Empty Trains...

Recently the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a measure to increase the length of a Tandem Truck from 28 feet to 33 feet. Safety advocates are concerned about the impact this will have on our roads and highways. 

Currently, I drive an hour and a half to work each day and listen closely to the traffic reports on the radio in order to safely make it to my office. During days of bad weather it is very common to hear of a tractor trailer over turned or jackknifed.  Needless to say that when there is a tractor trailer versus car accident, the occupants of the cars usually come out on the losing end.  

In the U.S.A. we have an excellent railway system.  I had a conversation with a railroad employee a few years back and was told that the trains are underutilized. Often the train cars are not filled or even empty. A train car can carry a much larger load than a tractor trailer that has weight limits. In Europe there are countries that require items that are being shipped over 50 miles go by railway. I know for a fact that there are truck routes here in the U.S. that travel cross country.

 Less wear and tear on our roadways, more environmentally friendly, less congestion on the highways and less chance of fatal accidents involving tractor trailers. I’m always seeing advertising for more and more truck drivers needed to keep up with the demand. If that demand is transferred to trains, those jobs could be also transferred to the railroad companies. It just makes sense. 

 

-Sean