Double Yellow's Company Driver to Independent Thread

In answering one of the questions Munger mentioned how, after 10 years of planning and reports, environmentalists just blocked BNSF's plans to build a $500 million rail yard by the port of Long Beach. The project would have greatly increased the efficiency at the port, lowering demand for trucks (which pollute way more per ton hauled).

I know it is important for Berkshire Hathaway that BNSF improve its service (and they have dramatically in the Bakken -- just as oil fell off), but they're clearly getting frustrated by the fact that despite a willingness to spend big bucks (a rarity with rail companies), most jurisdictions make it almost impossible to expand their footprint.

The number of miles of rail has been basically flat since 1990 (which was about half of what it was in 1970), but due to the explosion of intermodal containers freight volumes have steadily grown over those decades.

 

Insurance quote (Great West - A-rated):

$1,000,000 auto liability
$250,000 cargo
$1,000,000 General Liability
$5,000 Physical damage tractor*
$5,000 Physical damage trailer*
no exclusions (except explosives/radioactive -- other Hazmat OK!!)
trailer interchange
-------
$7,600

* $5,000 minimum physical damage is required to cover the cost of towing/accident clean-up in the event of an accident.


I harped on it last year, but let me reiterate how much credit comes into play: this policy was initially quoted at over $9,800 until they ran my credit, at which point I got a $2,200+ discount -- protect your credit!!!


For reference:

Year 1:
Global Hawk RRG (not AM-Best rated)
$1,000,000 auto liability
$100,000 cargo
no physical damage
no general liability
tons of exclusions
-----
~$7,800


Year 2:
Progressive (AM-Best A-rated)
$1,000,000 auto liability
$250,000 cargo
$1,000,000 General Liability
no physical damage
minimal exclusions (no cell phones, no hazmat)
------
~$8,800

 

those are cargo coverages for my truck. An opposing truck would be covered by their auto liability or my un/underinsured policy