Don't under estimate the railroads desire to grab as much of the trucking industries business as possible. Union Pacific is in the last stages of double railing their route between El Paso and Los Angeles. BNSF is doing the same. There are plans for intermodal terminals all across America. Ports are being planned in Mexico to bring containers in {without union longshoreman} and ship them by rail to Kansas City and other inland ports. CSX and Norfolk Southern are planning intermodal for the Eastern US and Kansas City Southern already has a huge presence in Mexico. A UP salesman friend of mine is already telling customers that they will beat truck transit times on many routes in the nest 5 yrs. Will they do it?Who knows? But you can bet your tail they are sure as heck going to try. Biggest obstacle is cost to upgrade their tracks. But they have spent billions on their coal operations in recent years. They can now haul over 100 coal unit trains per day where 5 years ago it was less than 60. Here in TX I see their trains everyday with JB Hunt, Roadway, Schneider, US Express, UPS, FED-EX, and many other carriers trailers riding the rails.

P.S.

----Longer trailers.

---and i think cabovers will comeback in small doses because there are applications that will always need them.

----more apu's and less idling which is a good thing.

The rails are coming. Warren Buffet knows it. I know it. You know it. Everybody knows it, but a lot won't admit it. Will the rise of the rails mean you find yourself out of work? Hard to call, but you'd be wise to plan, plan, plan, as that may very well happen.

Mandatory teaming is almost here as it is. If you don't want to roast or freeze in Cally tonight, you'd better have a teammate. Tomorrow it'll be the rest of the country.

The new HOS laws were put in place to herd companies and drivers in the teaming direction, in case you didn't notice. When Hillary wins next year, say goodbye to overnight idling and hello to your new teammate, Mr. OTR solo driver.

In about five years, the number of trucks on the roads will be about 75% what it is today. In about a decade, it'll be hovering around half. Can you hear that big train whistle? Warren Buffet and his investor clients can.

__________________
--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.

Yet another old thread I feel the need to resurrect...

I know the old truck vs. rail feud is as old as the transportation industry itself. But as I sit here thinking about it--what would happen if railroads did snag a majority of cross-country freight?

Would there be any less need for trucks? I don't think so... it's hard to back a train into a dock at the local grocery store. A Centennial DD40X wouldn't be very good navigating local streets in Chicago either... LOL.

At any rate, I believe the same number of trucks would be needed to haul the freight--they'd just be more localized. The train is only going to be able to get the freight so close to its final destination, then the trucks are going to need to pick it up for final delivery.

The only change for truck drivers will be that they'll see their family more than once every 3-4 weeks. That might not be a bad thing.

__________________
This is NOT the Daytona 500... you don't win a prize for being first.

I've seen the changes in the last twenty years. you couldn't get a newbe close to the truck I took my first drive test in. A 335 cummins and a 5x4 !!!!! It was a hoot and top of the line equipment at the time. No A.C. spring ride. and a c.o.e on top of that! Hit a rough road(all of them) and the only time you were in the seat was when you bounced off the other side. But it wasn't all that bad. I'd do it again

Considering,fuel prices constantly change,as do Presidents,ect..Quote "Computers make it easier to do a lot of things,,,,But most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done" 89yr.old Andy Rooney.The greatest technolological advancement in the last 20yrs has ben the,Automatic slack-adjuster.I don't see the next ten years as anything exciting.And another thing....Givive Big Rail a call today and order your important merchandise.!! Check back with us in ten years and let us know if Big Rail (unless the name changes through merger and accuasation?) even knows where your merchandise is,Let alone recieved.....Keep'on'Truckin.......

I know you guys have seen a lot of changes, but doesn't it feel like the next 10 years are going to have even more changes? The economy is so delicate. If 70% of the economy wasn't driven by consumer spending, I would feel a bit more secure. If people start to save money instead of spend, there goes the economy. I think cheap oil is coming to an end soon also. The economy we currently have is dependent on cheap energy. All this stupid global warming talk has to account for something too. There are some who think we need to intentionally shrink the economy down to 1990's levels. Our system is based on continuous growth. If it's not growin', it's dyin'. Shrinking it cannot happen. Government 'tinkering' of the economy can wreck it too. Not to mention the Federal Reserve (the true ruler of this country) likes to give and take as standard practice. I think it's ready to start taking. Top all this off with a country that is 50 trillion in debt (including the money we owe ourselves) and I don't think there will be much of an economy to service in the next ten years.

I have come to these conclusions since I first started this thread. Does anyone else think it looks this bleak? If not, how do you ignore this data. Most people use the past as the guide for the future, saying it can't get that bad. Never before has our country been so willing to destroy our greatness, and give everything away.

two things describe this quote from the above poster!!! In the 80's the

REAGAN administration derregulated the trucking industry; and pretty

soon truck drivers (we) will be making as much money as any mexican

or chinesse worker makes in those countries. Also NAFTA, another

blow the the manufacturing industry as well. Thank you very much

mister RONALD REAGAN, and thank you very much mister BUSH (father and

son) for all the great ideas you've come up with.

The trucking industry needs a reform, one that would send a message to

washington letting them know that we are a big force in this country if

we all stick together. Truckers unite ..!!!!!!

I agree that the rail road will take over most long haul transportation and most trucking jobs will be regional. But I don't think it will work for time sensitive loads like produce, milk, bull haulers, etc.

I haul a lot of plasticizers. It's cooked, put in a tanker hot, activated, and then it has to be transferred to the users tanks before it cools down. Any additional heating will cause unfavorable reactions to the compound.

I can't see the RR doing such a great job with that, either.