Real truckers say no to rail

But it's not just the trucking companies that profit. It's also the shippers and receivers because charges are less for the product, which means (possibly) lower costs for the consumer. I would imagine the damage to the freight is about the same as by shipping it over the road but I know the equipment sure takes a beating.

 

Technically, it shouldn't cost the company anything as any damage should be noted at the rail yard before the trailer is taken out. This way, the cost of the damage is on the rail company, not the trucking comp.

Yeah I know. I mean...thats terrible! Both companies making a profit? E-gads! Gasp! KerPow! FLRBBBBB!

Im sorry...I have to apologize; I didn't mean to be sarcastic. You seemed upset that both companies made a profit. Im sure that sooner or later, your goal of both companies taking a loss on hauling freight will happen. But until then...I guess we will just have to *sigh*, "settle" for taking a profit. I know, I know! It's...it's just not right that the companies that haul the freight...especially when they work together, that they make a profit; those meanies! I mean...wh...who do they think they are? Pretty soon, next thing you know, the drivers will see increased pay...dogs and cats living together...the end of the world!

 

It wouldn't hurt to do a little research thou. Rail service has been going strong for 24 years now and you want drivers to not work if the load comes off a train?? And what's your reasoning for not buying fuel in CA. Just asking on that one. You'd have a better chance to make the industry more profitable if you lobbied to shorten the trailers to 30 feet and cut the gross to 40,000lbs. Much safer for everyone and better for the highways that are about to completely fall apart.

 

The flip side to this coin, if I may is increased truck traffic on the roads beating that dead horse further. However, a shorter lighter truck would likely be safer, and less expensive to operate. The increased truck traffic has a flip side as well, more drivers working, earning money supporting families, paying bills, supporting our economy.

Maybe I'm just off base.

By the way shadowviper, just because your a trucker doesn't mean you don't need to use proper punctuation. I'm not perfect either, by any means. But it helps the rest of us desifer your posts, and read what you have said to correctly quote and respond.

 

Just for the record, companies who provide "rail trailers" aren't giving their customer the "normal" OTR trailer. Most of those won't stand up to the many trips on the train. The companies that I've worked for who were involved in rail business had special trailers that were used for rail business only. Any damages incurred during the train ride were paid by the rail company.

In response to the poster who mentioned that Canadian drivers came in and out of the US everday is correct. What many people don't know is that the Canadian driver can not pick up and deliver within our country. They can only pick up and go back to Canada. They are doing what many many US drivers really don't want to do, and that's cross the border into Canada.

 

I love it when people correct others on spelling or punctuation and have grammar problems in their own posts. (decipher your posts). Remember, when you point a finger at someone, you've got more pointed back at yourself .

(Sorry just had to do it)

 

can i help it if my spell check flagged it with decipher but not desifer , it must be a canadian program 'dripping with sarcasm'
may be it was intentional?

 

I doubt the reason you are making less now is all the fault of the railroads. Granted they do take alot of freight but alot of freight they do take is just cheap freight. If you want to make more now than you did ten years ago then go find a trucking job that will pay that, they are out there you just have to hunt them down and be qualified for them. I wonder if way back when, the railroads complained as much as you are when the trucking industry started taking chunks out of their business, because as far as I know they were hauling stuff across country long before trucks came into the picture. Trains are a big part of the transportation picture but trucking will always be a part of the picture also. And no matter how many people say "boycott" the railroads, it will never happen.