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Truckers using more rail intermodal
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I agree with you there Slim. Kraft was one of those places where you were supposed to wash your trailer and ensure no odors or they wont load you. There will always be truckers to take the stuff to and from places just in a different way. <br /> <br />I have seen some of company trailers on trains and understood that motor freight so and so wont put that trailer on the train unless there was a need to. Strategic thinking related to how many loads of widgets that are needed to be run today and how many trailers are going to be needed somewhere else to fill orders tomorrow? <br /> <br />I was with JB Hunt after 9-11. We were in a situation where there was too many empty trucks for loads in various parts of the Nation. My dispatcher (Bless him) sent me to St Louis to Busch for beer. The problem was that about 570 trucks are also expected to arrive in St Louis when I do and only 230 will get loads that day. The rest are either committed to other loads or waiting until loads tomorrow. So I was happy to have a load going to no where Iowa with 4 days to pull it (only need 2) when I knew others are having to consume food while not being loaded and rolling. <br /> <br />Another time at the City Dock in Philadelphia a ship pulled in with Grapes. Ruby Grapes, Thompson Seedless etc etc.. You literally could see the hundred or so orders going out the doors to ship to the resterants, cold storage facilities and into Walmart centers for thier grocery stores along with other food stores wanting the product. It was a good day for business that day. <br /> <br />But that ship has to travel back to wherever the grapes came from (My guess is europe) and get reloaded and make the return trip. In the mean time these drivers and companies who had alot of business today will have to find more cargo to run for a profit until that ship returns. <br /> <br />Regarding the soccer moms and Nascar dads... dont get me started. I have two photo graphs which I will be placing into my photobucket in about a month showing a high speed car going out of control on a Wyoming Highway in the land of winter and split ice driving conditions. I saw this car coming at 60+ in the mirror and I was at 12 mph fighting for traction with chains out and interlock in...the car lost it and went off the road. <br /> <br />As far as the morning commute filled with Make up putter oners, newspaper readers, cell phone chewers and do everything related to work while driving to work .. anything BUT actually driving and keeping clear of the truckers and other cars...I say "simplfy" and stop for a nap and breakfast for a few hours in the morning and again at dinner time and let them have the traffic. It was safer that way.. I can always run at night when everyone is asleep in the USA. <br /> <br />Safety on the train for cargo is pretty good. If I can choose between Truck and Train between Baltimore and Portland I will want to run it on the train. This way I can keep my "driver" closer to his home and family. And I can make several trailers work instead of sitting empty for want of drivers.
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