Railroad Train Carrying Only Truck Trailers?

I saw a railroad train today...about a half mile long....carrying nothing but tractor trailers on flatbed cars from various (larger named) carriers. These obviously were not new trailers but rather loaded tractor trailers. Is the trucking business so busy that the companies have to contract out to the railroad to meet demand? I was under the impression that the trucking industry is slow and many drivers are having to run barefoot on hot blacktop to get work. Being a newbie and not yet out of school...this sight kinda made me wonder what is going on in the transport sector. Please enlighten me!

 

That kinda blows! Perhaps I should be looking into a train engineer school. I hope that this isn't a trend of the future...with the trains hauling OUR freight. Kinda skeery!

 

The slow economy is effecting them too.[/quote]

Hope and change. Change and hope. Yes we can't.
Slow economy? What are you talking about Brickman? According to 'Bam... we are pulling out of the "recession" as the unemployment drops... and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been "saved" and/or "created" by the federal gov't bailout/stimulus and wonderful new "green" jobs! I heard you truckers really dig that new government subsidized bio-diesel. Keeps those trucks runnin' great when those temps dip below zero I understand. I know. You just been spending too much time in your truck and haven't heard the good news yet.
Yessah...soon we bees in high cotton!!