MIT Seems To Think We Aren't Working Enough

[Mike]

“This chronic underutilization problem does not seem to be a function of what the drivers themselves do or don’t do, but rather an unfortunate consequence of our conventions for scheduling and processing the pickup and delivery appointments,” said David Correll, a research scientist at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics, as he testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Long-haul, full-truckload drivers spend an average of 6.5 hours every workday driving ,even though federal safety regulations let them drive for 11 hours a day, Correll said.

“This, of course, implies that 40% of America’s trucking capacity is left on the table every day. This is, of course, especially troubling during times of perceived shortage and crisis, like we find ourselves now,” he told the House panel. Adding just 18 minutes of driving time to every existing truck driver’s day “could be enough to overcome what many of us feel is a driver shortage,” the MIT expert said.

40% of America's trucking capacity is left on the table every day, MIT expert tells Congress

American long-haul truck drivers are "seriously underutilized," and the problem comes from the scheduling practices of shippers and receivers, an expert from...

www.marketwatch.com

 

[Duck]

If they want drivers to be able to use all 11 driving hours, they'll need to build massive truck parking areas all around the country, especially around population centers, so drivers don't have to shut down super early in order to find a place to park for the night.

 

[Mike]

If they want drivers to be able to use all 11 driving hours, they'll need to build massive truck parking areas all around the country, especially around population centers, so drivers don't have to shut down super early in order to find a place to park for the night.

More than that, they will have to manage to convince shippers and receivers to operate 24/7, and we would have to leave appointments and go to FCFS on everything.

in other words, the warehouses and small businesses would have to employ lots more people in order to take trucks 24/7 and avoid high monthly detention costs.

MIT needs to stay focused on playing with robots or whatever it is they do.

 

[Electric Chicken]

A certain amount of inefficiency is inherent in the system, and always will be.

 

[Duck]

A certain amount of inefficiency is inherent in the system, and always will be.

If you look at the industry strictly from a logistical perspective and ignore market conditions, it's extremely inefficient.

If rates didn't matter, there could be a computer somewhere that dispatches every available truck to the absolute nearest available load and probably eliminate billions of empty miles every year.

That's something only a total communist, completely ignorant of real world economics would attempt to implement though.

 

[Mike]

If you look at the industry strictly from a logistical perspective and ignore market conditions, it's extremely inefficient.

If rates didn't matter, there could be a computer somewhere that dispatches every available truck to the absolute nearest available load and probably eliminate billions of empty miles every year.

That's something only a total communist, completely ignorant of real world economics would attempt to implement though.

If Rates didn't matter, if loads could be loaded 24/7, FCFS with detention policies in place, I could blow through 50-60 hours a week, operate within a really tight radius to my house, and be home all the time.

Perfect worlds don't exist, LOL

 

[Rigjockey]

If they want drivers to be able to use all 11 driving hours, they'll need to build massive truck parking areas all around the country, especially around population centers, so drivers don't have to shut down super early in order to find a place to park for the night.

More than that, they will have to manage to convince shippers and receivers to operate 24/7, and we would have to leave appointments and go to FCFS on everything.

in other words, the warehouses and small businesses would have to employ lots more people in order to take trucks 24/7 and avoid high monthly detention costs.

MIT needs to stay focused on playing with robots or whatever it is they do.

These things right here.
I used to go to Texas and have to shut down two hours away for parking and also I was sitting 18 hours because I had to time my departure from my staging area to arrive not too early and definitely not late for my "appointment" time.

( I put appointment in quotes because it only matters if the driver is late or early, not what the shipper/receiver decides is the right time to load/unload)

 

[Rigjockey]

If you look at the industry strictly from a logistical perspective and ignore market conditions, it's extremely inefficient.

If rates didn't matter, there could be a computer somewhere that dispatches every available truck to the absolute nearest available load and probably eliminate billions of empty miles every year.

That's something only a total communist, completely ignorant of real world economics would attempt to implement though.

I think it was more efficient driver and equipment wise before probably some University block head came up with the idea of JIT.
Get here during business hours and we will unload you was far more economical to the trucking industry.
Now we got block heads from a University basically saying the JIT modal is ineffective for maximizing drivers and assets.

It takes a University degree to really fuck things up!

 

[Electric Chicken]

In a perfect world, all these warehouses and customers are mine and mine alone.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Scratch that. In a perfect world I'm a trillionaire and fuck work.

 

[Duck]

If Rates didn't matter, if loads could be loaded 24/7, FCFS with detention policies in place, I could blow through 50-60 hours a week, operate within a really tight radius to my house, and be home all the time.

Perfect worlds don't exist, LOL

Well I guess the system would also have to factor in your current HOS situation and the hours that places are open, to pick your load for you.

Or maybe the communist overlords will decide that saving three miles worth of fuel is more important than your time and they'll make you sit overnight and wait for a load that picks up nearby when there's one that's 3 miles further away that's ready to load now.

I do predict that if this climate change hoax is not dealt with soon, there will end up being such a system put in place. The technology for it already exists. All it takes is government to decide to implement it.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Well I guess the system would also have to factor in your current HOS situation and the hours that places are open, to pick your load for you.

Or maybe the communist overlords will decide that saving three miles worth of fuel is more important than your time and they'll make you sit overnight and wait for a load that picks up nearby when there's one that's 3 miles further away that's ready to load now.

I do predict that if this climate change hoax is not dealt with soon, there will end up being such a system put in place. The technology for it already exists. All it takes is government to decide to implement it.

Self-driving trucks won't need HOS accomodations.

 

[Rigjockey]

Self-driving trucks won't need HOS accomodations.

They will need a safe space to park in between delivery times and pick-up time and also in the case of searching for a return load and that will be the defining "back-haul" that pays peanuts because ya', want your robot truck back in time for a PM service right?

 

[Electric Chicken]

They will need a safe space to park in between delivery times and pick-up time and also in the case of searching for a return load and that will be the defining "back-haul" that pays peanuts because ya', want your robot truck back in time for a PM service right?

Nah they'll just park it wherever. Good luck moving it, officer. Ain't no driver to yank outta the cab.

 

[Rigjockey]

Nah they'll just park it wherever. Good luck moving it, officer. Ain't no driver to yank outta the cab.

I am starting to love this autonomous truck idea!

 

[Electric Chicken]

I am starting to love this autonomous truck idea!

I kinda picture them like Roombas.

Although I really don't understand why they don't just put a steering axle and drivetrain on the trailers themselves. Just have a bunch of trailers roaming around. Why even have a truck.

 

[Rigjockey]

I kinda picture them like Roombas.

Although I really don't understand why they don't just put a steering axle and drivetrain on the trailers themselves. Just have a bunch of trailers roaming around. Why even have a truck.

You know what?


That is fucking genius!
Yeah, have a trailer with wheels on the front of the trailer that can steer! Smaller vehicle easier maneuverability.

Seriously, you need to patent that idea(r)

 

[Electric Chicken]

You know what?


That is fucking genius!
Yeah, have a trailer with wheels on the front of the trailer that can steer! Smaller vehicle easier maneuverability.

Seriously, you need to patent that idea(r)

I mean with no driver it makes sense. The entire underbelly almost can be a battery.