In a bid to ensure increased fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag, Linfox has begun fitting side-skirts to its trailers. The company made the decision following a 2009 Monash University/ Linfox report that indicated the savings that could be made.
“Previous Linfox efforts have involved improved fairings for the prime mover cab. Research has shown that only 25 per cent of drag occurs at the front of a vehicle. Now we are trying to eliminate the drag on the trailer,” said Linfox Group Manager of Sustainability, David McInnes.
It is estimated that through the addition of the new side-skirts, which have been specifically designed for Linfox, the company will reduce fuel usage by a further 2.5 per cent at highway speeds.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot but in the bigger picture it certainly is,” says Mr McInnes. “The new side-skirts will contribute to our target for a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of emissions by 2015.”
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