What are the sideskirts on trailers for?

[Catratio]

They're probably just cosmetic in game but IRL what is their purpose? Help with aerodynamics?

[tox]

Yes

[Capt. Carrot]

Originally posted by Catratio:

They're probably just cosmetic in game but IRL what is their purpose? Help with aerodynamics?

They are for safety. They stop muppets from decapitating themselves if they try and drive underneath the middle of the trailer.

[Briannospam]

Originally posted by Catratio:

They're probably just cosmetic in game but IRL what is their purpose? Help with aerodynamics?

I don't know how it is in America, since it in my eys seems like America don't care so much about security like European countries does.

In Europe the sideskirts are a security thing to avoid people came under the wheels in accident situations.
An example can be this:
you stop at a traffic light ... a bike or a person next to you falls over against your combinations .. and hits the side skirt and come to lie next to vogtoget, instead of entering the front wheels which would happen if there are not skirts.

[Hylton Trucking]

Originally posted by Capt. Carrot:

Originally posted by Catratio:

They're probably just cosmetic in game but IRL what is their purpose? Help with aerodynamics?

They are for safety. They stop muppets from decapitating themselves if they try and drive underneath the middle of the trailer.

They are no way sturdy enough to stop a vehicle from going under the trailer. They are strictly for aerodynamics.

[Ryu]

It depends on what is being attached. Most side skirts are light-weight and simply to reduce aerodynamic drag, while more robust bars and panels can be affixed to prevent cars from going under during an accident.

[Trucker_71]

They are for streamlining air flow for fuel efficiancy. California (of course) mandates them, the rest of the states not so much. So if you see a trailer with side skirts in Mississppi, it's likely that trailer goes to California. I could be wrong but I believe only the 53 footers are required to have sideskirts in California.

[Bastargre]

Originally posted by Trucker_71:

They are for streamlining air flow for fuel efficiancy. California (of course) mandates them, the rest of the states not so much. So if you see a trailer with side skirts in Mississppi, it's likely that trailer goes to California. I could be wrong but I believe only the 53 footers are required to have sideskirts in California.

What about those aerodynamic sideskirts (the curved ones who meet in the middle under the trailer)

[Trucker_71]

I retired 6 years ago after 45 years on the road. Unless they are something new in the last 6 years, I have never seen them in real life, maybe they're a Eurpean thing(?) There's a lot of European influence in this game, probably because it's developed by Europeans. Can't help you with the aerodynamic sideskirts.

[Catratio]

I passed a truck that had sideskirts on the freeway in Washington last night. I don't know when they came into being but they're here.

[Elwenil]

Originally posted by Trucker_71:

I retired 6 years ago after 45 years on the road. Unless they are something new in the last 6 years, I have never seen them in real life, maybe they're a Eurpean thing(?) There's a lot of European influence in this game, probably because it's developed by Europeans. Can't help you with the aerodynamic sideskirts.

If you retired 6 years ago, you had to have seen them even then. Those white plastic or fiberglass panels ahve been under trailers for over a decade and I probably see them on at least 10% of the trailers I see here in Virginia. A bit more rare are the air foils at the rear of the trailer around the doors, but they seem to be showing up more often now too.

[Bastargre]

Originally posted by Elwenil:

If you retired 6 years ago, you had to have seen them even then. Those white plastic or fiberglass panels ahve been under trailers for over a decade and I probably see them on at least 10% of the trailers I see here in Virginia. A bit more rare are the air foils at the rear of the trailer around the doors, but they seem to be showing up more often now too.

i believe he is talkin about the aerodynamic ones, not the straight ones

[Trucker_71]

@Elwenil I don't remember ever seeing the aerodynamic ones, not saying they don't exist. The 10% of the trailers you see with sideskirts, likely run California. Hell I've been in Brooklyn with sideskirs! LOL

[TW]

hyltontrucking
They are not for aerodynamics. They are made of a lite plastic. They are added for a visual effect so that the drivers of these stupid little cars and while they are talking on the cell phone, it might catch their attention not to pull over because the white sheet pf plastic should tell them there is something in their way. Even the curved ones are not for aerodynamics. It is a safety device that should cut down on the ignorance of the auto drivers.. Safety only... Not aerodynamics...

[v1cV3Ga5]

Originally posted by TW:

hyltontrucking
They are not for aerodynamics. They are made of a lite plastic. They are added for a visual effect so that the drivers of these stupid little cars and while they are talking on the cell phone, it might catch their attention not to pull over because the white sheet pf plastic should tell them there is something in their way. Even the curved ones are not for aerodynamics. It is a safety device that should cut down on the ignorance of the auto drivers.. Safety only... Not aerodynamics...

You sure?

https://www.truckinginfo.com/156547/a-look-at-the-california-compliant-trailer

[Elwenil]

Originally posted by Trucker_71:

@Elwenil I don't remember ever seeing the aerodynamic ones, not saying they don't exist. The 10% of the trailers you see with sideskirts, likely run California. Hell I've been in Brooklyn with sideskirs! LOL

Ok, I see what you are saying now. Yeah, I don't think I have ever seen the pointed ones like SCS has in the game now. I've seen a few variations of the flat panel ones, diffrent lengths, angles and so on, but that's about it.