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Trains are very efficient when you need to move huge volumes between industrial centers, ports, metropolises etc. but we still need trucks for the end mile or e
by kbart 9y ago
Trains are very efficient when you need to move huge volumes between industrial centers, ports, metropolises etc. but we still need trucks for the end mile or else good luck laying tracks to every country shop out there.
- jessaustin 9y agoTravel by interstate sometime, and you'll note that "end mile" trucking is a tiny fraction of the total. Of course this is because of the vast subsidies that truck freight enjoys. If we get the self-driving thing figured out, I expect that last-mile freight will use fewer actual trucks than are used today. Rather, the typical robofreighter will be quite small. Every time I receive a truck freight delivery, the trailer is basically empty. They use a big tractor-trailer rig because they have to hire a driver anyway, and sometimes they have enough freight to fill the trailer.