Three trailers? That doesn't look all that different than half the trucks in Nevada...
Posted on 10/20/2019 6:02:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
North Dakota approved legislation to pilot the freight method as a way to deal with increased demand for drivers amid high turnover rates.
In solving for crucial supply chain issues, Australia found a workaround that could have implications for driver shortages and transportation hurdles in the U.S.
Australia's supply chain must navigate its landmass of 2.96 million square miles, people and businesses dispersed through the Outback and an infrastructure better suited to nimble vehicles. While most of the population lives in coastal cities, many live in villages widely separated by deserts and connected by highways and dirt roads. Residents in these areas work on cattle and sheep farms or in mining, which requires the movement of large equipment.
The Aussies found a unique solution to transport items such as excavators, hydraulic shovels and dozers: road trains.
(Excerpt) Read more at supplychaindive.com ...
Once again..
There is no driver shortage. There is a driver PAY shortage.
No, our drivers suck hard already.
It’s the hours of service (HoS) crap and the fact that trucking companies won’t hire drivers if they so much as got a parking ticket in the past.
Three trailer rigs are allowed in some states.
Ping!
Maybe n another year truck drivers will be looking for a new career with self driving trucks taking away their jobs.
Give the jobs to inner city blacks. Keeps them out of trouble. they can listen to the big fella while on the road.
Three trailers? That doesn't look all that different than half the trucks in Nevada...
Blacksmiths, stable-hands, wagon makers and wheelwrights found other jobs 100 years ago, didn’t they?
Didn’t Reagan approve piggyback trailers back in the mid 80s?
The speed limit for road trains is at best 62 mph (in some territories only 56 mph) Which means at best the Aussies drive them 11% slower than Semis in the US. Which means it takes you 11% longer to get somewhere.
Much cheaper to pay for more drivers, IMHO.
I have seen and driven with the Aussie road trains.
It would take a lot of infrastructure changes to make them viable on very limited routes in the U.S.
We have a much better rail system for freight than Australia.
That is why they are called Road Trains. Real Trains do better for the most part.
Real trains and semi-trucks do a good job in the U.S.
To do Aussie style you need new rest areas, new fueling stations, new on/off ramps, often, new roadways.
+1
You are correct. There is not a driver shortage. There is is shortage of driver willing to work for the wages the mega carriers are willing to pay. The mega carriers are responsible for all of the current driver issues.
“The trailers are known as dog or pup trailers because they were historically used at dog farms.”
Dog farms? Really? Come on.
A monster truck with three trailers and 180 or so feet long is just what I want to see bounding down the beat up interstate and making its way through cities along the way. Oh boy.
He basically picks his jobs because he doesn't need the money. It either has to be somewhere he wants to go or a premium pay rate to entice him. He will even be flown one way to drive the load back on occasion. That is how hard good flatbed drivers are to find these days.
What a comforting thought.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.