Trailer Tail
- Thread starter TeamCaffee
- Start date
Even a meager 2% reduction is about what $10,000 in fuel savings??....
If you spend $50,000 a year on fuel, which straight trucks have been known to do, a two percent savings is $1,000 per year.
So, to calculate the payback on such a device, you need to know:
- Cost of device
- Cost of down time to have device installed
- Cost of deadhead miles to have device installed
- Anticipated useful life of the device
- Maintenance and repair costs associated with the device, if any.
- Tax depreciation schedule of the device.
- The present value of the total of all of the above.
You also need to be able to accurately measure the fuel savings that are specifically attributable to the device, which is a very tricky thing to do, if not impossible, because of all the other variables involved. And the measurement must be taken over a meaningful time period and number of miles.
For example, we have noticed that when our tires wear down, fuel economy improves; not be a lot, but by a noticable amount. We have also notice that fuel economy improves in certain seasons of the year, and at certain altitudes.
We could add a device in August, happen to be running with tires that are near the end of their useful life, happen to be running more than usual in low-altitude states, and happen to run for say three months in cooler weather. Without the device, we would show a fuel economy improvement probably greater than two percent with those variables in play. But if we were not careful, and not honest, we might be tempted to look at the first three months of numbers with the device, compare them to the previous three months and the previous year, and allow ourselves to believe that the device itself produced a two percent benefit.
I'm not suggesting that the device has no benefit. Indeed, the opposite is probably true. But with all fuel-saving devices, I am leery of the sales claims, careful to avoid self-deception, and careful to include all costs.
The bottom line is, how much money do you want to put into your truck and tank (additives) to boost your fuel economy, and how much is it worth it to you (including the non-financial benefits) really?
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Totally agree with you Phil...
Now Linda..were the air tabs removed?...or did you not have them on the new truck?...
Did I see you mention about the skirting under the box as well?....I guess what I mean...
Are you and Bob going full throttle at streamlining the total package?
Now Linda..were the air tabs removed?...or did you not have them on the new truck?...
Did I see you mention about the skirting under the box as well?....I guess what I mean...
Are you and Bob going full throttle at streamlining the total package?
paullud
Veteran Expediter
It should be simply pulling on the handle then folding the tail in on each door. The problem comes from the fact that there seems to be some issues with quality and they malfunction.
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The doors are constantly being improved to become stronger and ease of use. Before we left Andrew the CEO has me open and close the doors a few times to make sure I would have no problem. It is a little trickier for a shorter person. We talked with engineers as they were installing the TT and also over lunch and were very impressed with their future goals as well as what all they have done to make the doors stronger and more reliable.
My thoughts are if drivers can use them an owner operator should not have any problems. The owner operators we know have done very well with them and I believe their numbers.
The neat thing about the doors we learned is all we have to do is pull a cable on each side and then open the box doors there are not two steps involved.
Time will tell and we are very optimistic to see what a straight truck can do.
My thoughts are if drivers can use them an owner operator should not have any problems. The owner operators we know have done very well with them and I believe their numbers.
The neat thing about the doors we learned is all we have to do is pull a cable on each side and then open the box doors there are not two steps involved.
Time will tell and we are very optimistic to see what a straight truck can do.
Of course you do. That is your nature. I am more exacting, especially when it comes to verifying the benefits of something people want me to spend money on.
Once again, your passive aggressive nature towards anything Team Caffee does is coming forward.
paullud
Veteran Expediter
The earlier models had some issues with longevity which was likely a combination of quality and real world use instead of on paper which include snow, ice, truck stop bumps, and driver abuse.
Are they thinking the benefits will be better than Airtabs on a ST?
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When I spent time with Andrew Smith we talked about the earlier versions and what the company has done to make the Tails stronger. They are very aware of the test fleet drivers put the Tail through.
Time will tell what the TT will do for us.
We seem to put our trust in many of the right people as we continue to thrive and enjoy the trucking industry and our way of life. We do not trust blindly nor take numbers lightly.
Time will tell what the TT will do for us.
We seem to put our trust in many of the right people as we continue to thrive and enjoy the trucking industry and our way of life. We do not trust blindly nor take numbers lightly.
I admit that I react from time to time to Caffee's posts, but kindly note that she puts lots and lots of stuff out there that I do not react to. It's not "anything" she does. My guess is that I react to perhaps one-half of one percent of her posts, if that.
Your perception of "anything Team Caffee does" is far from accurate.
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spongebox1
Expert Expediter
Did the TT help out the handling of the truck? I've been told that they help stabilize the handling on a trailer and was wondering if the same applies for the straight truck.
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That was my first thought, too. And whether the "TrailerTail" logo is acceptable.
TruckingSurv
Seasoned Expediter
Did you consider other options such as those available from Smart Truck before going with the tail? I could see the under body portion maybe being an issue with a straight truck, but just wondering how the various solutions compare (at least for trailer use) on their initial cost, maintenance and ease of use, etc.
TS
TS
What kind of financial analysis and assumptions went into the purchase decision? What was the cost? Did you do a spreadsheet? Are you able and willing to share the numbers?
paullud
Veteran Expediter
Well hopefully it works out and you see some good numbers. Do you know how much weight it added?
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