Transportation Logistics

[Mtowncyclone13]

The HyVee water to Flint convoy got me thinking. For all you T/L majors out there, why do we use trucks and not rail for everything but back-end distribution? Is there a distance that makes rail more cost effective than trucks or what? For non-standard routes are trucks like private jets; you just pick them up and go without needing to plan a route like you would on a commercial flight?

 

[Stewo]

The HyVee water to Flint convoy got me thinking. For all you T/L majors out there, why do we use trucks and not rail for everything but back-end distribution? Is there a distance that makes rail more cost effective than trucks or what? For non-standard routes are trucks like private jets; you just pick them up and go without needing to plan a route like you would on a commercial flight?

Rail is best used for very large quantities of items. Plus, rail is obviously slower and generally requires that trucks move the items to their final destination. To take that a step further, rail companies are quickly getting rid of track lines they no longer use. It's part of what's called economies of density. The top tier tracks are getting used exclusively. Lastly, as part of the economies of density, rail companies have moved to single origin, single destination. So, with over 600,000 trucking companies, you can easily find someone to carry your load for a good price and quickly.

 

[casey1973]

Good advertising for Hy-Vee?

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

Can't add much to this conversation, but I saw a flatbed truck hauling railcar wheels down the interstate last week. I thought that was interesting.

 

[Rabbuk]

I thought this map is kind of interesting.

nothing to add to the thread in terms of knowledge about trucking. Just got me thinking.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

I thought this map is kind of interesting.

nothing to add to the thread in terms of knowledge about trucking. Just got me thinking.

I saw a DOT map of abandoned rail lines once. It had about 10 times the number of tracks.

 

[SwirlingFloater]

HYPERLOOP!!! :smile:

 

[RollsRoyce]

Rail is best used for very large quantities of items. Plus, rail is obviously slower and generally requires that trucks move the items to their final destination. To take that a step further, rail companies are quickly getting rid of track lines they no longer use. It's part of what's called economies of density. The top tier tracks are getting used exclusively. Lastly, as part of the economies of density, rail companies have moved to single origin, single destination. So, with over 600,000 trucking companies, you can easily find someone to carry your load for a good price and quickly.

This. Is this professor Martens? Damn.