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Trucking Industry Driver Shortage Solution

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 5:14 AM

Deggesty

Norm, is that in Canada? That is the only place I have seen 12-wheel semi's--I saw two or three on the Prince Rupert-Port Hardy ferry. 

 

Australia.

Norm


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Posted by Ulrich on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 8:37 AM

SALfan
 
Norm48327

Road Train

 

 

 

This combination is a female dog to back into a narrow alley.  I'd like to see it done.

 

 

No harder than backng a 747 jet into the same spot. Good thing neither is ever required.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 8:45 AM

Ulrich
SALfan
 
Norm48327

Road Train

 

This combination is a female dog to back into a narrow alley.  I'd like to see it done.

No harder than backng a 747 jet into the same spot. Good thing neither is ever required.

I'd like to see it loaded, climbing the hills on I-68 in MD & WV and I am certain those out West are even worse.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 10:07 AM

Closest thing that I've seen to that rig is 2 full-length trailers or 3 pups on the Indiana Toll Road. 

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Ulrich on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 10:39 AM

BaltACD
 
Ulrich
SALfan
 
Norm48327

Road Train

 

This combination is a female dog to back into a narrow alley.  I'd like to see it done.

No harder than backng a 747 jet into the same spot. Good thing neither is ever required.

 

I'd like to see it loaded, climbing the hills on I-68 in MD & WV and I am certain those out West are even worse.

 

 

I think you're confusing this with platooning. Platooning is not one tractor hauling multiple trailers.. it is several tractor-trailers following each other in close proximity. The lead t/t is driven by a driver while the following units are driverless and"tethered"to the lead vehicle electronically. Once the platoon arrives at its desired general destination it is broken up, and each tractor trailer is then driven to its final destination by a driver. No one is suggesting that truck platoons would be used in tight congested downtown settings or that one tractor would be pulling half a dozen or more trailers. Such long combinations work well in the Australian outback but would be unworkable in North America where we have more rugged terrain as well as more varied weather conditions.

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 11:00 AM

No confusion on my part. It was in answer to bluestreak.

Norm


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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 11:15 AM

Ulrich
BaltACD
 
Ulrich
SALfan
 
Norm48327

Road Train

 

This combination is a female dog to back into a narrow alley.  I'd like to see it done.

No harder than backng a 747 jet into the same spot. Good thing neither is ever required.

 

I'd like to see it loaded, climbing the hills on I-68 in MD & WV and I am certain those out West are even worse.

I think you're confusing this with platooning. Platooning is not one tractor hauling multiple trailers.. it is several tractor-trailers following each other in close proximity. The lead t/t is driven by a driver while the following units are driverless and"tethered"to the lead vehicle electronically. Once the platoon arrives at its desired general destination it is broken up, and each tractor trailer is then driven to its final destination by a driver. No one is suggesting that truck platoons would be used in tight congested downtown settings or that one tractor would be pulling half a dozen or more trailers. Such long combinations work well in the Australian outback but would be unworkable in North America where we have more rugged terrain as well as more varied weather conditions.

You are confusing what I am seeing - A tractor and 4 trailers coupled to it!  No Platooning here!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Ulrich on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 11:33 AM

That's what I'm seeing too.

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Posted by MP173 on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 12:34 PM

28 foot pups are being "streched" to 33 ft and will be run as triples on the Toll Road system.

Ed

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 4:06 PM

MP173

28 foot pups are being "streched" to 33 ft and will be run as triples on the Toll Road system.

Ed

 

And on interstate highways in South Dakota.  At least, UPS and probably FedEx do.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 9:04 PM

BaltACD
Ulrich
SALfan
Norm48327

Road Train

 This combination is a female dog to back into a narrow alley.  I'd like to see it done.

No harder than backng a 747 jet into the same spot. Good thing neither is ever required.

Mischief As with any mountain railroad, I'd like to see it going down those same hills . . . Whistling
"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 9:19 PM

rrnut282
[snipped -PDN] I just don't see this being useful anywhere but on long highway only runs, which is in direct competetion with rail intermodal. . . .  

And as for platooning (gee that sounds familiar, like...like a train) . . . "

"+1" Thumbs Up  Yeah, we've already got that technology ! Smile, Wink & Grin

To challenger3980 & others with similar points: It occurs to me that with Chicago being the 'black hole' that it is with regard to most train movements through it (1 -2 day delays, etc.) - and similar though shorter delays for intermodal de-ramping, rubber-tire interchange, and reloading - rail might be more competitive on moves that are entirely on one side of Chicago, but not through it. 

As a rail move gets near Chi-town, it starts to suffer from at least multi-hour delays, while a competitive truck on a highway can keep moving.  But instead limiting the intermodal run to outside of Chicago avoids that trap, and makes a greater portion of the rail haul more competitive with trucks.  In other words, the rails could thereby get rid that 'handicap'.

- Paul North.         

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Norm48327 on Thursday, October 8, 2015 6:06 AM

Jake brake.

Norm


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Posted by Victrola1 on Thursday, October 8, 2015 7:42 AM

With no driver, no hours of service violations. No single driver rest delays. Two driver team operations avoid that, but are expensive. 

No driver. No delays. No extra labor cost to keep a unit moving. A better return on capital investment that keeps moving and generating revenue. Less time in transit for the customer. 

Driverless trucks would have would effect on rail's long haul intermodal market? 

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Posted by erikem on Thursday, October 8, 2015 9:06 AM

Driverless trucks would petty much need dedicated roadways - which could be dedicated to driverless vehicles. The cost of these roadways could easily exceed the savings on labor.

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