TruckWings and TrailerTail: A Case of Mistaken Identities
There are two aerodynamic devices in the trucking industry that are sometimes confused: TruckWings and TrailerTails. Yes, they’re both aftermarket accessories designed to help trucks reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency and have both been proven successful at achieving fuel savings. And it’s true each has anatomical names. But, that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
The products are significantly distinct from one another: They’re mounted on different parts of the truck. One’s fully automatic and the other isn’t. And most importantly, TruckWings is available pre-delivery via all major OEMs while TrailerTails is no longer available.
The parallels between the two products are just enough to have caused some confusion in the marketplace. The following table was developed to make distinctions clear—and hopefully dispel the notion that TruckWings and TrailerTail are one and the same.
| TruckWings | TrailerTails |
| TruckWings is an aerodynamic device installed on the tractor. | TrailerTails is an aerodynamic device installed on the back of the trailer. |
| TruckWings was designed to close the gap between tractor and trailer to reduce drag. | TrailerTails was designed to streamline airflow off the back of the trailer to reduce drag. |
| Introduced to the market in 2015 and is available pre-delivery from all major OEMs. | Introduced to the market in 2008 and as of 2020 Stemco ceased sales of TrailerTails. |
| TruckWings operates in two positions: Closed (when the truck is going fast on an open highway). Open (when going slow/making turns). | TrailerTails operated in two positions: Open (when truck was moving). Closed (when it backed up/docked). |
| TruckWings automatically opens and closes. There’s no manual intervention required—although driver override is possible for safety purposes. | TrailerTails automatically opened but did not initially automatically close. |
| TruckWings are designed with smart sensors to fully track fuel and carbon savings and provides uptime reports | TrailerTails does not track savings or provide reporting. |
