Bernie Sanders promises to “take trucks off the road” if elected

[hells_unicorn]

There are always other things that they can do. If it increases productivity it makes the country wealthier, which in turn creates new opportunities. Every advancement in productivity causes some transient displacement, but that gets worked out over time and makes us all better off.

The problem is that this stuff only gets worked out if the country actually does get wealthier. Won't happen with someone like Bernie Sanders, he thinks wealth is evil unless the government has all of it, and personally I wouldn't trust an atheistic ne'er-do-well like him to change out a flat tire, let alone try to run an economy. Not to mention that Sanders giving people astronomical unemployment benefits would have these people sapping up some of that productivity.

Cutting subsidies is fine by me. Cutting it to move it over to some boondoggle choo-choo train program out of Atlas Shrugged strikes me as retarded.

 

[Suzanimal]

He's thinking too small. How about a tube transport system like in Futurama?

Oh, right! I forgot: Victory Gin ... (which can also be used as deodorant ...)

Well, there won't be any stores - so you'll have to walk to your local train station once a month.

Just don't forget your ration card ...

I don't want to feel the Bern.

Obviously all the brilliant snowflakes that will be getting free liberal arts degrees will invent teleportation, right after they're done putting the final nails into the coffin of the market economy, and amending the constitution with 50 additional identity-specific positive rights.

I wish I could laugh.

 

[misterx]

The problem is that this stuff only gets worked out if the country actually does get wealthier. Won't happen with someone like Bernie Sanders, he thinks wealth is evil unless the government has all of it, and personally I wouldn't trust an atheistic ne'er-do-well like him to change out a flat tire, let alone try to run an economy. Not to mention that Sanders giving people astronomical unemployment benefits would have these people sapping up some of that productivity.

Cutting subsidies is fine by me. Cutting it to move it over to some boondoggle choo-choo train program out of Atlas Shrugged strikes me as retarded.

I concur. Nothing can work while someone like Bernie is president. Bernie or not though, the government's role in something like this should begin and end with eliminating subsidies. If it's worth doing, the free market will handle the rest.

 

[Danke]

I think that sums up most of what everybody would respond to Suzi's posts. Probably Mr. Animal's too

 

[Southron]

If the subsidies are the problem, then eliminate them. Freight rates will increase and the trucking companies can just pass the cost on to the consumer.

75% of accidents involving trucks are the fault of people in 4 wheeled vehicles.

I think it's highly unlikely you will be able to run automated trucks for the majority of trucking anytime soon. They would need a dedicated lane on highways where they didn't interact with cars. And that still doesn't get stuff delivered.

 

[Zippyjuan]

I was travelling along the Interstate 80 corridor this summer. It was almost bumper to bumper with trucks carrying goods back and forth across the country. Along side the road came trains also carrying goods. Most of them which counted were pulling 100 cars and they too came by at regular intervals. We need both trains and trucks.

 

[puppetmaster]

I dunno. I drove semi-trucks myself for 2 years and that seemed like daily lunacy to me.

I did drive to pickup freight from Train Yards and Airports to and felt envy for the pilots and train conductors who did not have to park their vehicles in the equivalent of a shitty truck stop or hunt for parking. Many parking areas are dangerous for the drivers because for reasons I don't understand crazy people, drug addicts, or sometimes thieves harass the drivers and truckstops. I've come across to many fucked up people at travel stop plazas.

Aside from the crazy lifestyle, I think trucking is more dangerous since it's mixed with regular 4 wheeler traffic and I think our highway infracture is always behind supporting this kind of freight shipping from repairs or adding lanes.


With that said, I don't think it's realistic to eliminate trucks, but it would be interesting if this could be done with less trucks or smaller trucks along with expanded rail. The rail can't realistically go to every store, but if the yard it closer with a decent sized Cross-Dock, maybe we could have less big trucks.

Maybe more day cabs with smaller trailers like this.

smaller equals more.

 

[VIDEODROME]

smaller equals more.

Maybe if Rail is expanded and closer to delivery sites, there could be less need of the bigger trucks doing long hauls. There might be more smaller trucks getting things from the rail yard to local stores, but I wonder if those smaller lighter trucks would put less wear and tear on the roads.

Also something worth considering that I've dealt with is sometimes those full size semi-trucks are not fully loaded. For example, I was once dispatched to drive a single pallet from Arkansas to the border in Laredo, TX on a 53 ft trailer.

For what it's worth, companies like FedEx operate with 'Pup' Trailers that can be doubled up. Both companies operate in my town and I've never seen them pull doubles.