In 2023, AB InBev and Jost Group conducted a large-scale pilot to evaluate Dymaxa鈥檚 aerodynamic side skirts on 26 trailers running between Belgium and France, resulting in an average saving of 4.9% being reported (See a Brut Media video presenting official pilot results).
Following the successful pilot AB InBev has now been using the skirts for over 3 years without any issues and launched a collective buying program for their carriers, encouraging them to reduce their emissions and thus lowering their scope 3 emissions.
The pilot was conducted under strictly controlled conditions to accurately measure the fuel economy of the trucks during real-world operations. Factors such as route selection, cargo load, driver behavior, and equipment configuration were carefully controlled throughout the pilot, with the same drivers operating along identical routes to ensure consistent conditions. In total, over 100,000 kilometres were driven at an average speed of 68 kilometres per hour on a fixed route between Belgium and France.
In order to create an accurate reference point, an equal number of control vehicles were used. The pilot thus consisted of 26 trucks with Dymaxa skirts and 26 trucks without Dymaxa skirts. The trucks of both the control group and the group using Dymaxa skirts were exactly the same models.
The pilot achieved impressive results: an average reduction of 4.9% in fuel consumption and CO鈧 emissions. Each trailer equipped with side skirts saves approximately 鈧3,500 per year, while the cost is just 鈧2,100 per trailer, resulting in a return on investment within only nine months.
AB InBev has now launched a collective buying initiative for their carriers through their Eclipse program, designed to help its carriers adopt tested, high-impact sustainability solutions. For Yleni de Neve, Sustainability Director at AB InBev, the results of the pilot make this one of the most exciting initiatives.
By promoting skirts to their carriers, AB InBev is reducing their scope 3 emissions whilst simultaneously allowing cost-savings for their carriers, saying: 鈥淭his will bring us one step closer to our ambition of reaching ‘Net Zero’ across our entire value chain by 2040 and emitting 25% less CO2 globally by 2025鈥.
鈥淏y ultimately applying Dymaxa trailer skirts, we can together accelerate the sustainability of the entire logistics chain. To accomplish that goal, we have launched the 鈥渃ollective buying initiative” on AB InBev’s Eclipse platform.鈥
鈥斅Yleni de Neve, Sustainability Director, AB InBev
Historically, side skirts have not been successful in Europe, due to 1) durability issues and 2) high costs.
In order to function in real world operations, skirts must be able to withstand impact during e.g. loading operations, intermodal application and the repeated contact from curbs, speed bumps, and other obstacles encountered on daily routes. Since previous side skirts were made with inflexible materials (usually plastic), they would break easily causing delays in operations
In North America side skirts are made of flexible composite materials, and this contributed to the rapid takeover (otherwise known as bicycle-catchers) not being used on trailers. Dymaxa uses a similar composite for the manufacturing of skirts that are applicable to trailers with LPD鈥檚, having made them even more flexible than those used in North America by using fiberglass-reinforced composite. AB InBev has tested this to the extreme by placing a wooden log beneath the skirt as shown here:
In Europe, earlier side skirt solutions from WABCO and Schmitz were eventually discontinued. Their high cost of over 鈧5,000 per trailer made it difficult for operators to achieve a positive return on investment, a challenge further compounded by the fact that the skirts tended to break quickly under real operating conditions. In contrast, Dymaxa鈥檚 side skirts, priced at 鈧2,100 per trailer, deliver both durability and efficiency, resulting in a payback period of just nine months.
The skirts have also been lifecycle tested by various top OEM鈥檚 in Europe and passed these test without any damage being reported. Over 300 trailers in Europe are currently equipped with Dymaxa side skirts in Europe and no damage has ever been reported.
With over 300 units tested across Europe and zero reported failures, Dymaxa now backs its skirts with a 4-year warranty and a 100% refund if you are not satisfied鈥攑roven in both controlled testing and daily logistics operations.