TORONTO- Trailers are not just trailers anymore; they are profit centers, cost centers, maintenance headaches, insurance liabilities, and perhaps more significantly targets for enforcement. As they increase in technical complexity, they may get safer but the maintenance burden rises. As manufacturers whittle away weight, some key structural components could be slightly compromised, thus increasing their maintenance and repair exposure.

As customers add components to improve fuel efficiency, the weight goes up and so, again, does the shop’s role in the life of a trailer. All those aero fitting will sooner or later require maintenance and probably repair.

Fleets are now taking a much harder look at their trailer spec with an eye toward lightening that burden, or handing it off to someone else, namely a leasing company.

Anne McKee, executive vice president at Trailer Wizards, based in Mississauga, says there has been a noticeable increase in customer interest in fuel-saving devices in recent years.

“There has been steady interest for several years now, but it’s been stronger in the past year or so,” she says. “In particular, side skirts. We have had more requests for those than any other type of device.”

Side skirts, undertrays or some other aero devices are now required by the California Air Resources Board along with low-rolling-resistance tires for any 53-foot box trailer in that state, so if California is in your travel plans, you may need to talk with your trailer dealer.