Samworth confirms aerodynamics fuel savings 12 May 2010

Chilled foods producer Samworth Brothers Distribution says that trials with Gray & Adams aerodynamic Eco-Aer temperature-controlled trailers have shown "a marked improvement in fuel consumption."

Samworth fleet manager Graeme Hawker says the company has been using the Gray & Adams Eco-Aer rounded cappings and vortex generator on its trailers since January 2008 and now has 35 such trailers on its fleet.

Hawker explains that these features are designed to streamline air flow over the top and around the trailer, to reduce drag and fuel consumption. Although the tapered side skirts option has not been fitted to date, the company is now waiting on delivery of a number of new trailers, one of which will have the full Eco-Aer package, for further testing, he adds.

"In recent like-for-like trials against a standard square Gray & Adams trailer, results for the trailer with the rounded cappings and vortex generator showed a definite marked improvement in fuel consumption," states Hawker.

The Samworth trial was conducted under consistent conditions including the use of the same driver and tractor unit, with the trailer carrying the same load on the same South Yorkshire route. And Hawker's trials also confirm the results of tests at MIRA, which demonstrated that, even without skirts, up to 5% reduction in fuel consumption can be achieved.

Incidentally, Samworth's test driver also reckons that, with the Eco-Aer modifications, vehicle stability is improved, particularly with cross-winds – something that Gray & Adams asserts is due to the way in which air turbulence is reduced when travelling over the rounded edges on the top corners of the trailer.

Hawker makes the point that, with almost 150 trailers, collectively covering more than 14 million miles per year, there is huge incentive for Samworth to introduce initiatives that can cut fuel costs and help to improve its carbon footprint.

Indeed, using the CO2 and cost saving calculator on the Gray & Adams website, and assuming nine miles per gallon, £1 per litre of fuel and 40 miles per hour average speed, Samworth Distribution could save £340,000 in fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 900 tonnes per annum, by using the rounded cappings and vortex generator.

Hawker agrees aerodynamic additions are not the only issue here: the company is also hot on driver training and continuous equipment maintenance to ensure that all fleet vehicles demonstrate the same miles per gallon across the entire life of the vehicle – and those are monitored using telematics.

Suffice to say, though, following the successful trials, Samworth's next delivery of trailers have all been specified with the rounded cappings and vortex generators – and the outcome of its trials of the Eco-Aer side skirts is imminent.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Gray & Adams Ltd

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