On the entire trip to Knoxville and back, I only saw 4 car carriers. Three of them were carrying used cars and one was carrying Nissans.
Eighteen wheeler traffic in general was still light, although heavier than it was last December.
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In my frequent East-West I-40 swoops, I'm noticing that UPS and FedEx are pulling more singles than doubles these days.
Came back in last night on the red eye. Could really see the fires burning across the midsection of the Country. WAY too many of them.
As an over the road driver I can confirm your impression that truck traffic is generally light. The dispatchers have been really scrambling to find loads for me, and parking spaces at truck stops have been less difficult to find recently. As more truck stops go out of bussiness the parking situation will probably soon return to it's normal difficulty.
A few weeks ago I was stranded for a weekend in Indianapolis, waiting to deliver a load. I thought about trying to contact the local gunbloggers to find out about places to go shooting, but decided the odds of finding a range where I could park an eighteen wheeler were too slim to be worthwhile.
I watch rail traffic around here for the same reason. It's been on the light side, although I have recently seen several large shipments of colanders and what appear to be dune buggies...
...uh-oh.
There sure aren't as many loads of scrap heading down the highways here. When the Chinese start buying scrap iron, copper, brass, and aluminum again, that will change. The Chinese domestic market is growing. They may not send as much back to U.S. shores.
I don't think a typical Kansan will drive to a Wal-Mart in Guangdong Province. A two or three-hour drive one way is about tops.
...seems to me we sold another Asian country scrap iron during the last depression. They returned it, though. Via airmail.
I work for a logistics consulting company, and freight volumes are down. Carriers are going out of business. My mother works in retail, and informs me that stock is thin.
Going to work every morning, I used to be lucky to see one semi carrying new trucks from the plant. Now it's up to 3 or 4 most days.
I have a friend who owned a truck last spring. He was doing well, so he bought 4 more trucks and hired drivers. 2 of them have now gone back to the bank.
Yes, Tam, they'll send that sort of recycled scrap back to whatever nation that meddles in what they consider their sphere of influence. Their subs are running quieter. The Chinese are building up sea power.
I wonder if any one in the new administration has read Capt. A.T. Mahan's book.
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