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Don-Bur has worked with DHL Exel Supply Chain to develop a side-access, curtain-sided version of the teardrop trailer.
DHL introduced the first prototype teardrop curtain-sider to its fleet in October and since then has achieved nine per cent fuel savings and ten per cent additional load capacity, compared to a conventional trailer of similar size.
David Potter, UK director of fleet engineering services at DHL Exel Supply Chain, said: “Saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions are two key priorities that are achievable by careful consideration of tractor and articulated trailer design.
“Don-Bur teardrop trailers are now well established within parts of our dedicated fleet and have proven themselves capable of generating significant savings in fuel and its associated cost and carbon dioxide emissions. The development of curtain-sider Teardrop trailers was an obvious and natural step to increase their usability for a greater range of operation types and make this new design available to wider range of customers.”
David Burton, chief executive of sales & strategy at Don-Bur, added: “Maintaining the same aerodynamic benefits as the existing teardrop trailers was critical and the requirement to introduce taller side apertures presented some difficult challenges that have now been overcome. We are delighted with the results to date and also the successful way we have worked with DHL to develop the design.”
DHL introduced box van teardrop trailers into its fleet in 2007 and now has more than 200 in use. Fuel saving figure have averaged above 12 per cent in comparison to existing trailers.
