Freight Wing side skirt

For truck owners hauling van trailers with drop-down storage boxes, aerodynamic fairings that improve fuel economy up to 5% are now available from Freight Wing.

Attached to the storage box on each side of the trailer, the fairings are made of automotive-grade plastic. A full fairing starts at the front of the trailer and connects to the belly box directing airflow around the storage container. The belly box profile is then extended downward with the Freight Wing fairing to about 8 in. from the ground.

These CARB-compliant fairings are said to be a first in the industry, robust and durable as well. Weighing 80 lb, they’re able to flex and bend, so if the fairing hits a curb or scrapes the ground, they bounce back and keep their shape. In addition, installation is typically only one to two hours, the company says.

This small segment of the van market can cut its fuel bills and reap a payback in a matter of months with side skirts, says Freight Wing. With ordinary dry-van trailers, payback often comes with less than 35,000 miles of use. It’s claimed to be only slightly more with side skirts for box fairing trailers.