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RR's are full - then let truckers pull doubles!

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Double 48's or 53's??? OMG!! NO, HAY-UL NO. nope no how uh uhnh sowwry. YOu can flame me if you want. But I have 16 years in the trucking behind the wheel starting with 20 footers (Thought those were big) moved to 40's then 45's 48's and finally 53's. There are very few places in the country where you can hook two full trailers and that is the NY Thruway. They are connected prior to gettting on and disconnected when they are off that road. 2 drivers are then needed to deliver them. (Or one driver two trips) The driver shortage is a constant problem in the trucking. Everyweek you see 50 hopeful wanna be's packing orientation chattering to each other how they gonna make the money, drive a large car etc etc. Phooey. Very few out of that 50 will still be in the cab 6 months from they hire and even fewer will make it past first year. On the flip side I hear the UP wants engineers and engines so bad they need 5000 just to honor the freight they got piling up. Remeber this: They will ALWAYs need a truck to deliver something anywhere in the USA. "Then let truckers pull doubles..." what a dangerous and unsafe concept. I am awake and glaring at the monitor because I remember that there are millions of spots you should NOT take a 53 trailer into because you cannot get out (never mind the bridges, overpasses, corner obstructions, people getting too close with the cars etc" There are howls on both sides of the issue but bottom line is this: Highways and state roads will NOT accomodate full doubles safely. This is why we have pups and triples across the country doing this work. I shudder to think of what I must do with a double full set in downtown little rock to make a delivery anywhere. As far as the talk about road damage, I can attest to some very bad roads left to crumble while they argue over what to do with the Federal Motor Carrier Taxes and Taxes from Fuel that has over the last 20 years accumilated in our US Treasury to rebuild our entire system twice over. Some states are finally addressing very bad roads. These roads destrory trucks and sap the driver's strength and health. Cars handle the road easier but you will feel every crack and dip in a truck. One truck with 24 tons in the trailer does less harm than a pair of trucks carrying 12 ton. The axle loadings on the 24 tonner load (40 tons gross) = 12,000 steer, 34,000 drive and 34,000 tandems. Give or take a little. Spread 10 foot axles on the steel flatbeds can carry 40,000 on the rear (20,000 max per axle) The little truck with the 12 ton load perhaps has 3 axles maybe 2. The loadings are a bit less than the big truck. But put two of them with two tractors, insurance, fuel, drivers payroll etc etc etc costs more and requires more attention than one single truck at 80,000 pounds. I no longer pay attention to shippers and recievers. They are in control of what, when and how and what time of day does the freight need to be there. You are locked into that when you load the rig, sign the bill of lading and close the doors. (They may even punch the time of day and actual date of loading on the lading forcing you to adjust your log book among other problems) Railroads have higher axle loadings are best at carrying large cargos long distances. River barges will carry as much as a train does at times. Freighters ocean going ships will take even more. In the end if you need that widget at the store, it was delivered by truck. You dont see the waste, loss and damaged product taht arrives at the destination for distribution to your store. If I wanted to ship coast to coast I will box it and put it on the train. No problem. Getting it from the train to the customer will require a truck.
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