Tesla introduces a large Semi-Freight truck
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Illinois
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: IL
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From: Maryland
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,992
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From: California
Not sure where you are at, but let's talk about California. There are three, well-groomed north-south mainlines between the Bay Area and L.A. BNSF and UP each have their own parellelling the I-5 Corridor, which has 70 mph speed limits. Trains can zip from city to city in less than a day. Do-able.
The third route is UP's Coast Line following the 101. A few more twists and turns, but the track is under-used.
There is plenty capacity and all the lines could host numerous trains of trailers every day. It's a clean and efficient method of getting the behemoths off the highway. In fact, before the highway growth boom of the 50's and 60's, CA railroads transported solid trains of vans for quite some time.
Not much of this seems like a big deal, but the fact that the 5 and the 101 are complete traffic disasters makes this important.
The third route is UP's Coast Line following the 101. A few more twists and turns, but the track is under-used.
There is plenty capacity and all the lines could host numerous trains of trailers every day. It's a clean and efficient method of getting the behemoths off the highway. In fact, before the highway growth boom of the 50's and 60's, CA railroads transported solid trains of vans for quite some time.
Not much of this seems like a big deal, but the fact that the 5 and the 101 are complete traffic disasters makes this important.
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From: Maryland
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
Trains for sure. Interesting, Toyota Mexico sends the Tacoma from port by water to port in the USA. Then by train. I always wondered if a dealer that is really close to a plant gets a special exception and they truck it over. Or if it has to go through the whole distribution network.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
For freight transit like this, its all about money. If using electric trucks will save freight companies money...then they will use electric trucks. If using trains will save them money....they will use trains. Its not like trying to convince private vehicle buyers to switch to another platform, for a commercial user its all about money.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Trains are far more efficient carrying vehicles long-distances across the country, but, of course, in most cases, they don't have the option of delivering new vehicles to the actual dealerships themselves...they still have to be transferred to local trucks.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Nevertheless, freight/transportation is, IMO, one area where the auto manufacturers need to do better co-ordination with the trucking/railroad industries to keep costs down. The Destination/Freight costs on the new-vehicle-stickers have gone up significantly in the last few years....even in this era of cheap fuel (which, if anything, seems to be getting cheaper). A few years ago, for instance, a vehicle the size of the Escape would have run maybe $800-900 to ship to the dealer. The latest one I looked at, a couple of days ago, was $1195. I note, in my reviews, if I think the charge is unreasonable or not.