FleetPride Heavy Duty Spray Control Defenders
Written April, 2023
Why Spray Control?
Spray control maintains visibility, reduces road hazards, and minimizes environmental impact. This improves overall road safety. When it comes to driving a Class 6-8 semi truck, ensuring safety on the road is of utmost importance.
Spray control is one of the most sought-after solutions since the 1900’s. From mud flaps and hanging hardware to fenders, FleetPride has exactly what you need. Defend the semi truck's frame from the road hazards such as water, rocks, mud, salt, oils, and ice-melting chemicals.
Let’s Start from the Beginning: Fenders
Spray control began with what we now know as the fender. There is considerable debate around the topic of who invented the first car (de)fender in the early 1900’s. However, its purpose in the early nineteenth century was simple. It was keeping mud, dust, and other unwanted particles from flinging onto passengers within the open compartment of their cars.
It wasn't until 1940 that Joseph Figoni designed the modern aerodynamic fender. This fender not only improved the aesthetics of the vehicle (Hey, good lookin’!), but also reduced drag, resulting in increased speed.
We can all agree the invention of the fender to keep road spray off passengers is a much appreciated invention. Today, fenders minimize spray by directing water and debris away from the tires and vehicle body.
FleetPride proudly partners with the well known manufacturer, Minimizer. Minimizer provides quality fenders that are “tested and tortured”, guarding your undercarriage from avoidable damage.
Mud Flaps: Rain or Snow for Spray Control
As they say, “April showers bring May flowers,”. Whether your neck of the woods is currently experiencing the rain or snow, consider the safety of your heavy duty truck and other surrounding vehicles. Heavy duty OTR truck mud flaps, with Expertise Built In™, stop water, slush, and other debris from being thrown up into the air and onto following vehicles.
Rain
Rainstorms can create dangerous conditions for heavy duty trucks operating on a highway at high speeds. The control of the rig may be jeopardized and the safety of surrounding vehicles may be compromised. Furthermore, the rain can create spray clouds, which can visually impair drivers. Mud flaps reduce the risk of accidents caused by poor visibility.
The SAE International emphasizes, “A key source of this fine droplet spray formation occurs when high velocity water thrown from truck tires impacts hard surfaces such as fuel tanks or conventional smooth surface flaps,” (Truck Spray Control System Installation - Document 831177)1. Spray control, surfaced mud flaps take on the force impact of the water, forcing the water back onto the road.
Snow
Did you know? The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration says, over 70% of the U.S. roads are in snowy regions of the country. Moreover, nearly 70% of the U.S. population live in those snowy regions.2 Many parts of the country will still encounter snow well into April and May.
Mud flaps are strategically placed behind the drive axles and the rear trailer axles. This ensures that any accumulated snow does not damage the undercarriage or surrounding cars.
Environmental Factors
Controlling spray doesn’t just benefit those on the road; it also helps minimize the environmental impact of your truck. Spray control reduces pollution and stops spreading of contaminants by keeping water and debris low to the ground.
FleetPride: The Spray Control Parts You Need
The moral of the story: Don’t be a rooster on the road. Keep your rig secured with spray control. FleetPride has the spray control parts you need, from Minimizer Fenders to OTR mud flaps. We will provide you with spray control, safety, and efficiency on the road.
FleetPride. We are here to keep you Ready for the Road Ahead™.
* The forgoing is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your local FleetPride Heavy Duty Experts to verify the suitability of a part for the intended application.
Resources
1(1983, August 8). Key Factors in Truck Spray Control System Installation 831177. SAE International. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/831177/
2(2023, February 1). Snow and Ice. U.S. Department of Transporation Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/weather_events/snow_ice.htm