TruckWings, fairings that automatically deploy at highway speeds to close the tractor-trailer gap, have recently been validated by independent testing.

The technology, acquired last year by ConMet, aim to address the two-thirds of fuel consumption that goes toward overcoming aerodynamic drag. Daniel Burrows, founder of what was TruckLabs before its acquisition by ConMet, said “The area I honed in on was the tractor-trailer gap. Fleets are aware of this. It helps all the way down the trailer and decreases turbulence at the back as well. The challenge is, how do you do it?”

When developing the device, Burrows said he focused on: automatic deployment, increasing fuel economy, using aerospace grade material, and connecting it to the cloud.

As the devices grew in popularity it was a truck OEM that approached Burrows about engaging ConMet in talks. Such a company would be able to help to add scale.

The recently concluded testing by Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions was done on a nine-mile track near Pecos, Texas. Two identically spec’d compressed natural gas-powered Volvos demonstrated a 5.25% improvement with TruckWings, or 0.33 mpg gain.

Diesel-powered Volvo VNL day cabs showed a 6.2% improvement with the TruckWings.

The results were shared during a press conference at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s spring meeting.

“Even with current diesel prices, that means we can still pencil out a 12- to 15-month ROI,” Burrows said, adding every TruckWing deployed saves the carbon emissions equivalent to taking two cars off the road.

TruckWings aren’t yet a factory-installed option but certain truck makers will prewire and pre-air the vehicle for a quick installation at a modification center once the truck rolls off the line.

Burrows said the devices have been tested to withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures. They weigh about 200 lb. Fleets that have invested in them have all run internal tests, which Burrows said further validates the devices. So far they have racked up about 900 million miles of driving.