over traditional engine layouts. Researchers are also exploring active aerodynamics, systems that adjust in real-time based on speed and weather conditions to optimize airflow and efficiency.
Driving into the Future with Pride Transport
As the trucking industry continues to embrace innovation, Pride Transport remains committed to staying ahead of the curve. By investing in cutting-edge technologies and maintaining a modern fleet, we ensure our drivers experience the best in performance and efficiency. If you’re looking for a driving career with a company that values innovation and your success, consider joining Pride Transport. Explore our open positions here.