scarysharkface
Explorer
That said, does the trucking industry really want recreational traffic off the interstate highway system that badly? Really?
Driving slow on fast freeways?
- Thread starter VicHanson
- Start date
DrMoab
Explorer
Rail traffic will not get it to your local stores. Its also hugely inefficient and slow when it comes to local deliveries. It will move fright fast across country but that is about it.
The trucking industry is also as strong as it has ever been. There will be no nails in any coffins.
DrMoab
Explorer
No, they just want them to move at a reasonable speed.
scarysharkface
Explorer
Rail traffic is fast and exceptionally cheap compared to trucks over the long-haul, but yes, distribution at the end is problematic at this time.
The real answer is intermodal, with trucks handling the local delivery.
John
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Thats only true in Europe and Asia. In America our rail system is sub par, like 100 years out of date and no fix in site.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Not at all, we just want them to do the speed limit..or at least get close to it....lol.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Nope... every single thing you own, eat, drive, ride, play with, or break was brought to you on a truck.
DrMoab
Explorer
I want to see you get fresh Oranges from Florida to an Albertsons in Montana on a train. It will never happen in this country, EVER!
There is also the problem of fast delivery, not just cross country. It works like this...
Lets say you run Bill-E-Bobs fine furnishing in Portland Oregon. You run out of the newest hardwood dining tables from Bubba's Hardwood tables in Biluxi Mississippi. You have a number of people who really want these tables and they want them by the end of the week.
If you get in touch with the railroad they "might" get you a container to load them up by the end of the week. Then they "might" pick it up at the end of the next week. Then there is a good chance that it will sit in a rail yard a month before it finally gets on a train and it will make good time until it hits Salt Lake City Utah where they have to switch trains. That will happen in another week or two. Finally two months later it shows up in Portland where you have to wait for a truck to bring it to you.
Now if you called a truck broker, he could have them on an interstate truck in less than twelve hours and to your door in about 72 hours.
The rail system is a joke and it always will be.
With all that being said, why do you hate trucks so much for holding you up but you haven't said anything about the RV's that do the same thing. Are you another one of the thousand and thousands that have an irrational hatred of truckers but no reason why?
scarysharkface
Explorer
That is false. Most things I have have seen the inside of a truck, yes, but also rail, air and boat, and many things have never seen the inside of a truck.
Getting back to the original topic, I believe the reality is that some of us aren't going to do the upper speed limit at least some of the time no matter how much some other of us protest.
Luckily I believe we all understand that courtesy on the highway is a universal value for Expo members and our actions often show significantly more compassion than do our words.
John
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Dude.. think about it. 99.99% Of everythign in your life..in some part of its creation involved 18 wheels.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Very well said, and its hard to convey feelings, emothins, and sarcasim with a key board...lol
scarysharkface
Explorer
I don't hate trucks. Far from it. I just don't like being intolerant of others who have just as much right as you do to use the interstate highway system in a completely legal fashion. The RV folks aren't telling me to get off the road if I'm doing 5-under the speed limit. As for commercial traffic having priority over recreational traffic, I think it's more a matter of taxpayers having access to something we've all paid for. Truckers are heavily subsidized by the government (with our tax dollars) simply by using public roads.
Again, I don't hate trucks or truckers, I simply disagree with your position on this.
John
"the rail system is a joke..."
The USA railroad operating companies are laughing all the way to the bank. Profits are up for the railroads, considerably more than the profits for trucking companies. Production of commodities like iron ore and steel are up this year. Shipment by rail is great for bulk cargo.
Part of the reason is reduced competition. There has been substantial consolidation in the rail sector, more than in trucking.
I have friends who are independent long-haul truckers. While shipments are up, so are expenses. They are having trouble paying the bills this year.
The USA railroad operating companies are laughing all the way to the bank. Profits are up for the railroads, considerably more than the profits for trucking companies. Production of commodities like iron ore and steel are up this year. Shipment by rail is great for bulk cargo.
Part of the reason is reduced competition. There has been substantial consolidation in the rail sector, more than in trucking.
I have friends who are independent long-haul truckers. While shipments are up, so are expenses. They are having trouble paying the bills this year.
scarysharkface
Explorer
I am trying with some success to ween myself off of the consumerism mentality. I try to eat locally grown/raised food when I can, and I build things from scratch and/or buy scratch-built when possible.
Understatement if ever there was one!
John