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Truckers using more rail intermodal
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The days of the long haul for solo is finished. It is now teams 24/7 if you expect to be on time. This is not to say that solos cannot make it... but there are just too many problems. <br /> <br />I recall when railroads cranked up intermodal boxes in a big way, everyone thought that the largest carriers will simply stick 400 trailers on a train and ship the whole thing to the west coast (or east coast if you prefer) and not need long haul drivers anymore. <br /> <br />Also it is not too bad when you have a new hotel under construction on one coast and a furnature factory completing it's total requirement of furnature and putting it on a train which will take 5-10 days to cross the United States. Furnature is something that does not require JIT or Expedited service. Now, Frozen Food, Produce, Refridgerated and other time sensitive products require time service that only 24/7 teams can do crossing the nation in 80 hours. (3 days and some change) Trains are not yet that fast. <br /> <br />I consider the late 80's the end of the era of a true long haul part of trucking. Schedules, GPS Satellites and Data communications as well as management focusing on truck/trailer useage by time and revenue all have speeded up trucking so much that you need Teams to keep good service 24/7. <br /> <br />I will not address the cultural changes that has become apparent in the last 5 years. The biggest thing is the waiting time which can be in the excess of 40 hours a week with no pay on down to personal hygene and nutrition being sacrifaced in order to keep a load moving and the job as well. People refuse to live and work in those conditions for too long. 3-6 months max. The ones that stay a year or more will always be able to survive the industry. The rest seek a better life or back to school. <br /> <br />You will always need a truck to get the box to and from a train or ship. Keeping those trucks manned and rolling (loaded) is a awesome challenge facing anyone who hauls cargo for hire in the United States. Especially in face of out dated laws, regulations and unrealistic scheduling. <br /> <br />I better get off this soapbox. Once one gets moving... it can be hard to stop. [soapbox]
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