It’s a myth that aerodynamics won’t benefit day cabs.
That message came through loud and clear today during NACFE’s presentation of its latest confidence report on aerodynamics.
NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth announced in the Long Beach Convention Center during ACT Expo that the non-profit’s latest fleet studies reveal that aerodynamic devices on day cabs result in fuel efficiency gains, even though the trucks frequently travel below 50 mph and do not travel the same distances as their long-haul counterparts.
And with more day cabs on the road, Roeth said NACFE is challenging OEMs to make additional aero devices standard on the regional haulers.
“We studied day cabs. This is where we put a lot of our focus, because some will say that day cab tractors should never get aerodynamics. People say that they don’t drive very fast. They don’t travel many miles and aero’s not very appropriate. We think differently,” Roeth told reporters and others gathered at NACFE’s booth.
“We found as we talked to fleets that, first of all, the myth that they don’t work is untrue. Aerodynamics help at any speed. It does help at higher speeds. So, if you’re in the 50 to 60 to 70 mph, of course aerodynamics helps more.
“What we found in day cabs is that if you remove all of the aerodynamics from a day cab and really go non-aero versus total aero on a day cab, that’s worth about 10 percent as well on fuel, maybe even more.
