CN's CEO is defecting to the other side. Jumping ship. He is joining TuSimple's advisory board. That name might sound familiar, that is because they are the leading autonomous trucking firm.You may recall that CN and UP invested in them recently. With this move by CN's CEO, their motives are clear. They are abandoning rail as they see no future in this mode of transport.
Autonomous trucks will make trucking cheaper and quicker, making rail even less attractive to shippers than it already is.
In doing this, JJ is carrying out what I have suggested before, the railways are going to become autonomous trucking companies. The fact that CN refuses to comment on their CEO's actions proves this. They don't want to tell the truth about the future of their company. It would be bad for share price.
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2021/01/22-canadian-national-ceo-ruest-to-serve-as-advisor-to-autonomous-trucking-company
Maybe some people see the advantage in melding rail and truck... Autonomous trucks is just one of the tools, like one man crews.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
CEOs jump between companies all the time. Corrolation does not equal causation.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
In the link provided by the troll OP.
"Analysts suspect that CN and UP are interested in learning more about autonomous trucking, perhaps as a step toward using autonomous hostler rigs within their intermodal terminals."
An "expensive model collector"
n012944 In the link provided by the troll OP. "Analysts suspect that CN and UP are interested in learning more about autonomous trucking, perhaps as a step toward using autonomous hostler rigs within their intermodal terminals."
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
First, the whole thing about hostler rigs is, in my opinion, way off the mark. TuSimple is working on OTR, so this speculation makes no sense.
Secondly, if this move was meant to compliment rail, then why not comment on it? UP and CN have the ability to explain their actions. Talk up their investment. Tell us all about how their autonomous trucks will bring benefits to rail. They are being sneaky about this though and it just reeks of suspicion. Anyone in the rail industry should be shaking in their boots about why some of the leading companies in the business are funding the biggest threat to rail since the interstate highway system.
ttrraaffiiccAnyone in the rail industry should be shaking in their boots about why some of the leading companies in the business are funding the biggest threat to rail since the interstate highway system.
Why would I shake in my boots? If the rail system disappears - I'll go find another job. That's if PSR doesn't do it in first. Not that big of a deal, dude.
Your trolling and chicken little craaaaap is geting old. What is your stake in this? You must have something in the game to be so committed (95 posts) to this one single subject? What is it?
Railroads recognize that they can't be the "last mile." A number of railroads have operated truck fleets through the years - if you look at images of early TOFC, you'll see a plethora of railroad trailers on those flat cars.
Unless some regulator or another blocks the way, I suspect you'll see a fair amount of that last mile business in the hands of the railroads.
The scary thing for RRs is some 4th grade arithmetic. A long train may be the equivalent of 300-400 truck loads. Autonomous trucks mean that many fewer teamsters. For a one crewman train that is one fewer RRer. And - political clout is heavily dependent upon the number of well paid jobs, RRs are and have lost clout - bigtime.
ROBIN LUETHE The scary thing for RRs is some 4th grade arithmetic. A long train may be the equivalent of 300-400 truck loads. Autonomous trucks mean that many fewer teamsters. For a one crewman train that is one fewer RRer. And - political clout is heavily dependent upon the number of well paid jobs, RRs are and have lost clout - bigtime.
It's the trend. The timeframe and exact picture are unclear still, but anyone who thinks the status quo is sustainable is in for a rough time.
tree68 ttrraaffiicc Anyone in the rail industry should be shaking in their boots about why some of the leading companies in the business are funding the biggest threat to rail since the interstate highway system. Railroads recognize that they can't be the "last mile." A number of railroads have operated truck fleets through the years - if you look at images of early TOFC, you'll see a plethora of railroad trailers on those flat cars. Unless some regulator or another blocks the way, I suspect you'll see a fair amount of that last mile business in the hands of the railroads.
ttrraaffiicc Anyone in the rail industry should be shaking in their boots about why some of the leading companies in the business are funding the biggest threat to rail since the interstate highway system.
Staggers was passed 41 years ago. The ICC restrictions from the 20s-30s did not totally stop those early attempts at vertical integration (single ownership of the entire endeavor, not just cooperation with truck companies) which you mentioned (CGW, PRR, NYC, UP, etc.). I would hope the rails figure out how to implement such a program and stop leaving much of the profits for others.
charlie hebdoI would hope the rails figure out how to implement such a program and stop leaving much of the profits for others.
And if it does appear there's money on the table in truck intermodal? They can buy into it then, from a preferred position with the manufacturers or from a costed-down base left by early adopters.
Not saying this is what I would do, but in a world of quarterly analyst resets, it's by far the approach that makes the best "sense" at this point in the implementation cycle...
Lots of butts going to be lost in the autonomous electric truck space before there are any client's (land) yachts...
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