GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 5, 2019 — Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) − one of the largest dry freight carriers specializing in time-sensitive service between manufacturing centers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada – announced that it has started factory-installing its trailers with MICHELIN® Energy Guard this year after impressive third-party fuel testing1 results by Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions were released in March. Michelin Energy Guard is a SmartWay®-verified aerodynamic trailer solution for use on 53-foot dry-van truck load, refrigerated-truck load and other long-haul and super-regional applications.
"The company buys over 1.5 million gallons of fuel every month, so fuel savings have a major impact to our bottom line. Saving 10 gallons of fuel every 1000 miles is strategically important when you have a fleet of 1500 trucks and 5000 trailers," said Royal Jones, president and CEO of Mesilla Valley Transportation Inc. "Our drivers are our number one priority. We put their safety and well-being first and this solution requires no driver interaction or moving parts improving their driving experience while reducing maintenance expenses."
MICHELIN Energy Guard is an easy-to-use, fuel-efficient, aerodynamic solution. The patent-pending, fully-integrated components are designed to complement one another, helping to reduce fuel consumption without increasing maintenance expenses. The solution consists of a resilient trailer skirt that utilizes a patent-pending bracket design that keeps the skirt rigid until it strikes an obstacle. If the skirt strikes an obstacle, the bracket will toggle and allow the skirt to easily flex both inward and outward. It also includes trailer-end fairings that manage airflow around the rear of the trailer and a wake reducer to lessen the drag of the turbulent air behind the trailer. The trailer-end fairings and wake reducer are constantly functioning, requiring zero moving parts and no driver intervention. Completing the solution, patent-pending aerodynamic mud flaps are designed to reduce vehicle drag and redirect road spray.
“Trailer skirts are susceptible to damage, particularly when maneuvering in trailer yards and approaching loading docks, continued Jones. “Obstacles and debris can cut and tear them to the point that they need to be removed. The Energy Guard solution addresses this reality with a clever bracket design that can flex both inward and outward. It’s a real game changer.”
About Mesilla Valley Transportation, Inc.
Mesilla Valley Transportation is one of the largest locally-owned transportation providers in Western Texas and New Mexico, specializing in time-sensitive service between major manufacturing areas in the U.S. and Canada and Mexico borders. Headquartered in Las Cruces, New Mexico, MVT has facilities in Nashville, El Paso, Denver, Laredo, and Portland. A ten-time recipient of the EPA SmartWay Excellence Award, MVT takes pride in reducing its fleet impact on the environment by using low rolling resistance tires and utilizing other methods to reduce drag. MVT is affiliated with several other businesses including: Border Tire, a Michelin Commercial Service Network Dealer, specializing in medium duty, heavy duty, agricultural and industrial tires. Border has 10 full-service commercial locations, a Michelin Retread Technologies plant in Fontana, Calif. and an Oliver® retread plant in El Paso, Texas. J.H. Rose Logistics is a customs freight brokerage managing warehousing and rail transloading.
About MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. Michelin also offers a full range of innovative services and solutions that help make mobility safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. To create unique mobility experiences, Michelin publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America, Inc. employs more than 20,000 people and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, contact:
Mary Ann Kotlarich
Michelin North America
864.458.4884
Email: Mary-ann.kotlarich@michelin.com | www.michelinmedia.com
1.Visit Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions website for full test results, http://www.m-v-t-s.com/certified-technology/aerodynamics/michelin-energy-guard/.
