Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

I have been hearing the team operation thing for yrs.20 yrs.ago drivers were saying the days of the single driver are just about over.I can agree with you that team trucks can definitly get freight further in a shorter period of time,and do it legally.Most cos.use their teams to do JIT loads of 1000,miles or more and yeah the coast to coast runs.But on the other hand there are still and I think always will be the 500 to 600 mile runs especially in the eastern 1/2 of the US.These loads are best handled by solos.Having just completed another tour I still see a number of loads sitting in terminals and drop lots that do not deliver for a few days.Sometimes these loads are brought in from the west coast by a team,and relayed at a terminal in the midwest or the east to be deliverd 500 mis.down the road by a single driver.All of the cos.seem to be trying to build up their team operations,but I think,there will always be solo drivers.Heck I have run coast to coast many times as a solo,and had plenty of time to do it.Many times you can pick up a load on the east coast that delivers on the west coast 4 or 5 days later.Just my opinion on the subject.

 

Road Dog, you're right. I think the near future will be something like this: OTR will become "Over the Region". Most runs will be short, overnight trips to switch points.

I think there is a gross inefficiency in trucking with the rigs sitting overnight idling away in truckstops and polluting the air needlessly. Capitalism, something a lot of you guys are in love with, will make a "correction" in the future and put a stop to this. I predict the squeeze will be put on beginning on January 20, 2009 when Hillary becomes our next president.

Can you say "Who's your momma?"

 

Well what I have been seeing is that the "BOXES" are getting smaller. Perhaps the solos will be driving those six or ten wheel straight trucks leaving the teams to haul the 53 footers. I have personally being seeing the number of these vehicles growing just in the last year alone. I drive solo and I! for one! am not sure I want to ever drive team. As for polluting the environment! Here is something to chew on. just a year ago before they came out with the new Energy Efficient Engines. they were getting 9 and 10 miles to the gallon. So now! In the name of Getting clean Air! we get right around 6 on a good day. So why are we using more fuel to get clean air. Here is a novel Idea! How about burn less fuel? well the LIBS and REPUBS are both gettin their pockets filled this way. But hey! WE'RE GETTIN CLEAN AIR RIGHT?

 

Maybe there will be a few more years left in the ol' solo-driver dog beyond the arrival of Hillary. It would have to take the form of a grandfather clause. It'd go something like this:

The government will put the clamps on idling rigs beginning in 2009. Hillary and her green army will lead the charge. This means trucks won't be able to idle overnight in truckstops keeping the the cab comfy. Unless their solo drivers enjoy freezing or broiling while trying to sleep, those trucks will have to run teams or will be required to have on-board generators, probably LPG powered.

Something like the generator idea will be the compromise. I don't think mandatory teaming will be shoved down the trucking industry's throat. It will be phased in over a few years. So...solo drivers may have a few more years to drive alone after Hillary becomes president. After that, those drivers will be forced to go team or get out of the OTR segment.

It will also take a few years to work out the bottlenecks in the railroad industry so they can handle all the increased demand they will have to shoulder after Congress cracks the whip on solo rigs idling away in truckstops for hours.

A wildcard idea is the reintroduction of bunks in the truckstops, but I'm sure these will be even less popular than having two sausages per truck. I know I wouldn't team, but I sure as hell wouldn't sleep in a truckstop bunkhouse, either.

 

I think you are getting a bit ahead of yourself in the Hillary presidential victory...she may not even get through the Dem. primary.




She's got some 'spainin to do about her Iraq war resolution vote.

Anyway, political meanderings aside, is it the consensus that there is not a demand for new truck stops?

 

Yeah, she may not become the president after all. Somebody may assassinate her, sure.

In 08, it'll be Romney and Hillary. No one will want to vote for Mitch outside of Utah, as he's a member of the mormon cult. His effort will be nothing more than the role of "fall guy". So...it'll be Hillary or no one. And "no one" ain't gonna happen.

 

Tip,I agree with most of your posts,however may God save us all if Hillary ever becomes prez.I would not vote for her if she was running for the county dog catchers job.As for assasinating her someone would look at her then look at the bullet,and figure the bullet is worth much more than her,and forget about it.

 

Yeah, Dog, hopefully John McCain will win it. I have my fingers crossed. I've always liked him, and besides that, I have a special place in my heart for anyone who lived through 7 years of the Hanoi Hilton.

However, I really believe the elites have already decided Hillary will be our momma beginning in 09.

 

I am baffled as to why we need to hear your political opinions on A whats wrong with Swift page, other than to distrack people.

 

There will always be solo drivers.If drivers unionized the Gov couldn't mess with us.Thats why the feds KILLED JIMMY HOFFA!!! They want cheap labor.