In lowbed operations, permits, axle loads and route planning come to mind first; aerodynamics is dismissed with "it doesn't matter at these speeds". Field data says otherwise: research examining the non-box trailer segment shows that these vehicles cover more kilometres at cruising speed than assumed, and a significant share of them empty.
The Empty Return: A Hidden Opportunity
A machine on a loaded lowbed is an aerodynamically unpredictable profile, and the scope for intervention is limited. On the empty return, however, the picture changes: the low, flat platform lends itself very well to streamlined treatment. In operations with a high share of empty kilometres, the gain comes directly from here.
Practical Solutions
- Short, impact-resistant skirt panels along the chassis sides
- A deflector at the gooseneck that guides the flow over the platform
- Ramps that lock horizontally in transit to form a flat surface
- Where possible on loaded trips, positioning the load low and towards the front
A realistic expectation matters: the percentage gain is not as high as on a box trailer. But in a heavy haulage fleet covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres a year, even a saving in the one-to-two percent band amounts to a figure no operator would leave on the table.
References
- Durbin, T. D., Johnson, K. C., Jung, H. & Miller, J. W. (2021). Characterizing non-box trailer activity and aerodynamic devices for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 98, 102763. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2021.102763