I’ve read all the comments to date, and I don’t agree with most of them. It seems the majority of the comments concerning how the entire distribution system in the US works are off the mark. People need to remember that the railroads and trucks got in the position they’re in because of YOU and ME requiring our products RIGHT NOW.

So many responders seem to have this idea that the railroad/truck debate in the US is won hands down by the railroads. But as Gary L. Sooter said in his comment, I wonder the same thing about the railroad’s claim of moving a ton of freight 400+ miles on a gallon of fuel. Unless they provide the information that was used in their calculation, and more importantly, what the formula is, I’ll have to say that their claim is bologna. In addition, I’d like to see ANY railroad provide front door service to as many different places as a truck can. Sure the railroad is more efficient at hauling freight over extremely long distances. Until the railroad can solve the problem of freight taking literally weeks to move from point A to point B, there is no way the over-the-road, regional, and local trucks are going to go away. A truck can move the same amount of freight the same distance in a matter of hours or days compared to the weeks it takes the railroad to do it.

As far as your concept is concerned, I like it. I’ll jump on board in a heartbeat! I imagine if something that big can be at least as maneuverable as the current big rigs are, there’s no reason the unit can’t be used in the fuel business as well.

Bring it on!

I’ve read all the comments to date, and I don’t agree with most of them. It seems the majority of the comments concerning how the entire distribution system in the US works are off the mark. People need to remember that the railroads and trucks got in the position they’re in because of YOU and ME requiring our products RIGHT NOW.

So many responders seem to have this idea that the railroad/truck debate in the US is won hands down by the railroads. But as Gary L. Sooter said in his comment, I wonder the same thing about the railroad’s claim of moving a ton of freight 400+ miles on a gallon of fuel. Unless they provide the information that was used in their calculation, and more importantly, what the formula is, I’ll have to say that their claim is bologna. In addition, I’d like to see ANY railroad provide front door service to as many different places as a truck can. Sure the railroad is more efficient at hauling freight over extremely long distances. Until the railroad can solve the problem of freight taking literally weeks to move from point A to point B, there is no way the over-the-road, regional, and local trucks are going to go away. A truck can move the same amount of freight the same distance in a matter of hours or days compared to the weeks it takes the railroad to do it.

As far as your concept is concerned, I like it. I’ll jump on board in a heartbeat! I imagine if something that big can be at least as maneuverable as the current big rigs are, there’s no reason the unit can’t be used in the fuel business as well.

Bring it on!

This is certainly a neat concept, but I agree that the solar roof is contrary to what is largely seen as the real future of trucking, containerized freight. If the panel is mounted on a roof that can retract to the side for a top-lift crane, then it works better. Or if it can drop its containers onto the pavement by itself.

Peterbilt already has a decent parallel hybrid design it’s been rolling out slowly for a few years, and aerodynamic efficiency improvements are coming bit by bit. I think the era of the sleeper fleet is pretty well over. In the future all US trucking will be one-day hops from rail yards to customers, or from sea/river ports to the rail yards. Maybe a few out-of-the-way places will still rely on over the road service, but hopefully we can get an expanded and electrified freight rail system along with our smart grid and high-speed passenger system with all this infrastructure spending.

This is certainly a neat concept, but I agree that the solar roof is contrary to what is largely seen as the real future of trucking, containerized freight. If the panel is mounted on a roof that can retract to the side for a top-lift crane, then it works better. Or if it can drop its containers onto the pavement by itself.

Peterbilt already has a decent parallel hybrid design it’s been rolling out slowly for a few years, and aerodynamic efficiency improvements are coming bit by bit. I think the era of the sleeper fleet is pretty well over. In the future all US trucking will be one-day hops from rail yards to customers, or from sea/river ports to the rail yards. Maybe a few out-of-the-way places will still rely on over the road service, but hopefully we can get an expanded and electrified freight rail system along with our smart grid and high-speed passenger system with all this infrastructure spending.