AirFlow Truck Company
Building the World's Most Aerodynamic and Efficient Tractor Trailer Rigs
About Us
AirFlow Truck Company was founded in 1983 by Bob Sliwa.
As a child, Bob had a very inquisitive mind, and was very interested in science and physics. He would love to take apart, and then successfully put back together, all of his mechanical toys to see how they worked.
Later as a teenager, he transferred those mechanical aptitude skills into his first career and became an automobile mechanic part-time after attending daily high school classes. Also during this period, he discovered his love for anything automotive and became an amateur drag racer. He raced his cars during sanctioned events at drag strips throughout the northeast. This period was instrumental in his life as he learned many lessons from racing that would be very useful later in life.
Circa 1970. 1968 Chevelle SS. L88 - 427 cubic inch Big Block Chevrolet engine. Second-Design Open-Chamber Aluminum Heads. 600 horsepower. 12.5:1 Compression Ratio. Holley Dominator 1250 CFM carburetor. Edelbrock high-rise intake manifold. Hooker Headers with 2.25" primary tubes, 10.5" M&H RaceMaster Slicks. 4-speed Muncie M22 Rock Crusher Transmission, GM 12 Bolt differential with 4:11 gear ratio. 1/4 mile times of 11.4 @ 122 mph. Drove it to high school during the week and raced it at Dragstrips in the Northeast on Sundays.
Another shot of the SS power-shifting the L88 into second gear @ 7000 rpm.
He enjoyed driving so much, he figured a 13 speed truck transmission would be more fun than 4 speed automotive one. So in his early twenties, Bob obtained his Class 1 license (predecessor of the CDL license) and began driving tractor trailers throughout the northeast for local regional carriers.
Fu-Manchu trucking thru the spring snow. I-80 in Pennsylvania in a Ryder rig.
Circa 1975.
Fu-Manchu trucking thru the spring snow. I-80 in Pennsylvania in a Ryder rig.
Circa 1975.
After six years of regional trucking, Bob knew that he was ready to open his own over-the-road trucking company and become an owner-operator. He bought a cabover tractor and leased it to a carrier in Denver Colorado. But he soon realized how inefficient long haul trucks were, as he could only average 4.4 mpg.
Co-Pilots Zephyr and her son Bismarck at Long Beach, CA. Getting 4.4 mpg with a square truck. Circa 1980.
He then decided to use the lessons of his prior racing days to make his fledgling business more profitable.
But this time, instead of a goal of going the quickest possible from point "A" to point "B", his new goal was to be the most efficient from "A" to "B". Starting from the 4.4 mpg baseline, he changed only one item at a time, and documented the effects. Through hard work and constant experimentation during "real world" freight runs, he would soon average close to 10 mpg.
Bob garnered national press coverage of his accomplishments in trade magazines and press releases. He obtained corporate sponsorships from Flex-a-lite Consolidated, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, and Cummins Diesel Engines. He was also was a technical consultant to fleets as an efficiency expert, to help them obtain fuel expense cost savings.
The goal is to now build complete tractor trailer integrated systems, utilizing innovative aerodynamic designs and materials, and to produce the most fuel efficient class 8 vehicles anywhere.
Bob currently resides in central Connecticut with his German shepherd dog Kayla. In his free time he enjoys hiking with Kayla, Home Theater, and utilizing his private pilot's license.
Co-Pilots Zephyr and her son Bismarck at Long Beach, CA. Getting 4.4 mpg with a square truck. Circa 1980.
He then decided to use the lessons of his prior racing days to make his fledgling business more profitable.
But this time, instead of a goal of going the quickest possible from point "A" to point "B", his new goal was to be the most efficient from "A" to "B". Starting from the 4.4 mpg baseline, he changed only one item at a time, and documented the effects. Through hard work and constant experimentation during "real world" freight runs, he would soon average close to 10 mpg.
Bob garnered national press coverage of his accomplishments in trade magazines and press releases. He obtained corporate sponsorships from Flex-a-lite Consolidated, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, and Cummins Diesel Engines. He was also was a technical consultant to fleets as an efficiency expert, to help them obtain fuel expense cost savings.
The goal is to now build complete tractor trailer integrated systems, utilizing innovative aerodynamic designs and materials, and to produce the most fuel efficient class 8 vehicles anywhere.
Bob currently resides in central Connecticut with his German shepherd dog Kayla. In his free time he enjoys hiking with Kayla, Home Theater, and utilizing his private pilot's license.
AirFlow Truck Company is licensed for business in the state of Connecticut.
AirFlow Truck Company
860.666.1977
Newington, Connecticut
robert.sliwa@airflowtruck.com
860.666.1977
Newington, Connecticut
robert.sliwa@airflowtruck.com
State of Connecticut License # 000327240001 - 3894