Truck transportation offers more flexibility but not necessarily at a lower cost than trains. However, the mixture of freight transportation and human movement presents a constraint to highway capacity and safety. Truck drivers often have to operate the vehicles for a long time and while fatigued. During Minnesota winters, trucks are especially intimidating to travelers in automobiles. At the same time, personal automobiles also present a challenge to trucking operations.
Truck drivers have to yield for cars and have to be ever-watchful of small cars.
The separation of freight transportation from human movement will increase the efficiency and safety of both. The use of electricity-powered pipelines in efficient freight transportation is examined. The idea is to use capsules for carrying cargo in concealed pipelines powered by linear electric motors. Pipeline systems for freight transportation have many desirable features. Freight pipelines buried underground would have little environmental impact on surroundings once installed.