Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has designed two new US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay-verified side skirts that have a special bracing system.
“After extensive structural testing at Utility's state-of-the-art real-world test facility in Southern California, in combination with aerodynamic testing at industry test tracks, I am pleased to announce that we have received notice from the EPA SmartWay verifying both of our new aerodynamic side skirt designs,” said Craig Bennett, senior vice-president, sales and marketing at Utility Trailer.
“The Utility Side Skirt 120 (USS-120) and Utility Side Skirt 160 (USS-160) are created with galvanized high tensile steel braces that are virtually indestructible and unlike others can simply be ‘bent’ back to their original shape if damaged,” he said. “For optimal durability, we have designed this unique bracing system allowing the side skirt to flex both inward and outward.”
Both Utility side skirts are also designed for strength and performance. The USS-120 and USS-160 are created with UV-protected one-piece fiberglass reinforced plastic and special mounting to the support leg “wingplate.” Both devices are CARB (California Air Resources Board)-compliant for California operations. The USS -120 Model as a stand-alone device is CARB-compliant for refrigerated trailers only.
The USS-120 is SmartWay-verified to achieve greater than 4% fuel savings, and the USS-160 is SmartWay-verified to achieve greater than 5% fuel savings (actual fuel economy gains may vary for both designs). Additionally, SmartWay has classified the USS-160 as an “Advanced Side Skirt,” which allows truckers to use them without any other aerodynamic device on dry vans.
Both side skirt designs are now available as factory-installed options for new Utility trailers. Retrofitting for existing trailers is available through the firm's Aftermarket Department. Visit www.utilitytrailer.com/dealer_locator for the nearest dealer location.
For information about Utility, visit www.utilitytrailer.com. Visit: www.epa.gov/smartway/documents/420f07033.htm for SmartWay information.