Everything is going direct from factory to door bypassing traditional retail. Railroads should be courting Bezos to located next to Intermodal hubs. Of course Bezo could just buy a railroad but highly unlikley
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-will-never-be-able-to-railroad-these-five-companies-2017-08-25
Here is a list of Amazon warehouses-
https://blog.taxjar.com/amazon-warehouse-locations/
And just how would railroads help Amazon? Amazon is building their own airline (converting passenger planes to haul cargo), as current logistics flow isn't fast enough for their dreamed-of less than an hour delivery time.
Can I order 10K tons of coal on Amazon Prime for delivery tomorrow?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Can I order 10K tons of coal on Amazon Prime for delivery tomorrow?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Apparently the writer of that article was unaware of the large number of people who depend upon such as you to supply them with the materials for their comparatively small projects. I wonder what proportion of your overall business such are responsible for.
I am one who, in years past, took on such projects as building bookcases and cabinets and paneling our living room.
Johnny
Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
In fact, considering the sheer proliferation of drones and their irresponsible use by some I wouldn't be surprised if the regs concerning same got tougher instead of easier.
Deggesty Apparently the writer of that article was unaware of the large number of people who depend upon such as you to supply them with the materials for their comparatively small projects. I wonder what proportion of your overall business such are responsible for. I am one who, in years past, took on such projects as building bookcases and cabinets and paneling our living room.
Hey, you can only nail up one board at a time! With proper delivery schedules (ever heard of "Just In Time" delivery?), you could get the drones to place the boards where they go and you just wander around with a nail gun tacking them down... won't need a crane to hoist stuff into position... let the drone hover where the rafter goes! Sounds ideal to me!
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Firelock76Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Given the number of methods (both technological and brute force) for bringing down a drone, I'm not sure I want a package being delivered by drone.
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...
Firelock76 Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon. In fact, considering the sheer proliferation of drones and their irresponsible use by some I wouldn't be surprised if the regs concerning same got tougher instead of easier.
The idea of the strategically located distribution centers, is to ensure every customer is one day away. I don't see how the modern day railroad fits into this business model.
Lot of unresolved issues with commercial drones. I would expect self-driving cars becoming the norm, before we see mass use of drones.
As of now, drones have two practical applications: High dollar military types that only Uncle Sam can afford, that fly within restricted airspace. And at the other end of the cost spectrum as a high tech version of the radio control model airplane, limited in altitude and range with some commercial applications, but today largely in the hands of hobbyists.
CandOforprogress2Everything is going direct from factory to door bypassing traditional retail. Railroads should be courting Bezos to located next to Intermodal hubs. Of course Bezo could just buy a railroad but highly unlikley
Wrong again Chessie.
If Amazon is going directly from the factory to the consumer's door then just why does Amazon need all those warehouses? The fact of the matter is that they just ain't doin' that.
The railroads can, and are, moving the merchandise to the warehouses for Amazon. That's what the rails can do and, in fact, it's all they've done for years. It is not possible to deliver a new toaster to a house by rail.
Get real or get gone.
greyhounds CandOforprogress2 Everything is going direct from factory to door bypassing traditional retail. Railroads should be courting Bezos to located next to Intermodal hubs. Of course Bezo could just buy a railroad but highly unlikley Wrong again Chessie. If Amazon is going directly from the factory to the consumer's door then just why does Amazon need all those warehouses? The fact of the matter is that they just ain't doin' that. The railroads can, and are, moving the merchandise to the warehouses for Amazon. That's what the rails can do and, in fact, it's all they've done for years. It is not possible to deliver a new toaster to a house by rail. Get read or get gone.
CandOforprogress2 Everything is going direct from factory to door bypassing traditional retail. Railroads should be courting Bezos to located next to Intermodal hubs. Of course Bezo could just buy a railroad but highly unlikley
Get read or get gone.
Sometimes I think critical thinking is a dying art. The words "think it through" just don't seem to resonate with some folks.
[quote user="BaltACD"]
[/https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Lump-Coal-Naughty-Gift/dp/B005NI79DK
The Sears catolog has been doing what Jeff Bezos and Amazon have been doing for years. Nothing new here and the railroads worked quite well delivering boxcars of new stoves and washing machines to the wareshouses. Matter of fact my family picked up our washing machine at the Sears Warehouse in Downtown Cleveland in the 1970s and it still works!
BLS53 Firelock76 Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon. In fact, considering the sheer proliferation of drones and their irresponsible use by some I wouldn't be surprised if the regs concerning same got tougher instead of easier. Lot of unresolved issues with commercial drones. I would expect self-driving cars becoming the norm, before we see mass use of drones. As of now, drones have two practical applications: High dollar military types that only Uncle Sam can afford, that fly within restricted airspace. And at the other end of the cost spectrum as a high tech version of the radio control model airplane, limited in altitude and range with some commercial applications, but today largely in the hands of hobbyists.
Don't expect that. UAS ops are a procedural issue, not a technological one. Self-driving cars are still a technological issue. There's no reason that right now today, beyond procedural issues, that UPS and FedEx (and DHL and Cargolux and so on) couldn't be flying fully autonomous freighters. You're also way underestimating the commercial applications in day to day use. No one is ever going to be delivering pizzas with them, but their applications for live news coverage, site surveying, quick turn mapping, earth sciences, and so on are huge and already in service.
NittanyLion ...but their applications for live news coverage, site surveying, quick turn mapping, earth sciences, and so on...
The fire service is slowly starting to embrace their use for evaluating the fireground. One precept of incident command is an initial "360," ie, a trip around the fire building to see what's going on on all sides. This isn't always possible from the ground - a UAV can easily pull it off with most buildings.
Ongoing assessment is much easier as well. Just have to dedicate someone to do the flying.
UAVs can also be useful in hazmat situations - equipped with both standard and IR cameras, a UAV can dart in and out in a fraction of the time it would take humans, and at less risk to the humans (think bomb squad robot).
One part of the fire service that has not embraced UAVs is forest fires - where private UAVs have interfered with air ops on several occasions. They can be useful for smaller wildfires, but once the big boys start flying, the UAVs should stay on the ground.
NittanyLion BLS53 Firelock76 Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon. In fact, considering the sheer proliferation of drones and their irresponsible use by some I wouldn't be surprised if the regs concerning same got tougher instead of easier. Lot of unresolved issues with commercial drones. I would expect self-driving cars becoming the norm, before we see mass use of drones. As of now, drones have two practical applications: High dollar military types that only Uncle Sam can afford, that fly within restricted airspace. And at the other end of the cost spectrum as a high tech version of the radio control model airplane, limited in altitude and range with some commercial applications, but today largely in the hands of hobbyists. Don't expect that. UAS ops are a procedural issue, not a technological one. Self-driving cars are still a technological issue. There's no reason that right now today, beyond procedural issues, that UPS and FedEx (and DHL and Cargolux and so on) couldn't be flying fully autonomous freighters. You're also way underestimating the commercial applications in day to day use. No one is ever going to be delivering pizzas with them, but their applications for live news coverage, site surveying, quick turn mapping, earth sciences, and so on are huge and already in service.
Autonomous airliners are a half century away. Automobiles maybe 20 years. I'm talking mainstream use, not experimental, "the technology exist" line of thinking.
Aviation has many hurdles. First step in the process is the automation of the ATC system. To do this requires reform of the FAA bureaucracy. And that has been a futile battle for the last half century.
Well my boss was just given a choice he can keep serving Walmart which makes up about 10 percentage of all our backhaul loads or keep Amazon which is less than 1 percent. Walmart is banning carriers that serve both from having contracts with them at all.
Now if they apply this equally to all carriers then it is going to get interesting in a hurry. Your talking the 2 of the larger receivers in the nation for all types of goods. Wonder how this is going to play out with the big boys.
Shadow the Cats ownerWell my boss was just given a choice he can keep serving Walmart which makes up about 10 percentage of all our backhaul loads or keep Amazon which is less than 1 percent. Walmart is banning carriers that serve both from having contracts with them at all. Now if they apply this equally to all carriers then it is going to get interesting in a hurry. Your talking the 2 of the larger receivers in the nation for all types of goods. Wonder how this is going to play out with the big boys.
USPS, UPS and FedEx should present interesting challenges.
That sounds like a totally illegal business tactic!
Not to mention JB Hunt Schiender Swift KLLM Marten Prime England Caledon and several other mega fleets. Actually they can Walmart especially after that crash in NJ that injured Tracy Morgan is very careful who they allow to pull for them at all anymore. They also fine heavily for late and now early loads. Yes they are a pain in the butt to deal with. We are contracted to them and there is a bit of language in that contract that states Walmart can change the language at anytime up to and including which of our competion we allow you to service. It is in all in their contracts and you better have deeper pockets than they do to fight that clause.
Semper VaporoThat sounds like a totally illegal business tactic!
In today's world in the USA, are there illegal business tactics?
CandOforprogress2 The Sears catolog has been doing what Jeff Bezos and Amazon have been doing for years. Nothing new here and the railroads worked quite well delivering boxcars of new stoves and washing machines to the wareshouses. Matter of fact my family picked up our washing machine at the Sears Warehouse in Downtown Cleveland in the 1970s and it still works!
The Sears catalog was discontinued years ago, even before Amazon and other online businesses. Amazon may be the best-known online firm but there are a fair number of specialized businesses that have their own online niche.
greyhounds CandOforprogress2 Everything is going direct from factory to door bypassing traditional retail. Railroads should be courting Bezos to located next to Intermodal hubs. Of course Bezo could just buy a railroad but highly unlikley Wrong again Chessie. If Amazon is going directly from the factory to the consumer's door then just why does Amazon need all those warehouses? The fact of the matter is that they just ain't doin' that. The railroads can, and are, moving the merchandise to the warehouses for Amazon. That's what the rails can do and, in fact, it's all they've done for years. It is not possible to deliver a new toaster to a house by rail. Get real or get gone.
To sort of put a punctuation to what greyhounds mentioned; I have seen a 'few' Amazon logoed trailers riding on BNSF trains past here. [A totally random set of observations]! Also unknown is how many other trailers [OTR carriers and 'plain' rentals] are moving with Amazon freight.
This area sees a large number of both Stackers, (Domestic and Import/Export cans) and TOFC moves in both directions. FedEX equipment seems also, to be gaining numbers, but still nowhere near that of JBH's.
The TOFC trains are seeming to be populated with more, and more 'new' brands: ABF,Ellis,YRC, along with the FedEx and UPS and more and more irregular route carriers seem to be riding (Transport AMERICA, Marten, Assoc. Grocers,Southern Refrigerated, Prime IM,).( Just some I picked off a EB, as I was writing this.) And all of this is just on the local BNSF sub.) 0900 (local) and the fourth train of the morning is sliding by (Autoracks).
Murphy Siding CandOforprogress2 The Sears catolog has been doing what Jeff Bezos and Amazon have been doing for years. Nothing new here and the railroads worked quite well delivering boxcars of new stoves and washing machines to the wareshouses. Matter of fact my family picked up our washing machine at the Sears Warehouse in Downtown Cleveland in the 1970s and it still works! Times might have changed the dynamics a bit. Did your folks order the washing machine online?
Times might have changed the dynamics a bit. Did your folks order the washing machine online?
BLS53 NittanyLion BLS53 Firelock76 Forget Amazon's drone delivery fantasies, current FAA rules prohibit commercial drone operation out of sight of the operator and that's not likely to change anytime soon. In fact, considering the sheer proliferation of drones and their irresponsible use by some I wouldn't be surprised if the regs concerning same got tougher instead of easier. Lot of unresolved issues with commercial drones. I would expect self-driving cars becoming the norm, before we see mass use of drones. As of now, drones have two practical applications: High dollar military types that only Uncle Sam can afford, that fly within restricted airspace. And at the other end of the cost spectrum as a high tech version of the radio control model airplane, limited in altitude and range with some commercial applications, but today largely in the hands of hobbyists. Don't expect that. UAS ops are a procedural issue, not a technological one. Self-driving cars are still a technological issue. There's no reason that right now today, beyond procedural issues, that UPS and FedEx (and DHL and Cargolux and so on) couldn't be flying fully autonomous freighters. You're also way underestimating the commercial applications in day to day use. No one is ever going to be delivering pizzas with them, but their applications for live news coverage, site surveying, quick turn mapping, earth sciences, and so on are huge and already in service. Autonomous airliners are a half century away. Automobiles maybe 20 years. I'm talking mainstream use, not experimental, "the technology exist" line of thinking. Aviation has many hurdles. First step in the process is the automation of the ATC system. To do this requires reform of the FAA bureaucracy. And that has been a futile battle for the last half century.
As someone that works in the aerospace business, I completely disagree. Current production aircraft are already semi-automonous already. The only things stopping them are saying it is legal to go full auto and whether or not passengers would accept them. Everything's already flying itself from V2 to the inner marker. Cars have much bigger hurdles ahead of them.
CandOforprogress2 Murphy Siding Times might have changed the dynamics a bit. Did your folks order the washing machine online? We went to the Sears at the mall which had a appliance showroom with a salesman but in order to pick up the finished washing machine we had to go downtown to the warehouse district crossing street-trackage to a huge brickwarehouse to have the washing machine loaded on a pickup truck that dad borrowed from work.
Murphy Siding Times might have changed the dynamics a bit. Did your folks order the washing machine online?
We went to the Sears at the mall which had a appliance showroom with a salesman but in order to pick up the finished washing machine we had to go downtown to the warehouse district crossing street-trackage to a huge brickwarehouse to have the washing machine loaded on a pickup truck that dad borrowed from work.
I've ordered items on line several times lately, then driven to the local outlet of that store and picked the item up. If you know exactly what you want, it's quite convenient. Of course, the store has to have it in stock... Even then, many businesses now allow you to order an item on line and it will be shipped to the local outlet. Usually if you do that, there's no shipping charges.
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