Operational Road Tests of Truck Aerodynamic Drag Reduction Devices

A study has been carried out to evaluate the fuel economy performance of retrofit aerodynamic drag reduction devices for straight trucks and semi-trailers. Carefully controlled road tests were conducted along with a survey of Canadian fleet experience. Data from the road tests was compared with fuel savings based on scale model drag coefficients measured in a wind tunnel.

The results indicate that, although the device performance is affected significantly by ambient winds, truckers can expect fuel savings of the order of 1 3/4 gallons/100 miles for straight trucks and 1 1/4 gallons* per 100 miles for semi-trailers, at a cruising speed of 55 mph.