Rapid trucking fleet adoption of TrailerTails in U.S. drives new vehicle dimension regulations in Europe
ATDynamics, the leading global supplier of semi-trailer rear-drag aerodynamics technology announced at the Technology and Maintenance Council's 2013 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition going on in Nashville, TN, that a version of the company's TrailerTail rear-drag reduction technology has been approved for all new semitrailers operated in the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU).
Worldwide transportation regulators have paid close attention to the rapid adoption of TrailerTail equipment on high efficiency trucking fleets in the United States, said ATDynamics CEO, Andrew Smith. More than 12,000 trailers circulating on U.S. highways with ATDynamics TrailerTail equipment in 2012 provided a case study for the fuel savings, durability and safety benefits of the technology.
In many countries, new length exemptions for non-cargo carrying aerodynamic devices will allow freight companies to significantly reduce exposure to volatile fuel prices and diesel fuel emissions, he noted.
ATDynamics has been working closely with European regulators, trailer manufacturers and trucking fleets to ensure the compliance of maximum efficiency TrailerTail technology with EU highway regulations. As of January 2013, limited length TrailerTail equipment received regulatory approval stemming from the European Commission Directive 97/27/EC.
Global fuel savings
"TrailerTail technology has the potential to save the global trucking industry $50 billion in fuel costs over the next decade," said Smith. "We are thrilled that this regulatory shift in Europe allows us to immediately offer a 50-centimeter version of our ATDynamics TrailerTail to this important market."
The TrailerTail Eco 50 is a 50 centimeter TrailerTail that was specifically designed to support the new EU regulations. Like the U.S. version, the unit collapses easily and completely against the rear of a semitrailer and acts as a trailer door buffer in its collapsed state.
The TrailerTail Eco 50 has the ability to save more than 2 percent in fuel savings at highway speed and is compatible with all major European trailer brands, he said.
With the recent EU regulation changes, ATDynamics can now deliver a compliant, easy-to-install and operate TrailerTail to those long-haul European trucking fleets that want to purchase more efficient trailers, Smith said.
ATDynamics projects that 50,000 trailers with TrailerTails will be operating on U.S. highways by 2014. More than 150 trucking fleets implemented full fleet adoptions or began to test TrailerTails in the last 18 months.
For more information visit www.atdynamics.com.
