Highlights
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Retrofit of Entire Fleet of 3,500 Long-Haul Trailers with TrailerTail® Technology
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TrailerTails®to Reduce Mesilla Valley Transportation Fuel Consumption by Over 1,000,000 Gallons Annually
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Aerodynamic Trailer Enhancements, Including ATDynamics TrailerTail® and ATDynamics-Transtex Skirting, to deliver 12% Fuel Economy; Provides Significant Progress Toward Obama Administration Goal of 25%
- Greentech manufacturing jobs created in California, New Mexico and Texas.
SAN FRANCISCO and LAS CRUCES, N.M., Sept. 8, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) announced today that it is equipping its full fleet of 3,500 long-haul trailers with TrailerTail® rear air drag reducing aerodynamics technology from ATDynamics, Inc.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7972
The multi-million dollar investment by MVT is the largest after-market refurbishment of rear-drag reduction technology in the history of the freight transportation industry. The initiative will reduce the diesel fuel burned by MVT's fleet by over 1 million gallons annually with fuel cost savings of over $3 million at current diesel prices. It will cut CO2 emissions by over 11,000 tons annually – equivalent to taking over 2,000 cars off American roads.
In May of 2010, President Obama instructed the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate with industry with the goal to increase fuel efficiency of tractor trailers by 25%. ATDynamics' trailer aerodynamics packages, including TrailerTails®, can deliver 12% fuel efficiency, or nearly half of that goal.
"In our industry, being more efficient means being more competitive. Mesilla Valley has demonstrated innovation in the freight industry since its founding and is committed to operating the most efficient fleet in the country," said Royal Jones, CEO of Mesilla Valley Transportation. "This trailer technology is cost-effective, reliable and available today. The fuel savings we get from TrailerTails® provide a 50-100% return on capital investment in one year."
"A trailer without a tail is a trailer which is wasting fuel," noted Andrew Smith, Founder and CEO of ATDynamics. "The new composite TrailerTail® design is durable, easy to install, operate and maintain. In addition to significant fuel savings, TrailerTails® have the critical safety benefits of reducing spray at the rear of trailers in wet weather and encouraging safer driving distance between the rigid steel frame of trailers and passenger vehicles. Rear drag aerodynamics technology will save America's long haul freight sector over $3 billion a year in fuel costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase our energy independence and create thousands of green jobs right here at home."
Engineered by ATDynamics, the TrailerTail® alone is proven to increase tractor-trailer fuel efficiency by 6.58% at 65 mph, based on third-party SAE J1321 testing. The technology operates by reducing low-pressure suction drag at the rear of a Class 8 tractor-trailer. Used in tandem with ATDynamics-Transtex trailer skirting and other trailer aerodynamics enhancements, the TrailerTail® enables tractor trailers to achieve fuel savings of 12%. When in use, the TrailerTail® extends four feet from the rear of the trailer, and collapses flush against the trailer doors in less than four seconds when drivers need access to the rear doors of the trailer. The technology received safety approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2008. MVT's first 200 TrailerTail® units will hit the road in August 2010, with the remaining 3,300 units deployed over the next 12 months. For a video demonstrating the TrailerTail® visit atdynamics.com/video.htm.
About Mesilla Valley Transportation
Mesilla Valley Transportation began in 1981 hauling goods as a small independent fleet. By the early 1990's, MVT was recognized as a service leader throughout North America and greatly expanded its service capabilities. Today, MVT is one of the largest locally-owned, full-service truckload transportation providers in the Southwest, operating between all major manufacturing centers of the United States, Canada and Mexico. MVT is also recognized for its state of the art fleet and quality and time-sensitive service. As one of the most efficient fleets in the nation, MVT is also an affiliate of the U.S. EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership. For more information visit: http://www.m-v-t.com.
About ATDynamics
ATDynamics is a leading innovator of trailer aerodynamics technology. Its flagship TrailerTail® drag reduction technology, first released in 2008, is part of a suite of products engineered to reduce the fuel consumption of the freight transportation industry. Based in South San Francisco, California, ATDynamics is the recipient of numerous innovation awards and is a founding member of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency. ATDynamics is an affiliate of the U.S. EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership and a member of the American Trucking Association's Technology Maintenance Council. For more information, visit www.atdynamics.com.
The ATDynamics, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7971
This photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
