Your comment about unions is an important one. For the workers in Southern California ports, which import 40% of the goods used in the U.S., this *is* indeed an important issue.
Be suspicious of anyone here telling you otherwise - some here just make things up and then post. I sometimes work with terminal operators, and sometimes even the smallest thing to many of us, like a small change in a job responsibility, or deciding *who* does the job, can be a big deal. It sometimes even impacts which union is involved. This can be a challenge with using an electric vehicle versus a diesel one, as an electric one can require a change in operations. Sometimes electrifying through the use of hydrogen fuel cell hybrids rather than pure battery can be much simpler as you can design the operation to match exactly the existing operation. Any issues can and are being worked out, but ANY change can be a big deal. Completely restructuring a terminal to all-electrification proved to be a major challenge to one terminal. For the exact reasons you identified. Ultimately, It got dealt with, and agreements were reached with the unions, but the challenges involved were great. When it comes to the big rig drivers, my understanding is that this is a completely different animal. I know a little bit less about this, but can tell you that a major percentage (maybe even most) is done by drivers who are actually independent contractors rather than union. However, this area has been undergoing legal and regulatory changes recently. I know that some of the above goes beyond the limited scope of your comment, but I included it to provide the broader context in which this should be viewed. - Mark Sent from my Fuel Cell powered iPhone > On Dec 5, 2020, at 4:50 PM, Peri Hartman via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org> wrote: > > Yes, the resistance to this kind of change would be huge, Just as Lee > quoted. I think the railroads would benefit just fine. Different business > model but same company and same freight. However, there would be fewer > workers from longshoremen to rig drivers and, therefore, the unions would > fight hard against it. (I think a plan like this would have to include a > retraining and placement program for displaced workers.) > > As for passenger service, I don't think it precludes it at all. Nothing would > prevent using the existing model of sharing the rails with Amtrak. > > The major difference would be 100 car freight trains replaced by 100 tractor > trailer rigs each drafting each other with tiny separation. > > Peri > > << Annoyed by leaf blowers ? https://quietcleanseattle.org/ >> > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "EVDL Administrator" <evp...@drmm.net> > To: "Peri Hartman" <pe...@kotatko.com>; "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" > <ev@lists.evdl.org> > Sent: 05-Dec-20 3:42:54 PM > Subject: Re: [EVDL] 'All's not well with UK public charging' / Autonomy > >>> On 5 Dec 2020 at 20:21, Peri Hartman via EV wrote: >>> >>> But, imagine, self driving or not, having semi trucks line up and drive >>> over a railway spur. Then, lower their steel wheels, and drive off as a >>> train, of sorts. >> >> I see the big positives here, but I also see a troubling side effect. >> Freight is the lifeblood of rail service. This scheme would effectively >> kill traditional railroads, including passenger service. >> >> I know, not many people still use passenger rail, but there are some. Do >> you think that any of them would want to ride a semi-trailer to Grandma's >> house for Thanksgiving? I certainly wouldn't. >> >> David Roden, EVDL moderator & general lackey >> >> To reach me, don't reply to this message; I won't get it. Use my >> offlist address here : http://evdl.org/help/index.html#supt >> >> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >> A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. >> >> -- Edward R Murrow >> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >> > > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html > INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
